Sanctified in Christ Jesus (1 Corinthians 1:2)
2023-10-13
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 (1 Corinthians 1:2)
Here, we see that the Christian is sanctified in Christ. Sanctification is something that happened in the past. We were set apart from sin, Satan, and the world, and set apart to Christ.
We often think of sanctification as something that is presently happening in the Christian. This is also true. In our position in Christ, sanctification is finished in the work of Christ. In our experience, sanctification is something that is being worked out in our lives by the Holy Spirit and is ongoing. “...he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6).
The power of a sanctified life lies in the person of Christ in heaven. Our power for living comes from heaven from Christ, being applied by the Spirit.
Because the new man is sanctified, we are now “called to be saints.” We are saints, but our calling is to walk and act like saints. We do this by faith. We have been fully separated to God for His purposes, and He has given us power to accomplish it by the resurrection of Christ and the indwelling Spirit. If we believe we are sanctified in Christ, and we truly are, we will walk in sanctification and become more like Him.
It does not matter if we feel like we are sanctified. Just believe the truth said in this verse.