The Saint - The Faithful in Christ "Signs" of the Saintly Life

After revealing the origin and Sonship of Jesus, John shows how Jesus identified as the Word made flesh by "signs" (miracles) which John said he recorded "that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing ye might have life through his name". The eight signs begin with the turning of water into wine, and end with the raising of Lazarus. These signs were the proof and the guarantee that Jesus was both the Son of God and the Messiah. If for no other reason, said Jesus, "believe me for the very works? sake" (John 14:11).

In a similar way the Epistle to the Ephesians establishes the origin of the saints in Christ, and shows how the mortal saint can ultimately become the word of God, by incorporation into the body of Christ. Later, in seven ?signs? Paul shows how the saints can be clearly identified as sons of God: the signs that are the proof and guarantee that they are "children of light".

The first ?sign ? of the saint is his/her active response to the call of God with its characteristic unity of spirit, and its assertion of the fundamental and sevenfold teaching: "One body, one spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father" (Ephesians 4:4-6). The second sign designates the active gospel work of the saint: apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers; all having in some sense their counterpart in the ecclesia today, and all for the "perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ" (Ephesians 4:11, 12).

The third sign indicates the way in which the saint should walk: "As children of light," who imitate God, the Father, in fruits of goodness and righteousness (Ephesians 5:1,8,9). The fourth sign exhibits the pattern of spiritual life lived by the husband and wife who are likened to Christ and the ecclesia (Ephesians 5:22-23).

The fifth sign is the way the spiritual life of the saint is manifested in the relationship between parents and children (Ephesians 6:1-4), and the sixth is the service which is rendered, not for the sake of self or master, but "as unto the Lord"(vs 5-7). The seventh sign is the armour the saint accepts as a soldier of Christ and which he uses against "the wiles of the devil" and "spiritual wickedness in high places" (vs 11-12).

Bro Lazarus Kingoo (Yatta, Kenya)