Saints

For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints. – 1 Corinthians 14:33 NKJV.

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus. – Ephesians 1:1 NKJV.

Paul and Timothy, bondservants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons. – Philippians 1:1 NKJV.

…the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power. – Ephesians 1:18-19 NKJV. 

Shelby Heggs who lives in Macon, Georgia is trying to change his name along with his life. Shelby wants to change his name to Saint Jody Almighty Bedrock. In the past, he has been convicted of drunk driving and possession of marijuana. He also has a pending charge of Aggravated Battery but claims that was simply a case of self-defense. A name change can be denied if a person is trying to hide their previous criminal record and the District Attorney is opposing the new name on that basis. Shelby says about his reason for the new name that “I wanted a name that everybody would know when they were talking to me that they were talking to a man of God. I wanted that to be expressed in my name. I wanted to start fresh.” Shelby’s family and friends are already calling him, Saint Jody.

There is no doubt that some in the Bible are saints, as in Saint Paul, Saint Peter, and all of the apostles. However, it appears from how the Holy Spirit moved the apostle Paul to write that every child of God is a saint. If Shelby Heggs is a believer, i.e. he knows Jesus as his Savior, then he is already a saint, and it is unnecessary to change his name to show that he is a new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). As we see written in the epistle to the Ephesians, Paul identifies the “saints” as those “who believe” in Ephesians 1:19. Further evidence that all who believe are saints is seen in how the epistles of Paul are addressed: “to the saints who are in Ephesus” and “to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi.”

There is, however, something more important for the believer than being called a saint and being recognized legally as a saint. The more important thing is whether we are living like a saint or not. As a believer it is still so very true that your life, how you are living it, may be the only Bible that many ever read.

Would you have to have your name legally changed to “Saint” before anyone would begin to think of your life as being saint like? What needs to be changed in your life before non-Christians would begin to associate you with being saintly? Would someone reading your life story never guess that you are a saint? Would those who know you be unable to find enough evidence in the way that you have been living to convict you of being a saint? Why waste any more time, drop to your knees, and confess your sins to your Savior and Lord (1 John 1:9). Rise up and walk with Him, living like a saint ought to live. “And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma (Ephesians 5:2).”

(Would you have to have your name legally changed to “Saint” before anyone would begin to think of your life as being saint like?)