One of the greatest blessings we have as Christians is our calling by God, a divine summons that sets us apart as saints. The word saint simply means a holy one, derived from the Greek word hagios, often translated as holy. In I Corinthians 1:2, we are called to be saints, which means called to be holy, and II Timothy 1:9 reinforces that God called us with a holy calling. Therefore, our calling is to be a person who is separate and set apart, or different. Scripture uses the term saint primarily to describe one who has been set apart, regardless of personal moral quality at the time of separation. The Corinthians, for instance, were called saints even while exhibiting much carnality. After God called them, He declared them to be holy, and they responded, though they had not yet fully conformed their lives to His standard. He considered them saints because of their position before Him, not due to any inherent goodness or character. As saints, we are set apart from our trespasses and sins, the course of this world, and satan the devil, as described in Ephesians 2:1-2. God requires that we remain separate from these influences, staying free from the defilement of sin and walking according to His course rather than the world's. Our calling demands that we maintain this separation and resist falling back under the sway of those things from which we have been redeemed.

At the beginning of our spiritual lives, God declares us holy or saints, and we must continue in that holiness to make it complete. He desires us to become holy ones, separate ones in truth, and not merely in name. Our calling by God to perfect holiness is our true vocation, the job that truly matters. As saints, we are to be in the world yet separate from the things of satan, removed from the defilement of sin, and detached from anything in opposition to God. During the Millennial rule of Jesus Christ on earth, the saints will form part of God's government, reigning as a kingdom of priests. However, God will give that opportunity only to those who have perfected holiness, denying a position of authority to anyone still wrapped up in this present, evil world. We have been called, set apart, and made to be separate so we can instill values that have their source in God and reject those that originate from satan. As saints, our calling is to represent Christ's Kingdom, to be separate from anything that defiles, and to perfect the holiness that our King has given us. God has already begun the process by separating the saints from the power of darkness and conveying them into the Kingdom of the Son of His love, a nation of holy ones.