What is the meaning of 1 Corinthians 1:2? To the church of God in Corinth Paul’s opening words remind the believers that they belong first and foremost to God, not to any human leader. • Acts 20:28 celebrates the church “which He purchased with His own blood,” underscoring divine ownership. • Even though Corinth was a bustling, imperfect city (see Acts 18:1–11), God had staked His claim there, proving that location and culture never limit His reach. • 1 Timothy 3:15 calls the church “the household of God,” reinforcing the family identity Paul highlights from the start. to those sanctified in Christ Jesus “Sanctified” means set apart for God’s special use. • 1 Corinthians 6:11 declares, “you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ,” showing this as a finished work accomplished by Christ. • Hebrews 10:10 adds, “we have been sanctified through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all,” emphasizing both permanence and grace. • Because the sanctification is “in Christ Jesus,” it rests on His merit, not on our performance. and called to be holy The same grace that sets believers apart now summons them to live accordingly. • 1 Peter 1:15–16 quotes God: “Be holy, because I am holy,” linking calling to conduct. • Ephesians 1:4 shows that God chose us “to be holy and blameless in His presence,” tying purpose to identity. • 2 Timothy 1:9 reminds us this calling is “not because of our works but by His own purpose and by the grace He granted us,” keeping the focus on God’s initiative. together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ Paul widens the lens from one city to the global church. • Romans 10:13 promises, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved,” echoing Joel 2:32 and showing the gospel’s universal scope. • Acts 22:16 portrays baptism as an appeal to His name, reinforcing the shared confession that unites believers worldwide. • This phrase dissolves geographic, ethnic, and cultural barriers, demonstrating that every believer—whether in Corinth or any modern city—shares the same spiritual address. their Lord and ours One Lord means one authority and one allegiance. • Ephesians 4:5–6 lists “one Lord, one faith, one baptism,” anchoring unity in Christ. • Philippians 2:11 proclaims that “every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,” affirming His supreme rule over every believer. • By saying “their Lord and ours,” Paul levels the playing field: no group owns Jesus; He graciously owns all who trust Him. summary 1 Corinthians 1:2 roots every believer—then and now—in a shared identity: owned by God, sanctified in Christ, called to holy living, linked with a worldwide family, and governed by one Lord. The verse invites us to remember who we are, whose we are, and how we are to live—together, set apart, and always under the gracious lordship of Jesus Christ. |
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