4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Since this study is about saints in Christ Jesus, then one should seek a biblical answer to the question as to what a Christian is. In other words, a Christian, or saint, is one who is under God s grace and favor. Grace by definition is simply unmerited or underserved favor. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
Grace stands in contrast to the ideas of debt, law, or work.
He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. God has saved Dallas Burdette, God has saved David Starkey, God has saved Frank DiBattiste, God has saved Donna Miller, God has saved Donna Hughes, God has saved Betty Gatewood, God has saved Roger Woods, and God has saved every person who has responded to Jesus as Lord. To be a saint means to be in Christ.