Saints in Corinth
Intro: Paul opens his letter to a messy church with a word you might not expect. Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:2, 5 (KJV) "Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints... That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge." Lesson: Paul writes to the church at Corinth and calls them "sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints" (v.2). Yet this same letter later confronts immorality (ch.5) and calls them "babes in Christ" (3:1). How can both be true? Because sainthood is not earned by maturity — it is a position given "in Christ Jesus." The Corinthians were set apart the moment they believed, before they had grown. And v.5 shows God's grace did not leave them empty: they were "enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge." Position and provision come first; the correction that follows is a Father dealing with His own. Your st...