2 The Church of God At Corinth

The Church is an institution, which belongs to God. It does not belong to any man, organization, denomination or seminary. It simply is His. People who become believers, that is, they are “born again” belong to God and have been “sanctified in Christ Jesus.” (I Cor 1:30; I Thes 4:3; 4:4; 2 Thes 2:13; I Pet 1:2) And as sanctified they are “set apart” for a special work which the Holy Spirit imparts as gifts at the point of belief. Paul calls them Spiritual gifts. Paul will through this book show us how to bring the use of these gifts in close alignment with God’s desire for us while we are in the world.
Paul then makes a reference to true believers as saints. We must keep in mind that there are Old Testament Saints as well as New Testament Saints. A saint is simply is one who believes God and takes Him at His Word. Some denominations attempt to select some individuals for meritorious work and bestow the title of Saint upon them. This is not the Biblical model though. It is man’s choosing not God’s. God chooses all who believe, have been regenerated or born again and calls them Saints.