1 Corinthians 1:1-3
Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes, to the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ - their Lord and ours: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
In this passage, Paul specifically pointed out that as believers we are "sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy." The word "sanctified" means "set apart" in the original text, which means we follow different standards from the world. As Christians we are not automatically perfect, but we have been set apart by God to take on a different path, for God has chosen us to depart from the way of the world, but to take on the path of God. You must understand that salvation takes place in an instant, but sanctification takes a life-time. Salvation signifies a turn in direction - From way of the world to way of the God - and it represents walking forward until reaching the destination. Turning towards a new direction doesn't mean that the destination has been reached; similarly, when someone has been saved, it doesn't mean that the person has become completely holy like God.
Salvation merely means one has turned from the way of the world to way of God. When we are on the way of God, we are following a process of sanctification; even though we haven't reached the destination yet, God has already set us apart so that we would be led by His spirit to reach the destination. As Christians, you and I must follow the Lord and let the hands of God lead us and discipline us, so that His will may be satisfied in our lives. Therefore, after we become Christians, we must bring everything before the Lord, because we need to let Jesus Christ be our master by surrendering our lives before Him, and let God mold us till we take on the form of Jesus Christ.
Everyone is on a unique path in spiritual growth. Paul said here that Christ is their Lord and also our Lord. Not only is He molding us, He's also molding others around us. Therefore, we must tolerate and accept each other instead of criticizing and judging, because God is doing different things in our lives and Christ is the Lord of all of us. While we are growing, we often give ourselves lots of excuses, but don't provide space for others to grow. Christ is actually working in each of us, so let us give each other plenty of space to grow until we become more like Jesus Christ.
Pray with Pastor Tong
Lord, I thank you because you are our Lord and you are the Lord of all Christians. Let us accept and learn from one another until we are completely like you. I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!
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