It
has been debated that we are not Saints but
merely Christians. An extract from the Holman
Illustrated Bible Dictionary Completely Revised,
Updated and Expanded written by Darrell W. Robinson
defines Christianity and informs us of its origins.
“Christians – (the Greek suffix-
ianies was originally applied to slaves) It
came to denote the adherents of an individual
or party. A Christian is a slave or adherent
of Christ; one committed to Christ. The word
is used three times in the New Testament. Believers
“were first called Christians in Antioch
” because their behaviour, activity and
speech were like Christ’s (Acts 11:26).
Agrippa responded to Paul’s witness, “Are
you going to persuade me to become a Christian
so early? (Acts 26:28) He spoke of becoming
an adherent of Christ. Peter stated that believers
who suffer as Christians are to do so for the
glory of God (1 Peter 4: 16). A Christian is
one who becomes an adherent of Christ, whose
daily life and behaviour facing adversity is
like Christ.” Now prior to and after the
time in Antioch the word ‘Saints’
was used to refer to the followers of Christ
and of God. Saints is mentioned in the following
verses of scripture: Deuteronomy 32: 2, 3, 1
Samuel 2:9, 2 Chronicles 6:41; Job 5:1; Job
15:15; Psalm 16:3, 30:4, 31:23, 34:9, 37:28,
50:5, 52:9, 79:2, 85:8, 89:5,7, 97:10, 116:15,
132:9,16, 145:10, 148:14, 149:1,5,9; Proverbs
2:8; Daniel 7”18,21,22,25,27; Hosea 11:12;
Zechariah 14:5; Matthew 27:52; Acts 9:13,32,41,
26:10; Romans 1:7, 8:27, 12:13, 15:25,26,31,
16:2,15; 1 Corinthians 1:2, 6:1,2, 14:33, 16:
1,15; 2 Corinthians 1:1, 8:4, 9:1,12, 13:13;
Ephesians 1:1,15,18, 2:19, 3:8,18, 4:12, 5:3,
6:18; Philippians 1:1, 4:22; Colossians 1:2,4,12,16;
1 Thessalonians3:11; 2 Thessalonians1:10; 1Timothy
5:10; Philemon 1:7; Hebrews 6:10, 13:24; Jude1:3,14;
Revelation 5:8, 8:3,4, 11:18, 13:7,10, 14:12,
15:3, 16:6, 17:6, 18:24, 19:8, 20:9. ( Continued)
Discuss
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Many
religious denominations have adopted the perspective
that neither religion nor doctrine is vital
in obtaining salvation and what is important
is preaching Christ. The popular saying goes
“We must preach Christ, Love and Peace.”
In addition you must develop a personal relationship
with God. These are the now popular ‘doctrines’.
These are all vital, but how could someone possibly
maintain a personal relationship with God and
at the same time continuously disobey God? What
a nonsensical notion. Many individuals are of
the opinion that we must not judge others and
no one has the right to judge another. Readers
the scriptures have already judged us. We know
when we are going wrong; we personally judge
our selves and critique our actions and behaviour.
When reading the words of God we have the tendency
to see ourselves and where we have gone wrong.
1 Corinthians 6: 9-10, 1 John 2:15 and 1 John
3:4 are some of the many scriptures which judge
us. 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 “Know ye not
that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom
of God ? Be not deceived; neither fornicators,
nor idolaters, nor effeminate nor abusers of
themselves with mankind. nor thieves, nor covetous
ones, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners,
shall inherit the kingdom of God . 1 John 2:15
“Love not the world neither the things
that are in the world. If any man loves the
world, the love of the father is not in him.
1 John 3:4 “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth
also the law: for sin is the transgression of
the law.” These verses of scripture have
judged sinners, extortioners, thieves, fornicators
and them that love the world. The bible tells
us of all the characters who will not be saved.
So if you are a thief or a murderer all your
life would someone be wrong to say that you
are going to hell. After all this is the doom
pronounced in the bible. It is amazing how at
funerals the priests, pastors and elders declare
the drunkards, the thieves, and drug dealers
are in heaven. It is so ironic; priest should
know their scriptures and that these people
will not enter the kingdom of God, which by
the way is not in heaven. 
