Saints and Sinners

1 Corinthians 1:1–3

How Should I think about the Church?

It Belongs to God

Acts 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

It is the Family of Believers

1 Corinthians 1:10–13

10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 11 For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. 12 Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. 13 Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?

Its Members are Sanctified in Christ Jesus

It is important for every Christian to keep in mind the great difference between his position and his practice, his standing and his state.

It Is Made Up Of All Those Everywhere Who Call On The Name Of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

To call on his name is to believe on him as the Son of God and Saviour, and to come to him for salvation.

The church is made up of people who

(1) Have been set apart as God’s in Jesus Christ

(2) are Saints—holy—by calling;

(3) have called upon the Name—the Lord—in saving faith

(4) share Jesus Christ as Lord with all other Christians.