You Are a Saint
Sunday’s Verse:
From 1 Corinthians 1:2 ESV
“To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours”
When Paul begins his letter to the church at Corinth, he calls them “saints.” That’s remarkable because if you keep reading, even for a couple of chapters, you’ll realize just how messed up this church is. There are splits, arrogance, misunderstandings, and straight-up sin. This place is a hot mess. And yet Paul doesn’t skip a beat. He calls them saints.
He gets to do that because saint isn’t something these Corinthians have earned. It’s something that was done to them. They were sanctified in Christ Jesus. They were called. God put His name on these people, and they were far from impressive.
Isn’t that a great comfort to us? When we hear “saint,” we think of holier-than-thou types that live with better discipline and are more consistent than we are. We know too well the sins we commit. We know too often how weak our faith is and how horrible we can be to others.
But Paul is calling us something greater than moral perfection. He’s calling us believers into something larger than ourselves. You are a saint because you belong to Jesus Christ. You are holy because He has set you apart from this world by His mighty power. You are a sinner who desperately needs that forgiveness every day. Thank God Lutherans have a short phrase for this. You are righteous and a sinner at the same time.
When God calls you a saint, He’s not looking past your sin. He’s already taken care of it on the cross. He’s blessing you with His promise. You belong to Him. You are holy in Christ. So tomorrow when you hear this reading at church, accept that name and live it out as a gift, not as a burden.
God bless you.
✝️ A Prayer for Today:
Lord Jesus, thank You for making me a saint, not because of who I am, but because of who You are. Help me to remember Your forgiveness and be confident in Your promise. Amen.
Apostles’ Creed:
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer:
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Luther’s Morning Prayer:
I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands, I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.
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