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"Those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus..."

Text: 1 Corinthians 1:2

THE DOCTRINE OF THE CHURCH

Paul was a founder of many churches. When he was in Corinth, he served the Lord actively, preaching the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. In due time, he would go ahead and found a Church.

“To the church of God which is at Corinth,
to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints,
with all who in every place call on the name
of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours.”
1 Corinthians 1:2

1. The Church of God may be understood in two special ways: –

a) The universal Church

i) The Church belongs to the Lord.

ii) It was the Lord Jesus who first taught this (Matthew 16:18).

b) The local Church

i) The Church may be located in Corinth.

ii) It may also be located in Philippi or Ephesus (and anywhere else in the world).

2. The people who make up the church

a) They are called “saints”.

b) They are also called “those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus”.

i) The word “sanctified” and the word “saint” share the same root word.

ii) It comes from the idea of “making one holy”.

iii) The result, of course, is that the saints are regarded as “holy” in the sight of God.

c) Who is involved in this great work of sanctifying the saints?

i) The Lord Jesus Christ is the One who sanctifies us.

ii) He is the captain of our salvation.

iii) He declares us His brethren and the children of God.

iv) He is able to sanctify us as He shed His blood to give us salvation (Hebrews 2:10-18).

d) The Holy Spirit is also greatly involved in this great work of salvation.

i) He is our Seal and Guarantee (Ephesians 1:13-14).

ii) The Spirit works in tandem with Christ as the Divine Helper.

e) All who are saints naturally call on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord. This is a great and timeless universal truth and practice.