Sainthood by Jim Lamb of Lutherans For Life

Sainthood

Greetings fellow saints,

When I was still in parish ministry, we put “All Saints” on the sign in front of our church when we were observing All Saints Day. The nun from our local Catholic church saw me uptown and said, “I noticed your sign. I didn’t know you guys had saints.” I replied, “At St. Paul, we are all saints.” She smiled a little half smile that politely said “Huh?” and continued walking.

Martin Luther helped us understand the Scriptural truth that sainthood is not something you earn by your deeds and prove by attesting miracles. Sainthood is God’s declaratory gift in Jesus Christ (Romans 3:21-26). Sainthood is not the result of holy living but of the holy life and death of Christ. Sainthood, however, does result in holy living as we declared saints strive to be obedient to the will of the holy One.

All Saints Day can fill us with comfort and hope as we remember the faithfully departed who have joined the saints triumphant in Heaven. All Saints Day can also fill us with comfort and hope as we think of our many sins, especially those that leave a burden of regret upon our hearts that just keeps nagging away. For we are reminded that sainthood does not depend upon the absence of regret or even feeling forgiven. It depends upon the presence of the abundant grace of God in Christ. Sainthood is the objective fact of forgiveness not a subjective feeling of being forgiven.

Such objective sainthood is a powerful message to share with those whose heart is wounded because of the sin of abortion. If that someone is you, please take this message to heart. If you know of someone who needs to be reminded of their sainthood, please share this message with them.