What makes a person a saint?

Stravinsk

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I think you are mistaken. A page count will show that saint Paul's letters constitute about 1/4 (25.3%) of the new testament. And any reading of saint Paul must bring one to the conclusion that he was a Christian and not a Pharisee when he wrote his letters.

Acts 23:6
Philippians 3:5

Saul/Paul is a Pharisee. He boldly asserts it even in his letters as part of his "qualifications". Christians often quote him as being chosen for his vast knowledge and wisdom based on his past learning and knowledge, then disqualify all that when the reminder that Yeshua wasn't too fond of the Pharisees is brought to attention. His conversion, by the way, and his revelations are solely on his own (and only) witness.

Outside the Gospels (one written by Luke, Saul/Paul's follower), the majority of the Epistles are by Saul/Paul, and his writings constitute the vast majority of what Christians quote when making or defending some theological idea.
 

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Acts 23:6
Philippians 3:5

Saul/Paul is a Pharisee. He boldly asserts it even in his letters as part of his "qualifications". Christians often quote him as being chosen for his vast knowledge and wisdom based on his past learning and knowledge, then disqualify all that when the reminder that Yeshua wasn't too fond of the Pharisees is brought to attention. His conversion, by the way, and his revelations are solely on his own (and only) witness.

Outside the Gospels (one written by Luke, Saul/Paul's follower), the majority of the Epistles are by Saul/Paul, and his writings constitute the vast majority of what Christians quote when making or defending some theological idea.

Philippians 3:5 tells us saint Paul's family heritage not his religion and Acts 32:6 also tells his family heritage but not his religion. Surely there is a difference between the faith of Christians and the religion of the Pharisees who were scrupulous about the Laws of cleansing and separation but who denied Christ and participated in the plans to kill him and in his death?
 

Stravinsk

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Philippians 3:5 tells us saint Paul's family heritage not his religion and Acts 32:6 also tells his family heritage but not his religion. Surely there is a difference between the faith of Christians and the religion of the Pharisees who were scrupulous about the Laws of cleansing and separation but who denied Christ and participated in the plans to kill him and in his death?

There are no born Christians just like there are no born Muslims or born Pharisees. There are even no born Jews from Yeshua's perspective, He addressed this when some Jews said they were descended from Abraham and were Abraham's children. He acknowledged that they were physically Abraham's descendants but not Abraham's children. Further He described them as the Devil's children because of their actions and their intent towards Him. This is recorded in John 8.

Saul/Paul asserts his Pharisee status in those 2 passages to either assert some sort of religious authority and/or to do the same when he is comparing himself to what he calls the "super apostles". His statements in context are not just to give his "heritage" but to command attention to those whom he is speaking because of it. It is part of his double speak: "Listen to me - I am a Pharisee, these are my qualifications!" then "but I count it all as garbage for the sake of knowing Christ...".

Furthermore, simply mentioning the name "Jesus Christ" or referring to the Messiah or any other title by which He is known does not mean acknowledging him - OTHER THAN IN NAME. Most Christians do not accept the Gospel of Thomas, or the Book of Mormon as inspired works called "Scripture" and yet these are works that frequently reference a person who is called Christ. The reason I point this out is to highlight what you say about "denying Christ". People think of this phrase as simply unbelief or denial of the person of Yeshua, but this is not necessarily so.

The term "Anti Christ" may mean "against Christ" - but it does not describe the method for the attack. According to Saul/Paul's own words he was an enemy of early believers and murdered them. That is unquestionably anti - Christ. But after his so called conversion he is still anti-christ. Not in the sense of murdering believers anymore - but in twisting the words of Scripture (OT included) and of Christ and replacing the Teachings of Yeshua with teachings that contradict Yeshua. Saul/Paul does this masterfully, he mixes in truth with error, and with nonsense. It is near impossible to spot if the blinders of "the bible is the complete Word of God" are on - readers won't look up his quotes or check what he says against the teachings of Yeshua nor what he quotes from the OT. In this way his denial of Christ is done by subtlety, not overtly, and with great deference to the name "Jesus Christ" and tales of personal sufferings and faith that serve to cover them up and convince everyone he is a super apostle, when he is in fact a major anti-Christ.
 

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Many people are born into Christian households, receive baptism, and grow in grace and in the faith. Such persons are "born Christians" some call them cradle Christians. But to become a saint is more than merely professing faith and living in communion with the Church.
 

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Then who are they and I take it that they do not need salvation since they are born this way? Wrong

Your conclusion is, of course, wrong but it is wrong because the way you use the word "saved" is not scriptural. People are not "saved" until the last judgement even though they receive a promise of salvation to come and even though the Holy Spirit is given as an earnest of their eventual (final) salvation. In my previous post I explained who is born a Christian. Did you read it?
 

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Yes and many in their teens move away from God and many do return but noone is born Christian
 

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... no one is born Christian

I disagree. The holy scriptures give examples of those born with the Holy Spirit (saint John the Baptist), those born to prophetic office under the old covenant, and the Lord Jesus Christ himself, born of a woman and under the law yet born sinless and as saviour of the world.
 

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and other than Jesus born with a sin nature and in need of salvation, yes Jophn the Baptist had the Holy Spirit but still had the sin nature
 

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and other than Jesus born with a sin nature and in need of salvation, yes Jophn the Baptist had the Holy Spirit but still had the sin nature
I am not sure what you mean by "and other than Jesus born with a sin nature and in need of salvation", please explain it for me.
 

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Sorry, Jesus was born without a sin nature and is the only one born so. John the Baptist had it
 

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Sorry, Jesus was born without a sin nature and is the only one born so. John the Baptist had it

I think you are right. Certainly the Lord Jesus Christ was somehow preserved from original sin. His mother - being human and through whom he received human flesh and human nature - might be expected to pass on a fallen human nature if she herself was afflicted with one. Elizabeth, Mary's relative, and her husband Zacharias were the mother and father of saint John the baptist and it is evident from Luke chapter one that Zacharias had a fallen nature because the scriptures tell us he doubted Gabriel's word and was deprived of articulate speech until after John was born as a consequence.
 

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I think you are right. Certainly the Lord Jesus Christ was somehow preserved from original sin. His mother - being human and through whom he received human flesh and human nature - might be expected to pass on a fallen human nature if she herself was afflicted with one. Elizabeth, Mary's relative, and her husband Zacharias were the mother and father of saint John the baptist and it is evident from Luke chapter one that Zacharias had a fallen nature because the scriptures tell us he doubted Gabriel's word and was deprived of articulate speech until after John was born as a consequence.


The Catholic Church regards the Lord's human nature as untouched by original sin because of a unique grace granted to Mary as the mother of the Lord that she would be cleansed of original sin from the moment of her conception. But many protestants reject this and prefer other views of the means by which the Lord's human nature was made without sin - original and actual.
 

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The Catholic Church regards the Lord's human nature as untouched by original sin because of a unique grace granted to Mary as the mother of the Lord that she would be cleansed of original sin from the moment of her conception. But many protestants reject this and prefer other views of the means by which the Lord's human nature was made without sin - original and actual.
Mary blessed yes, but wiithoput sin no, she was human
 

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Mary blessed yes, but wiithoput sin no, she was human

There it is; you are faced with a dilemma because just as Mary is human so too is her Son.
 

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There it is; you are faced with a dilemma because just as Mary is human so too is her Son.

Concieved by the Holy Ghost so was she sinless for the epriod she carried Him or did God do something else unless of course you are limiting God in how He accomplishs something
 

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Concieved by the Holy Ghost so was she sinless for the period she carried Him or did God do something else unless of course you are limiting God in how He accomplishes something

You tell me. It's your dilemma. How did God do it? Or would you prefer to admit it is a mystery?
 
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