You Are a Saint: Recovering a Forgotten Identity

The Bible calls all who are in Christ “saints.” While the Catholic tradition reserves the title for a few, Scripture applies it to the whole Church—ordinary believers made holy by grace.

“Don’t get me wrong—I’m certainly no saint.”

You’ve probably heard that line before. Maybe you’ve even said it. It usually comes with a sheepish grin, a shrug, and the sense that whoever’s saying it has made peace with their imperfections.

But here’s the problem: if you belong to Christ, that statement is not only misleading—it’s unbiblical.

The Word the Bible Uses

In the New Testament, the word saint shows up often. Paul opens nearly every one of his letters by addressing the saints in the churches he’s writing to—people in Rome (Romans 1:7 NASB), Corinth (Corinthians 1:2 NASB), Ephesus (Ephesians 1:1 NASB), Philippi (Philippians 1:1 NASB) , and more. These weren’t elite Christians who performed miracles or died as martyrs. They were regular believers: flawed, growing, and redeemed.

The Greek word behind saint is ἅγιος (hagios), meaning “holy ones” or “those set apart.” In the eyes of the early Church, to be in Christ was to be a saint. It was a title that said more about who Jesus is than who you are. You are holy not because you’ve earned it, but because Christ has made you holy through His death and resurrection.

Saint Is a Status, Not a Stage

This means being a saint isn’t something you work toward—it’s something you receive by grace through faith. You don’t graduate into sainthood. You are declared holy the moment you are united with Jesus.

That doesn’t mean you’re perfect. Far from it. But it does mean that your identity is not defined by your past or even by your present struggles. It is defined by your position in Christ.

That’s why Paul could call the Corinthians saints—even though that church was full of conflict, pride, and immorality. They were messy, but they were still saints.

Why This Matters for Your Life and Growth

Misusing or avoiding the word saint actually hurts our discipleship. If we believe “saint” means super-Christian, we’ll assume it has nothing to do with us. And if we think our identity in Christ is something we have to earn, we’ll end up striving in our own strength—or giving up entirely.

But when we embrace the truth that we are saints:

• We grow with hope instead of shame. Holiness becomes a joyful pursuit rather than a guilt trip. Sanctification flows from identity.

• We fight sin with purpose. We don’t walk in holiness to become saints—we walk in holiness because we are saints.

• We live as part of a holy people. The Church isn’t a gathering of sinners trying to get better. It’s a community of saints learning to live like Jesus together.

When you know you’re a saint, you begin to walk like one—not with arrogance, but with confidence and grace.

A New Way to Think About Yourself (and the Church)

Imagine what might change if we actually believed this about ourselves—and each other. What if Christians spoke to one another not as broken-down sinners hoping for a scrap of mercy, but as fellow saints being transformed day by day?

This identity brings weight and dignity to the Christian life. It says, “You are holy. So walk in that holiness. You are set apart. So don’t blend in. You are called. So don’t settle.”

This isn’t positive thinking. It’s biblical thinking. And it’s essential for our growth in Christ.

So, Are You a Saint?

If you’ve trusted Christ, then yes—you are. Not someday. Not once you’ve cleaned yourself up. Right now.

That tired line—“I’m no saint”—may sound humble, but it denies a glorious truth about what Christ has done for you. You don’t need to qualify yourself. Jesus has already called you holy.

So go ahead. Say it with reverence, not pride:“I am a saint, by grace alone.”

Now, live like one.