The Right of Passage.  by Rev. Anthony Smith

Isaiah 64:6-64:6 In this world today there are many rights of passage from boyhood to manhood, different cultures and different ways. Many are extremely dangerous. For one reason or another these rights of passage became into being and very popular. Most of them come about because of cults and witchcraft. Many of these rights end up with the death of the participant, many with the foreknowledge of the parents.

The right of Passage that I want to speak of today is Sainthood. I have no intention of putting anyone down for their beliefs but to enlighten all in the word of God. For it doesnt matter what you believe, what matters is what the Word of God says. Did you ever wonder what or whom a Saint is? The dictionary says a saint is; A person officially recognized, especially by canonization,[To declare (a deceased person){ The Apostle Paul wasnt talking to dead people when He called them Saints, was He?} to be a saint and entitled to be fully honored as such.

To include in the biblical canon. To include in a literary canon. To approve as being within canon law. To treat as sacred; glorify{ The Bible says to Glorify God, not man}.], as being entitled to public veneration and capable of inter-ceding for people on earth. An extremely virtuous person. As I looked at this definition, I thought, If this is a saint then were all in trouble. Do I really need to be, canonized, officially recognized, an intercessor for people or an extremely virtuous person to be a saint ? And believe it or not I found the answer was NO. I found that anyone can be and are Saints of God. Weather man, recognizes, qualifies, justifies, or puts a good housekeeping seal of approval on it.

I know your going to ask,Who then is a Saint? The answer, Everyone who accepts Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, thats who. Lets look at A person officially recognized Officially recognized by who? Man? And if so, where did this authority come from, man or God? If from God then where in scripture is it found? Then if its from man, do they over-step their authority that only comes from God? An intercessor for people? 1Ti 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;. Is there another intercessor or mediator, between God and Man except Jesus? If so, again where is His authorization, where does it come from? So what is the right of passage for a Saint? keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. Lets read a little.

Saints, saints, saints There are 95 verses in Scripture that declair, who is a Saint by the Standards of God and not man. Mat 27:52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,Where these people canonized? No, recognised ? Yes by God. Acts 9:13 Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: What about these people? Canonized? No. Recognized ? Yes by God. Act 9:32 And it came to pass, as Peter passed throughout all quarters, he came down also to the saints which dwelt at Lydda. Or these? Canonized? No. Recognized ? Yes by God. And what about an extremely virtuous person?, The Apostle Paul never once said, that He was, nor anyone else in Scripture ever call Paul an extremely virtuous person

1Ti 1:15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. Acts 26:10 Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them. I thought an extremely virtuous person had to be a righteous person? So what does God have to say about our righteousness? Isa 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousness are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

Rom 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. So then we ask ourselves, Do we worship or pray to Saints? No. The Bible is very, very clear on this matter. Mat 4:10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. Rev 19:10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

Rev 14:7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. Rom 8:27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. Eph 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus: Col 1:2 To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Rev 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. I know that there are some who will say, We are just honoring them. Thats OK. but who do we honor according to scripture? In the New Testament the word Honor is mentioned 50 times.1 Peter 2:17 Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king. 2Ti 2:21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the masters use, and prepared unto every good work. Rom 13:7 Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.

1Co 12:23 And those members of the body, which we think to be less honorable, upon these we bestow more abundant honor; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. Romans 2:10 But glory, honor, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: So what am I actually saying about Saints and men who worship them and pray to them and hold them higher than others? Saints are called, predestinated, Justified and glorified-only by God.

Romans 8:30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. We are all Saints whom believe in the name of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. We need no other justification than our Faith in Him. It doesnt need to be written down in mans books, that will perish away at the end of all things but we are written down in a Book that will never perish and never fade away. The Lambs Book of Life.

So what is our right of Passage from sinner to saint? John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. 1 John 3:14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. ars