We Belong to God
In popular Christian vocabulary the word ‘saint’ is used to mean a particularly good Christian, one whose way of life is superior to the ordinary, run of the mill believers like you or me. Indeed, for us to presume to sainthood might even be seen by some as egotistical; ‘I’m no saint!’ is a popular form of self-derogation. We think of a ‘saint’ as a special kind of Christian ‘ one who is especially holy and important in God’s plan for the world.
But the Bible uses the word ‘saint’ differently; in the New Testament, you become a saint by putting your faith in Jesus and being baptised. The word ‘saint’ in the New Testament doesn’t describe a special kind of Christian – rather, it describes any member of God’s people. The letters of Paul are regularly addressed to ‘the saints of God in such and such a town’ – meaning not the especially holy minority, but all of them. If you are a Christian, then in New Testament language you are a saint. So as we celebrate the Feast of All Saints this morning, I want to explore with you what this language tells us about ourselves.
Firstly, it tells us that we belong to God. There are several words in our English Bibles that all come from the same root word in the original language – words like ‘saint’, ‘holy’, ‘sanctify’ and ‘consecrate’ all translate the same word or root. The underlying meaning of this word is ‘to set something apart from ordinary use so that it belongs completely to God’. God’s people are understood as being set apart from evil and as belonging exclusively to God, under his protection and care and available for him to use for his purposes in the world.
In the New Testament Jesus says of himself that ‘The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many’ (Mark 10:45). The picture here is the slave market in the ancient world; you have been sold into slavery in order to pay your debts. You are being forced to stand naked and humiliated on the auction block for prospective slave owners to size you up as a potential tool. Then they start to bid on you. Suddenly, to your surprise, you hear a familiar voice. It’s an uncle you haven’t seen in a long time; he starts to compete with the other bidders, until eventually you are sold to him. As he takes you away he says ‘Now don’t worry – legally you belong to me, but I’ve paid for you so that I can set you free’.
That’s the image Jesus is using here. We humans are enslaved by evil, sin and death. But Jesus has paid the price for us – the price of his death on the Cross – and now we belong to him. However, as the old Prayer Book tells us, to serve him is not degrading and humiliating; rather, ‘his service is perfect freedom’.
And to belong to him is also to belong to the Christian community, the Church. I find it really interesting that in the English New Testament the singular word ‘saint’ appears only once, but the plural form ‘saints’ appears sixty-four times! This business of following Jesus is something we do as a Christian community, where we learn and grow and serve God together.
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http://stmargaretsedmonton.blogspot.com/2009/11/sermon-for-all-saints- day-900-service.html
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