All Saints Day

All Saints Day is a religious tradition observed by Catholics, Methodists, Episcopalians, some Protestants, and various other denominations. On this day, congregants remember the saints of the church who have passed away and are believed to be in heaven. In many Christian denominations, saints have been canonized, which is an official designation of sainthood. All Saints Day is based on the belief in a spiritual connection between the recognized saints in heaven and those on earth, encouraging prayer to them. However, there is no substantial Biblical evidence to support this belief.

The Bible teaches that everyone who professes Jesus Christ as their  Savior is considered a saint. To fully understand this teaching, we need to explore the meaning of the word "saint." It comes from the Greek word that means "holy" or "set apart." When individuals choose to follow Christ, they decide to be distinct from their previous sinful behaviors and the misleading paths of the world.

The term saints in the church was a name that the Apostle Paul frequently used in his writings. For example, First Corinthians 1:2, "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:"
Instructing church leaders in Ephesus, Paul said in Ephesians 4:12, "equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ." As in Corinth, the saints were the church members who believed in Jesus Christ.

Believers were called saints in the first church in Jerusalem. While sharing his testimony to Agrippa, Paul called the very people in the church of Jerusalem whom he had persecuted before his conversion saints. Acts 26:10 states, "And I did so in Jerusalem. I not only locked up many of the saints in prison after receiving authority from the chief priests, but when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them."

The proof that the term "saints" refers to all believers is clear. We can be grateful for the faithful individuals who came before us, as they are currently enjoying the rewards of their sacrifices and service. However, we do not need to confess to the deceased or seek their intercession, as that is the role of God. Most importantly, Scripture teaches us that we have one mediator with God: Jesus. First Timothy 2:5 says, "For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus."