Clearly, the word “saint” in the New Testament refers to a follower of God, and after the establishment of the Lord’s church, “saint” was a synonym for “Christian” (Acts 9:13). However, the Catholic Church uses the word “saint” in a way different from how it is used in the Bible. In Catholicism, the word “saint” refers to someone who has lived a virtuous and exemplary life, has died and now is in heaven. Furthermore, that person is said to have performed at least two miracles after death from heaven, for which reason the Catholic Church officiates his or her sainthood through its process that it calls canonization. Following canonization, these Catholic saints become the object of veneration or worship to whom prayers are offered. One miracle qualifies a person for the Catholic Church to solemnize one for beatification, and a second miracle leads to canonization.
What the Catholic Church or some other manmade religious organization decrees, though, does not alter biblical truth. Jesus Christ, not a man or a group of men or women, is the Head of the church (Colossians 1:18) for which He died (Acts 20:28; Romans 5:8), about which we can read in Scripture (Acts 2:47) and for which He will return someday to take back with Him to heaven (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). Only Jesus Christ has all authority in heaven and on earth (Matthew 28:18 NKJV). That authority of Christ is related to mankind through the Holy Scriptures (2 Timothy 3:16-17; Jude 3). There are no more new revelations coming from God through the Holy Spirit or by way of angels to mankind (Galatians 1:6-9). We already have everything that we need (2 Peter 1:3). Mankind is forbidden to change any part of God’s Word (Revelation 22:18-19), and by God’s Word (including the words of our Lord) each person will be judged someday (John 12:48).
Manmade dogmas about sainthood and canonization are without merit. They detract from what God through the Bible has taught. “If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen” (1 Peter 4:11 NKJV emphasis added).
