1Co 1:2 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:
1Co 1:3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
1Co 1:4 I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus,
1Co 1:5 that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge–
1Co 1:6 even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you–
1Co 1:7 so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ,
1Co 1:8 who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

In verse two Paul is writing to “those sanctified” and calls them “saints”. In verse 8, he says these “saints” are “guiltless”.

Now consider chapter 5:

1Co 5:4 When you are assembled in the name of the Lord Jesus and my spirit is present, with the power of our Lord Jesus,
1Co 5:5 you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.

Hmmmmm, here one of “those sanctified” called a “saint” and “guiltless” according to Paul, is now being turned over to Satan for the destruction of his “flesh” that his spirit is “saved” in the day of the Lord!

If that doesn’t help one understand these strange things while making proper yet difficult distinctions, at times, as is being made here in 1 Corinthians by Paul, I am not sure one could claim they are one of His “saints” in the “flesh” “guilty” and “sanctified” and “guiltless” too?

Michael
Eureka, Ca.