Greetings In Christ Amandine,
Romans 8:22-25 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
What Paul is saying is our hope is not seen here on earth. Our hope is in the life to come, in the redemption, or the renewal/ressurection of our bodies, and our hope is in the start of our new lives in Eternity with Christ, the one who gave us that hope.
But it's not the kind of hope that is uncertain...you know "oh I hope I get that Job interview straight" Hebrews 11:1 says that Faith is being sure of what we hope for. My faith is the assurance of my hope, is the knowledge that Christ will return. So without that hope there cannot be faith, but Christ has given us that Hope by promising his return, therefore we wait expectantly for his return, knowing he will.
As far as saints are concerned I return to Romans 8:26-27
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.
The Spirit intercedes for us with groans words cannot describe according to Gods will. In other words I (according to God, and the Spirit) am a Saint. Anyone whom the Spirit intercedes for is a Saint, and the Spirit intercedes for Us...that is those who he helps in their weakness. Christians. So there is no shortage of Saints...and if Saint meant someone like St. Paul, he still sinned even after becoming a Saint. St. Peter believed Christ was the Messiah before he denied the Messiah. The moment he up and followed Christ he became a Christian, a saint...a couple of years after that he denied he even knew Christ, yet he was still a Saint.
In my view a Saint is someone who dedicates their life to Christ. When you say "Ok Lord take my life and let it be" you're dedicating it to him. You're saying "Alright I'll live my life for you", and you try your darndnest to keep that promise. So because you dedicated your life to God you have become a saint.
To touch down on Scholar in Trainings post, perfection is a peace, a consumation of our reality. A realization of ourselves, not what we percieve we are, but what we truly are. I might be brown haired, brown eyed, 17 year old Anabaptist soon to be confirmed Anglican, but I'm still discovering who I really am as a person in Christ. I have a book that I'm reading right now that is absolutely amazing. It's by the Monks of New Skete and it's called In the Spirit of Happiness. It talks about the lives and beliefs of a monastic community living in New York state, and it talks about happiness, and how these monks and nuns (the monks of New Skete actually have a Monastary, a nunnery and a community for Married couples) have become content. It's not a how to book, but rather it introduces ideas that are meant to help change the way you think, to help change your mind if you will. I suggest reading that and Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis...not nessicarily in that order. Lewis summarizes and explains Christianity...explains the deeper theological issues starting out simply with Right and Wrong, then using that as a foundation builds it up. Both are great books I suggest you read because at somepoint both touch down on perfection. It's great.
In Prayer,
Eruliel
