May God Honors His Saints
[ The Honor of Saints and God’s Love for His Children] The text revolves around a core concept: God honors the saints and grants them glory and dignity from Him. Honoring the saints by believers does not diminish God’s honor; rather, it is an integral part of Biblical teaching.
[ Biblical Examples of God Honoring the Saints]
- The Mount of Transfiguration: Christ shared His glory with Moses and Elijah, honoring both the celibate and the married.
- The Book of Revelation: The presence of 24 elders sitting on thrones with golden crowns around the throne of God.
- The Twelve Apostles: Christ promised them that they would sit on twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
- Sharing of Names and Deeds: God granted His children some of His titles and roles (such as: light of the world, the vine, shepherds, priests, judges), and promised that the believer would perform even greater works.
[ Intercession and Prayers of the Saints]
- God associates His name with the saints (the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob) and names His books, laws, and houses after them (the Law of Moses, St. George’s Church).
- God commands people to seek the prayers of the saints on their behalf so He may have mercy on them (such as asking Abraham to pray for Abimelech, and Job to pray for his friends).
- In the New Testament, intercession appeared in the Virgin Mary’s request at the wedding in Cana of Galilee, Peter’s request to John, and Apostle Paul’s request for prayers for himself.
[ Blessing and the Authority of the Word]
- God made the saints a blessing to others (such as Jacob, Joseph the Righteous, and Elijah the Prophet).
- The words, commands, and punishments of the saints hold authority and are recorded in heaven (such as Elijah and the fire from heaven, Elisha and Gehazi, and the contemporary story of Anba Abraam, Bishop of Fayoum).
Rejecting the honor of the saints is considered arrogance and ignorance of the Holy Scriptures, contradicting the spirit of the divine commandment.
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