Saints of God

By Rev. Brian L. Kachelmeier

 

To the Saints in Los Alamos, Rio Arriba, and Santa Fe counties,

 

That’s right, I’m writing to the saints. Through faith in Christ you are all saints. This is the language of the gospel. If I would have used the language of the law, I would have addressed this article to the Sinners in Los Alamos, Rio Arriba, and Santa Fe counties. That would have been appropriate to herald the bad news. Such an article would focus on what you have done. On the contrary, the message that I write to you is good news. This article is about what the Holy Trinity has done to make you Saints. 

 

Because of Christ, we are holy in God’s sight. He sees us in His splendor, with no spots, free from wrinkles, and without blemishes. We have been sanctified, that is made holy, by the blood of Christ. Because of Jesus, we are counted holy. We are saints. We are holy ones. The word “saint” means “holy one.” Christ alone is holy and the good news is that He applies His holiness to us. 

St. Paul puts it this way, “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.” (Ephesians 5:25-27 ESV)

 

It is the Holy Spirit who makes you holy by the holy Gospel given to you in the words of the Holy Bible that you read, in the words of the Holy Absolution that you hear at the beginning of the Divine Liturgy, in the water of Holy Baptism, and in the body and blood of Holy Communion. You are His holy people whom He gathers into the holy church which is the communion of saints.