It Will Always Be About Jesus

1Corinthians 1:2 - To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours...

This was the Apostle Paul's greeting to followers of Christ in Corinth. He was greeting fellow Christians who had made the decision to become followers of Jesus. His ministry was to encourage and minister to the Gentiles of his time. He greeted the Ephesians (1:1) in like manner, those in Italy (Hebrews 13:24) and in Achaia (2Corinthians 1:1). This greeting was for all who had received Christ. That same greeting is used for all others today whom God calls and acknowledge that call to become a follower of Christ.  ...who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance (1 Peter 1:2).

Pope John Paul II is on the fast track to sainthood, a news commentator proclaimed, as he was beatified this past Sunday. With this beatification, if I am understanding this correctly, he has made it to heaven. There needs to be only one more miracle accounted for for his honored sainthood. Then there will be one more saint people may pray to, the commentator continued. 

I have always heard that when we come to Christ we have been called by God and we are all counted as not only His saints but kings and priests... and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. (Revelation 1:5-6) Yes, to HIM be the glory! Jesus did it all.

Sainthood is defined as those followers of Jesus Christ who live their lives according to His teaching. This definition is also narrowed down some by the Catholic church referring to especially holy men and women whose lives are extraordinarily virtuous and have entered heaven. 

My Bible tells me that if I have received Christ, confessed Him publicly, I am called to be a saint with all the others who have done likewise. Does it mean I'm perfect? No. Was anyone deemed to be named a saint perfect? No. Romans tells us, and again, this is for all people from Adam and Eve until the last person born: As it is written: There is no one righteous, not even one... (Romans 3:10). I believe Pope John Paul II did live an exemplary life. No doubt He loved the Lord and did his best to be obedient. There are many less in-the-limelight individuals all over the world who have done the same. Think of all the clergy and missionaries...and others dedicated to God's work. 

The Bible says by the power of the Holy Spirit that lives within me I am made holy and righteous in God's eyes because I have received Christ as my Lord and Savior. It is the blood of Christ that has washed me clean. This may appear an arrogant statement, but that's what I have come to believe.  For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight (Ephesians 1:4).

You see, it's all about Jesus, His work on the cross, His death causing the veil in the temple to be torn to give each of us access once again to God the Father. It's for all flawed individuals who become Christ seekers. We are made new...we are God's workmanship (Ephesians 2:10). It's all about what He has done for us and how we have become His beloved saints. He has called anyone who chooses to live their life for Christ... a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light...(1Peter 2:9)  

No matter how good a person is or was on this earth, we all are considered saints of God if they were called and chose to follow Jesus and acknowledged Him as Lord and Savior of their life and live with the knowledge buried deep in their hearts of the sacrifice He made so that we might be saved and added to the list of saints.

Pope John Paul II is considered in heaven. Assuming he was a true follower of Christ, obeyed Him and lived a lifestyle befitting a saint of God, he should have automatically gone to heaven. When saints of God die they ... are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:8).

It needs to be determined if there is another miracle that Pope John Paul II accomplished before his sainthood is complete. We are merely the willing vessels God uses to perform miracles. We are all equal in God's eyes. Some may do more than others and live their lives more fully for the Lord, as any pope, priest, pastor or rabbi would. There are others in this world who have seen miracles performed through their own prayers or touch...it comes with the territory of obedience to God. God can use anyone.

There's also the point that was raised about now having another saint to pray to. The Bible is specifically clear that we are to pray to God alone. Jesus is the ONLY Mediator between God and man. Jesus is alive and it is He we are to pray to. It is He who receives our prayers (John 14:13-14, John 16:23, 1John 5:14, ). It will always be about Jesus. Why do we need look to Jesus as Savior if we can go to someone else? That just does not compute in my little brain. Jesus is omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent. No one else is. He can handle every prayer lifted up to Him. He is a God who never slumbers nor sleeps.

The Apostle Paul so often addressed those people he visited and encouraged or admonished as saints (2Corinthians 1:1, Romans 1:7, Ephesians 1:1) or saints and faithful brothers in Christ (Colossians 1:2) or saints who have been selected by God (1Corinthians 1:2). God chooses us to be His children. When we take hold of that invitation, His Word tells us we are made righteous and holy, saints of God, not through anything we have done but through faith in the work that Jesus has done for us and through the power of His Holy Spirit which is given to us upon acceptance. It is for all people.

Philippians 3:8-9 - Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith...