Santo Subito

What does it take to become God’s saint? There are those that believe it takes two things to become a saint. First, one must lead a “virtuous” life. I guess what those moral and ethical standards are can be open to interpretation. Secondly, one must perform at least two miracles. Again, it would seem that verification of these miracles is open to interpretation. The late Pope John Paul II is slated to become a “saint” in the near future. When he died, many of his followers were heard shouting and carrying signs that read, “Santo Subito,” which means “Sainthood Now.” Just the fact that people are shouting this slogan is evidence that they themselves are not saints. It also immediately puts a barrier between the layman and the clergy because, in this particular case, Pope John Paul II has been elevated to a level that the average Catholic will not attain. For example, a Catholic Professor recalling what his mindset was on the day Pope John Paul II died said, “I was here in the square after his death realizing I was already starting to pray not for him, but to him as somebody who was already in heaven.” Besides the fact that believers don’t pray to dead people, is any of this what it takes to become one of God’s saints? I wonder if in the middle of all this pomp and circumstance anyone decided to consult the Bible to see what God says on the subject. “And now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified (Acts 20:32).” A saint is someone who has been set apart by God in order for Him to use them to accomplish His work. Another way of saying this is to use the word “sanctified.” 

Sanctified means to be made holy or consecrated by God. Paul seems to indicate that there are quite a few saints, not just a chosen few who have met some man-made and vague standards. He talks about “all those who are sanctified.” All those who are sanctified are all the individual Christians who have been born again of the Spirit of God through faith in Jesus Christ. That is how one becomes a saint. Plus, there is only one miracle necessary to become a saint. That is the miracle of new birth; God’s resurrected life indwelling each believer and spiritually raising them from the dead! The virtuous life we live is allowing Jesus Christ to live the life only He can live in and through us. As the Bible says, “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me (Galatians 2:20).” If you want “sainthood now,” accept Jesus Christ as your Savior. If you have already done so, you are a saint of God. There is no council or organization that needs to verify if you’ve met some non-bibilical standards. The only verification is your faith in Jesus Christ. Saints, enter into the inheritance that God has freely given you as a result of your faith in Jesus Christ. Do not allow any man or man-made organizations tell you otherwise. If you are in Christ, you have "Sainthood Now!"