Paul’s opening to his letter to the Corinthians includes a paradox which is at the heart of the Christian life. In verse two, he says the Christians in Corinth are already ‘sanctified’ (i.e. saint-ified) because of their relationship with Jesus Christ. Already, they are set apart to belong to God as his holy people. But immediately afterwards, Paul says that they are ‘called to be his holy people’ literally, ‘called to be saints’.
If you read on in the letter, you will find that the Corinthians’ behaviour was often far from saintly. Some of the issues Paul addresses are quite shocking! But he never questions that they are God’s holy people. Instead, he questions whether they are really being themselves. This struggle to remember, to believe, to become who, by God’s grace, we already are, is the heart of the Christian battle with sin.
Ed