“Them that
are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called [to be] saints”
SIH’s Think On
These Things: 1Cor 1:2
1Cor
1:2 Unto the church of
God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called [to be] saints, with all that in every
place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:
For our devotional this
morning we will be looking at Paul’s greeting to the recipients of His letter
to the Corinthians…
“Unto the church of
God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus,
called [to be] saints,”
Paul was writing to the local
church that was located in the city of Corinth.
He was very careful to recognize that it was
possible for unbelievers to hypocritically hold membership in a local
assembly. This is why he then emphasizes
that this letter was written to the BELIEVERS within that church. He describes those believers as being “sanctified” and “called to be saints”.
The title “sanctified”
helps us to understand that they had been “purified” from their sins and washed
in the blood of the Lamb (Rev 1:5-6). They
which were dirtied by their sin, were now made as white as snow (Isa 1:18).
The title “saint” is
very closely related to the idea of being “sanctified”. To be a “saint” means that we are called to
live lives separated from sin to the service of the Lord. In other words, one of the aspects of being
purified from our sins (“sanctified” - past tense) is to live holy lives that
are unspotted from the sins of this world (“to be saints” - present tense)
(James 1:27). It is this grace of sanctification
that culminates in our removal from the very presence of sin throughout
eternity (Gals 5:19-21, Rev 21:3-5, 27).
The principle that our
past purification carries with it the charge for holy living now is presented
in detail in
1Pet 2:9-12. In this text, we find our past separation
from sin to Christ described in vs 9-10, followed by our need to lives separated
from sin for the Lord’s glory in vs 11-12 which culminates in living throughout
eternity separated from the very presence of sin at His coming in vs 12.
9) But ye [are] a chosen generation, a royal
priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the
praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
10) Which in time past [were] not a people, but [are] now the people of
God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
11) Dearly beloved, I beseech [you] as strangers and pilgrims, abstain
from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;
12) Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas
they speak against you as evildoers, they may by [your] good works, which they
shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. (1 Peter 2:9-12)
“with all that in
every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:”’
This message written by
Paul would be applicable to anyone who would be enjoying communion and
fellowship with the Lord through prayer, which was an indication of genuine salvation
and the accompanying sanctification.
As our month long reminder
to appreciate our Lord continues, let’s be sure to thank Him for His sanctifying
work in our lives. We should show our
appreciation for is purifying us from our sins by living holy lives that honor
and glorify Him until we enter the sinless eternity that awaits us.
May the
Lord bless us as we “Think On These Things”.
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