Introduction
In the Bible, saints are not an elite of exceptional Christians: they are all those who belong to Jesus Christ, set apart by God for himself. Facing death, Scripture gives a precise hope, that of the resurrection, because Christ himself has risen.
Every autumn, All Saints' Day brings back the question of death and of those we have loved. Many evangelical Christians wonder how to approach this date without avoiding it and without simply adopting it as it is. This page looks at what the Bible says about saints and about our departed, with verses read in their context, to help you live this moment with peace and gratitude.
Where Does All Saints' Day Come From?
All Saints' Day, on November 1, is the feast of all the saints. The next day, November 2, is All Souls' Day, devoted to remembering the dead. These two dates come from the tradition of the Church, which over the centuries developed the habit of honoring the memory of departed believers. They are not described in the Bible, but they raise questions that the Bible indeed addresses.
In France, November 1 is a public holiday, and many families take the opportunity to decorate the graves of their loved ones with flowers. This page does not judge any of these gestures. It simply invites you to ask what God himself says about the saints and about death. Scripture's answers are simple and beautiful.
What Does “Saint” Mean in the Bible?
The Greek word translated as “saint” is hagios, which means set apart, dedicated to God. In the New Testament, it does not designate a few exceptional Christians, but all believers. Paul writes to the saints in Corinth, Ephesus or Philippi (Philippians 1:1), that is, to real churches, with their strengths and their weaknesses.
This family is not limited to those still on earth. Chapter 11 of the letter to the Hebrews recalls believers of the past, such as Abel, Noah or Abraham, who trusted God to the end. Their lives encourage us to hold on, because they show that God remains faithful.
1 Corinthians 1:2
"to the assembly of God which is at Corinth—those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called saints, with all who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ in every place, both theirs and ours:"
Paul addresses the church in Corinth, an imperfect community which he corrects at length in his letter. Yet he speaks of believers as “called saints”. Being a saint is first an identity received in Jesus Christ, before it is an effort. Read all of 1 Corinthians 1.
Ephesians 1:1
"Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, to the saints who are at Ephesus, and the faithful in Christ Jesus:"
The letter to the Ephesians opens with the same word: Paul writes “to the saints who are at Ephesus, and the faithful in Christ Jesus”. The saints are ordinary believers who live in a specific city. If you belong to Jesus, you are part of this family. Read all of Ephesians 1.
Hebrews 12:1
"Therefore let’s also, seeing we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let’s run with perseverance the race that is set before us,"
The author has just recalled believers who persevered through trials. He draws a conclusion: “lay aside every weight” and run with perseverance. This cloud of witnesses does not replace Jesus; it shows us that we can hold on through faith. Read all of Hebrews 12.
What Does the Bible Say About Our Dead?
The Bible does not merely console; it announces something precise. Paul writes that believers are “courageous” and prefer to be “at home with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8). A voice from heaven proclaims: “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on” (Revelation 14:13). And the reason for this hope is given in one sentence: Christ “became the first fruits of those who are asleep” (1 Corinthians 15:20).
1 Thessalonians 4:13-14
"But we don’t want you to be ignorant, brothers, concerning those who have fallen asleep, so that you don’t grieve like the rest, who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus."
Paul writes to Christians who are mourning loved ones who have died. He does not forbid sorrow, but gives it a horizon: the grief of the believer is not that of others, “who have no hope”. Because Jesus rose again, God will bring with him those who have died. Read all of 1 Thessalonians 4.
John 11:25-26
"Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will still live, even if he dies. Whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"
Jesus speaks to Martha, whose brother Lazarus has died. He does not only promise a resurrection: he says “I am the resurrection and the life”. The Christian's hope rests on a person, and on the question Jesus asks next: “Do you believe this?” Read all of John 11.
John 11:35
"Jesus wept."
A little later, at the tomb of his friend, Jesus knows he is about to raise him, and yet “Jesus wept”. This very short verse shows that the pain of grief is not a lack of faith. God knows your tears and does not despise them. Read all of John 11.
Philippians 1:21-23
"For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live on in the flesh, this will bring fruit from my work; yet I don’t know what I will choose. But I am hard pressed between the two, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better."
Paul writes with his own death in view. For him, “to live is Christ, and to die is gain”, since dying means to “be with Christ”. The believer who dies is not in nothingness: he is with Jesus. Read all of Philippians 1.
Revelation 21:4
"He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; neither will there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain, any more. The first things have passed away."
John receives a vision of a renewed world where God dwells with people. The promise is very tender: God will “wipe away every tear from their eyes”. Death and mourning are not the last word of history. Read all of Revelation 21.
Common Misconceptions About All Saints' Day and Death
“The saints are a few heroes of the faith.” That is not what the Bible says. The saints are all believers, including those whom Paul corrects frankly. Some Christians of history leave us a fine example, but no one is a saint through their own merits: all are saints through Christ.
“The dead come back to visit us.” The Bible does not present the departed as visitors to earth. It places them in the hands of God, with Christ, in the rest he gives. So you can think of them with peace rather than fear.
“A Christian should not be sad.” This pressure does not come from Scripture. Paul speaks of a sorrow that keeps hope alive, and Jesus himself wept (John 11:35). Weeping for someone you loved is not a lack of faith; it is a sign of love. God does not expect from you a face of stone.
How Can an Evangelical Christian Live All Saints' Day?
Remember with gratitude. Think of those who passed on the faith to you: a grandparent, a friend, a church leader. Paul reminds Timothy of the sincere faith of his grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice (2 Timothy 1:5). Thank God for these lives and tell their story to your children.
Decorate a grave without superstition. Placing flowers for a loved one is a gesture of affection and remembrance, which nothing forbids. Keep it for what it is: a sign of love for the person, without believing it has any effect on their fate. What matters is a grateful heart and trust placed in God.
Surround those who are grieving. This period is often heavy for those who have lost someone during the year. Call them, invite them, listen to them without trying to explain everything (Romans 12:15). On prayer for the dead, Christian traditions differ. Evangelical churches entrust the dead to God and bring the grieving living before him in prayer, without judging anyone.
Live as a saint every day. The finest way to honor those who believed before you is to live your own faith: loving God, forgiving, serving your church, remaining faithful in small things. Being a saint means belonging to Jesus in ordinary life, not only on a date on the calendar.
Further reading
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is Celebrated on All Saints' Day?
All Saints' Day, on November 1, is the feast of all the saints in the tradition of the Church, and November 2 is All Souls' Day. These feasts come from tradition, not from a biblical text. Evangelical Christians may see in them an opportunity to remember departed believers and to recall the hope of the resurrection.
Who Are the Saints According to the Bible?
According to the New Testament, the saints are all believers in Jesus Christ. The Greek word hagios means set apart for God. Paul addresses his letters to the saints in Corinth, Ephesus or Philippi, that is, to ordinary Christians. We become saints through faith in Christ, not through achievements.
What Happens to a Christian After Death According to the Bible?
Whoever dies believing in Jesus is with Christ. Paul speaks of being “at home with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8) and of desiring to “be with Christ” (Philippians 1:23). The Bible also announces the resurrection: God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus (1 Thessalonians 4:14).
Can an Evangelical Christian Visit the Cemetery on All Saints' Day?
Nothing in the Bible forbids it. Sitting by the grave of a loved one, placing flowers there and thinking of them with gratitude are gestures of affection. Simply stay alert to superstition: you honor the memory of the departed, and you place your trust in God alone.