THE SAINTS

The Antilles and Aruba are very familiar with the title "Saints". In days gone many babies were named after the Saint who was born on that particular day. And that means that particular saint becomes the patron of that innocent little creature for the rest of his or her life.
However today, that religious custom is no longer practiced here in Aruba and the Antilles. That in itself is a testimony of how false such a practice is. But speaking of Saints – how is it possible for a human being to become a saint? What do the Scriptures have to say about that?
Dear friends of all ages, by the grace and mercy of Almighty God, we have the answer very clearly given to us in the Word of God, the Bible. That word, that title "Saint" or "Saints" is mentioned many times. And by the authority of the Word of God in the Scriptures we can declare the following, that there has never existed a human being who lived such a good and pure life to the point where he merits the title SAINT, as many believe today. There is not a single person living today who can consider him or herself a saint based on a clean and pure life in the sight of God. No not one! As already mentioned, that word occurs many times in the Scriptures. It is not only applicable to human beings, but also for material things used in the temple. Things like clothes, temple, pots and pans, cutlery, etc., which were used in the service of the temple. One of the meanings for that word is "separation". An example is things like pots and pans, cutlery, etc., all used for service in the temple – these were used for nothing else but temple use. It was the same with the Jewish temple. The temple was dedicated, consecrated and dedicated for the service of God at that time, and particularly for a place of prayer. Another meaning of the word is purity. But in this instance it has to do with perfect purity, which belongs only to God. In the book of Revelation 15:3,4 we read the following: "They held harps given them by God and sang the song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the Lamb. Great and marvelous are your deeds Lord God Almighty. Just and true are your ways, King of the Ages, Who will not fear you, O Lord and bring honor to your name. For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you for your righteous acts have been revealed." (Rev. 15:3,4)
We may ask, about what kind of saints do we read about in the Scriptures? The answer is the saints in Christ. Or we could say it means all the true believers, men and women, who have heard the Gospel of the grace of our God in Christ, and then repented, believed and accepted Jesus Christ as their only personal Savior. Writing to the brethren in Corinth, Paul says the following, "To the church of God in Corinth to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ – their Lord and ours: grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Cor. 3:1-3.)
Dear Blog reader, you will find this throughout the New Testament. Sinners who have repented and believed the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ are called SAINTS – so do not forget – we are Saints IN CHRIST. What's more in every case it is those in life who are struggling against sin who are called saints and not those in heaven.
It is understandable that in this short word the subject of Saints cannot be treated adequately, but if you are interested what the Scriptures have to say about this, take your Bible and read the following passages. (Psalms 34:9, Daniel 7:18,21,22, 25 and 27. Acts 9:13,32, 26:10. Romans 8:27, 15:25,26 and 31. 1 Cor. 14:33, 2 Cor. 1:1, 2 also 8:4, 9:1,2, and 13:13.)

ATHEISM

An atheist is a person who denies the existence of God. Actually this matter has existed since the beginning of civilization. From the very beginning there was the belief in one kind of a god or another with different names. And a person that did not believe in the god that was serving the nation to which he or she pertained to; he or she was called and atheist. The word simply means "no god".
In this short message we are not proposing to explain the details about false gods or the true God. But our intent is to warn against the danger of modern atheism that is prevalent and accepted even here in Aruba and the Antilles.
To begin, all of the Antilles and Aruba are considered as believers in God. So, in fact, no one can call us "Atheists". And should one of us be called an atheist, we could consider that as both base and offensive. Nevertheless, according to the Scriptures, the world is full of atheists. There are religious atheists and anti-religion atheists. On television and in books we can hear and read how belief in God as the Creator and Sustainer of the Universe is being rejected daily.
But now, in what sense are there many religious atheists here in Aruba and the Antilles, Holland, or anywhere else in the world? As we already said the word means "no god". If a person says, "I am an atheist, it simply means that he or she says they do not believe in the existence of God. But what does Scripture say about that? In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul wrote these words to Titus: " To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact both their minds and consciences are corrupted. They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny Him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for anything good." (Take a moment and read Titus 1:10-16.)
The Bible is very clear about the doctrine of God being the Creator and Sustainer of the universe. And that this God loved the world so much that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him has eternal life. And the Scriptures also tell us that "whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will no see life, for God’s wrath remains on him." John 3:36-37
As we already mentioned, here in Aruba and in the Antilles we consider ourselves to be believers in the existence of God. Nevertheless, that belief cannot pass the test revealed in the Scriptures. According to the Scriptures if a person does no repent and believe the Gospel, he does not have God. Examples in the Bible are plentiful. In the letter of 1 John 2:23 we read the following: "No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also." (1 John 2:23 NIV)
Friends, to acknowledge the Son indicates that you believe and accept the Son of God as your personal and only Savior. This is a decision between life and death. He weo has the Son has the life, whoever does not have the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him or her. Take your Bible, read it again and again, and believe and obey.