6.13 You are saints in Christ
(1 Corinthians 1:2, NKJV)
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:
In addition to telling believers who they were in Christ, Paul also called them “saints”. A saint is someone who is holy. The above verse addresses us as the believers who are sanctified in Christ and called to be saints. Phil 1:1 calls believers, “Saints in Christ.”
You have been sanctified (set apart) to holiness. Today in God’s eyes, you are a saint in Christ. But you may say, “I don’t feel like a saint; I don’t act like a saint, so how can I be a saint?” The key is “in Christ”. The fact that we ask that question shows that we are still seeing ourselves apart from Christ. The solution is to start seeing ourselves in Christ. It is a paradigm shift to start seeing ourselves in Christ. We are saints in Christ. It is because He is our sanctification. The more we believe we are saints in Christ, the more we allow His to be manifested from within us.
How should we see other believers? Should we see them in the natural in all their imperfections, or should we see them in Christ – as saints? Paul tells us that we should not regard one another according to the flesh, but as new creations in Christ.
(2 Corinthians 5:16-17, NKJV)
Therefore, from now on, we REGARD no one according to the FLESH. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a NEW CREATION; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
In Paul’s epistles, he addresses believers as “saints” 40 times. Yes, he even called the carnal Corinthians “saints” (1 Cor 1:2). He reinforces our identity with his words. Likewise, we should reinforce one another’s identity with our words. When we do so, we edify one another’s faith. We point their eyes away from Adam and back to their real identity in Christ. You can also declare to yourself, "I am a saint in Christ."
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:
In addition to telling believers who they were in Christ, Paul also called them “saints”. A saint is someone who is holy. The above verse addresses us as the believers who are sanctified in Christ and called to be saints. Phil 1:1 calls believers, “Saints in Christ.”
You have been sanctified (set apart) to holiness. Today in God’s eyes, you are a saint in Christ. But you may say, “I don’t feel like a saint; I don’t act like a saint, so how can I be a saint?” The key is “in Christ”. The fact that we ask that question shows that we are still seeing ourselves apart from Christ. The solution is to start seeing ourselves in Christ. It is a paradigm shift to start seeing ourselves in Christ. We are saints in Christ. It is because He is our sanctification. The more we believe we are saints in Christ, the more we allow His to be manifested from within us.
How should we see other believers? Should we see them in the natural in all their imperfections, or should we see them in Christ – as saints? Paul tells us that we should not regard one another according to the flesh, but as new creations in Christ.
(2 Corinthians 5:16-17, NKJV)
Therefore, from now on, we REGARD no one according to the FLESH. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a NEW CREATION; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
In Paul’s epistles, he addresses believers as “saints” 40 times. Yes, he even called the carnal Corinthians “saints” (1 Cor 1:2). He reinforces our identity with his words. Likewise, we should reinforce one another’s identity with our words. When we do so, we edify one another’s faith. We point their eyes away from Adam and back to their real identity in Christ. You can also declare to yourself, "I am a saint in Christ."
posted by Joshua Lye @ 6:14 PM
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