No doubt Pope John Paul was an astounding, history-making, kind, and ground-breaking individual. This raises the question though, “What does it take to be declared a saint?” The Catholic church has a 5-step process known as beautification or canonization. First, a request is made to the local bishop where the person under consideration is buried. The person’s life, works, speeches, and writings are examined to see if he or she indeed lived as a servant of God. Second, the burial site and body is examined to ensure that no cult has arisen around the person and relics are removed from the tomb. Third, a recommendation is made to the pope to verify whether or not the person being considered demonstrated the virtue’s of the faith (faith, hope, charity, prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance) to a heroic degree. Fourth, if a martyr, the Pope issues a declaration of martyrdom and declares sainthood automatically. If not a martyr, it must be proven that a miracle has taken place by the “confessor’s” intercession. For example, if a sick person prays to the confessor (person under consideration) and is healed, then surely the confessor is in heaven before the Lord. The Confessor is now called “Blessed.” Fifth and finally, if two miracles are confirmed after death, then there remains no doubt this person is in heaven and he/she is declared to be a saint and a feast day is established in his/her honor.

That is what it takes to “officially” be a saint in the Catholic church. Therefore, the vast majority of Christians will not make their list! However, there is another list of saints.

What does the Bible say about becoming a saint or being declared a saint, not by the Church but by the Lord? For the answer we will turn to Paul’s letter to the church at Rome. It only seems fitting to do so!

Paul speaks of saints three times in this letter, and in each case it is clear that he has in mind every single believer in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 1:1-7 (quoting only parts and adding comments) “Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God . . . through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of His name among all the nations, including you (the church at Rome) who are called to belong to Jesus Christ, To all those in Rome (notice the inclusive language “all”) who are loved by God and called to be saints . . .”

Two points: Paul is clearly speaking to all believers in Rome, and he is clearly equating the call to belong to Jesus with the call to be saints. In his mind, to belong to Jesus is to be a saint, and that stands for all who belong to Jesus.

Romans 8:26-27 “Likewise the Spirit helps us (“us” referring to Paul and all the believers he is writing to) in our weakness. For we (“we” same use as “us”) do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And He who searches hearts (“He” clearly referring to God) knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.”

Two points: In opposition to Catholic dogma on saints, the saints referred to here are clearly not in heaven and are in need of intercession by the Spirit. Secondly, these saints are clearly not a category of super-faith heroes, but are every day believers struggling with life and warring against the flesh (which actually includes those we look to as heroes of the faith!). If “saints” are only the heroes, this verse yields little comfort to us all.

Romans 12:13 “Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.”

Two points: I would think a catholic reading this verse would wonder, “What needs could Saint ? have?” Also, this along with Paul’s other uses of the term “saints” make no sense unless he equates believers with saints.

The truth of the matter is that the majority of Christians will never write best-selling, earth-shattering Christian tomes. Our burial site will not become venerated. We will likely never be regarded by thousands as a hero of the faith. And having a couple of miracles occur in our name after we die is probably not likely either. So are the host of believers in Christ not saints?

Not in the Catholic sense, but in the biblical sense, yes, yes, YES!

What makes a saint is union with the Savior! What makes us righteous is His righteousness! The only saving mark about our lives is that His life has been credited to us. It is not about our body in the grave but that His body is not in the grave. And the miracle of sainthood is not that we have answered someone’s prayer for healing but that God in Christ has answered our deepest need for healing!

If you are in Christ, you are a saint! God has declared it so!

Furthermore, being a saint is not to be discovered after death, but to be demonstrated in this life. That’s right! If we are saints, we are to live saintly lives! God has made you saintly or holy, that is, He has separated you unto Himself. We then, by His Spirit, live as saints, that is, we live holy lives unto the Lord.

Will Pope John Paul II be declared a saint by the Roman Catholic Church? More than likely.

Are you a saint declared so by God the Father? If you are in Christ, absolutely!