We are God’s Children, Saints Awaiting Glorified Bodies

We are Believers in Jesus atoning grace, Saints who have the

indwelling of the Holy Spirit; spiritual brothers/sisters of Jesus

1. Saints (holy ones) are God’s Children, brothers and sisters of our eldest brother Jesus

Saints: means holy ones; those whose spiritual beings have been made holy by faith in the atoning grace of Jesus. Whether our spiritual being is in our body as we live on earth, or in Heaven separated from our body; they are the same pure and holy spiritual being. See C. 20 without verses, with verses below

*so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. Eph 2:8-9 NASB+

Saints make up the Body of Christ, Jesus One Holy Spiritual Church of all who have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit; whether we are physically living on earth or when we physically die and our spiritual being is taken to Heaven. We are all one with Jesus and because we are all one with Jesus, we are all individually one with each other; whether we are living on earth or when our spiritual being is taken to Heaven. We are children of our Heavenly Father, and brothers and sisters of our eldest brother Jesus; who is our Lord and Savior.

* I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church, Col 1:24 NKJV+

*For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. Phil 1:21-24 NIV+

We believe the most accurate description for all the children of God who are waiting for Jesus to return and give us glorified bodies is saints; which means holy ones. Only our spiritual being (soul/spirit) can be made holy by faith through Jesus atoning grace on the cross which allows the Holy Spirit to dwell in our spiritual being.

*Then he said, "Here I am, I have come to do your will." He sets aside the first to establish the second. And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Heb 10:9-10 NIV+

*If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness. Ro 8:10 NASB+

*that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, Eph 3:16-17 NKJV+

Saints are members of the household of God, are spiritually brothers and sisters of Jesus;

*So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, Eph 2:19-20 ESV+

*Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers. Heb 2:11 NIV+

Though saint refers to our holy spiritual being (soul/spirit), saint can also refer to our physical body (body/mind) which is united together with our spiritual being as we live here on earth; for without our spiritual being our physical bodies cannot live, and will die.

*For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead. Ja 2:26

*But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. Jn 7:39 NASB+

We also like to use believers to help describe, clarify who children of God are while we physically live on earth. Our God has given us our physical mind a free will, for without a free will we would be unable to love and choose our God above all things. Yet with a free will no matter how hard we try we will sin, do things our God would not have us do; even commit sins we are not aware of. Our physical body cannot be made holy, perfect until we are gathered/raptured to clouds over earth and given a new holy eternal glorious spiritual body like Jesus has.

*So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown a perishable body, it is raised an imperishable body; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. 1Co 15:42-44 NASB+

*For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself. Phil 3:20-21 NKJV+

Yet when we surrender our human will to our God, and accept the Holy Spirit into our hearts; our Heavenly Father forgives all of our sins and the Holy Spirit continues to forgive our sins as long as we love our God above all things and strive our hardest to love, follow our God’s commands above all else. And we become spiritually holy children of our Heavenly Father, brothers and sisters of Jesus whom He is not ashamed of; while waiting for Jesus to return and give us eternal glorified spiritual bodies. This was our Heavenly Father’s spiritual master plan before He designed, then created the world.

See 4 Things Make Us God’s Children - a reason; a means; a way; a surrender

*Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? 1Co 3:16 ESV+

*For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. Ro 8:13-14 NKJV+

2. We are called to be saints while we live on earth.

*To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours: 1Co 1:2 ESV+

3. Saints holy spiritual beings are spiritually one with Jesus, and make up the body of Christ, His One Holy Invisible Church, are part of the Household of God; and spiritually, individually united together with all of the saints.

*And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me. Jn 17:22-23 NKJV+

*so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Ro 12:5 NASB+

4. Since saint’s spiritual being (soul/spirit) is spiritually united together as one with Jesus; while we still physically live on earth our spiritual being is taken up in Jesus to our Father’s Throne in Heaven where Jesus sits. Though our physical being makes a veil we cannot see through to know what is happening in Heaven, though we can imagine what is happening within our hearts

*But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him. 1Co 6:17 NKJV+

*even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, Eph 2:7-9 NASB+

Though our physical mind is covered by veil of sin and cannot see into Heaven, only spiritually imagine what is happening

*Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 1Co 13:12 NIV+

5. Saints are given gifts to bring the gospel of Christ’s grace to all people to build up the body of Christ, His one Holy Spiritual Church.

*And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; Eph 4:11-12 NASB+

*But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 1Co 12:7 NASB+

6. When saints physically die on earth, our physical body turns to dust, while our spiritual being will be taken into Heaven/Kingdom of God/Paradise in 2^nd Heaven. We will see Jesus and be part of all the saints living in this Paradise. As we wait for Jesus to take us down to the clouds over earth and give us a glorified body.

*But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, Heb 12:22-23 ESV+

*so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints. 1Thess 3:13 ESV+

7. Saints will go through the 3½ year tribulation of the Beast/antichrist/man of sin; we will be willing to give our physical lives for Jesus.

*He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, Shall persecute the saints of the Most High, And shall intend to change times and law. Then the saints shall be given into his hand For a time and times and half a time. 'But the court shall be seated, And they shall take away his dominion, To consume and destroy it forever. Da 7:25-26 NKJV+

*He who has an ear, let him hear. If anyone is to go into captivity, into captivity he will go. If anyone is to be killed with the sword, with the sword he will be killed. This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of the saints. Rev 13:10 NIV+

8. Saints will be rewarded, given glorified bodies when Jesus returns when the beast/antichrist/man of sin reign is over at the 7^th trumpet; and will reward the saints with glorified spiritual bodies like Jesus has.

*The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever." Rev 11:15 NIV+

*And the twenty-four elders who sit on their thrones before God fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying, “We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, who is and who was, for you have taken your great power and begun to reign. The nations raged, but your wrath came, and the time for the dead to be judged, and for rewarding your servants, the prophets and saints, and those who fear your name, both small and great, and for destroying the destroyers of the earth.” Rev 11:16-18 ESV+

*Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. 1Jn 3:2 NKJV+

Saints are given glorified bodies, both the saints in Heaven and the saints on earth.

Saints from Heaven

*For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. Ro 8:22-23 NASB+

*in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. 1Co 15:52 ESV+

*But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. Ro 8:11 NKJV+

Saints from earth

*For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. 1Thess 4:16-17 NASB+

*But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. Phil 3:20-21 NIV+

*it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. 1Co 15:44 NASB+

Saints in glorified bodies will be given the power to rule with Jesus in His 1,000 Year Kingdom on Earth.

*Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases? Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, then, matters pertaining to this life! 1Co 6:2-3 ESV+

Saints will not be judged at the White Throne Judgment, but come with eternal glorified spiritual bodies into God’s eternal New Heaven and Earth to live forever with our God, with all other saints in eternal glorified spiritual bodies. See J. order - verses K. order - verses

The number of times the following words; which refer to us as holy children of God, spiritual brothers and sisters of Jesus are used in a word for word translation of the Bible (apx. depending on which word for word translation is used):

60 times Saint(s) is used; which means holy ones, all who have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

Saints was taken out of context by the early Catholic Church and could only be used for only for those who did great or miraculous works. Today if we use holy saints we are ridiculed and disparaged by the world as someone who thinks we are holy and better than everyone else. Though in reality our spiritual being is holy and we receive a peace from our God the world is unable to comprehend; though our physical mind and body will always be sinful, just like everyone’s physical body is. We should lovingly tell them if any ask Jesus for forgiveness and accept the Spirit into their hearts; their spiritual being will become perfectly holy just like ours is.

*But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy." 1Pe 1: 15-16 NIV+

29 times Believer(s) is used which refers to those who believed in Jesus, His atoning grace, and received the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

Many believe that Jesus existed, but we must explain that a real believer is one who believes Jesus is the Son of God, and the Son of Man. Who died on the cross for our sins, and arose the 3^rd day; and will forgive the sins of all who will give up our human will, and accept the Holy Spirit into our lives to guide us so we love our God above all things, and out of that love obey His commands.

* “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. Jn 14:15 ESV+

3 times Christian(s) is used, yet today it is the most often used word for believers of Jesus, His atoning grace, indwelling of Holy Spirit.

The meaning of Christian in this chaotic world has become so diluted almost anyone can become a Christian; just pick a verse from the Bible and say you believe in it. While making sure it does not contradict the worldly pleasures you want to continue, though other verses in the Bible tells us God has forbidden His children from doing it. As an.

*Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. 1Pe 4:16 ESV+

Example Probe ministries; almost 70% of those who believe they are born again Christians, also believe there are other ways to Heaven besides Jesus.

https://www.christianheadlines.com/contributors/milton-quintanilla/almost-70-percent-of-born-again-christians-say-jesus-christ-isnt-the-only-way-to-god-study-shows.html

Christians was first used by some Jews and Gentiles who were believers in Jesus, but no longer wanted to called disciples; for the disciples especially in Jerusalem still required Old Covenant ceremonial laws to be followed. These believers wanted to be a separate distinct group who no longer wanted leaders who taught that Old Covenant ceremonial laws were needed to be saved; this included circumcision, special days they must observe, physical rituals to forgive their sins, foods they could not eat, how food must be prepared and eaten. They wanted to follow the moral commands of God, and knew they would sin; but their sin would be forgiven by faith in Jesus, asking Him to forgive their sins.

Disciples are not mentioned after Acts; 11 of the original 12 disciples (Mk 3:14-19), Matthias (Ac 1:16-20) and Paul were now referred to as Apostles (Saw Jesus when He called them).

*Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints who are in all Achaia: 2Co 1:1 NKJV+

We are not disciples of Jesus, nor do we want to be disciples of Jesus, for works do not save us. We are not saved by circumcision, any of the old Covenant Celebrations or Feasts, and do not have to eat only certain foods prepared in a certain way. We are under the freedom of Christ’s atoning grace on the cross to forgive our sins, and receive the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Though out of our love for our Savior we will want to do His work, help others as we tell them about our Savior’s great love for them, and how all can be saved through Him. Even the first Christians were still under some Old Covenant Ceremonial laws Paul later realized were not required of Christians, except if it pushed others away from accepting Jesus as our Lord (stumbling block).

*For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements: that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.” Ac 15:28-29 ESV+

*Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a man to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. Ro 14:20 NIV+

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+ ESV “Scripture quotations marked [ESV] are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version,” copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good New Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”

Some words in the verses from these Bibles may be emphasized with bold letters.