Romans 1:6-7 (ESV)
6 including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ,
7 To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
As Christians – we are described in four ways based on Romans 1:6-7.
- Called to Belong to Jesus Christ.
I belong to Christ. My security lies in the truth that God called me to belong to Him by grace and not by my works. I don’t presume to belong. I was called to belong.
Imagine a scene where you feel left out in a particular place. Then the leader of one of the groups called you and told you that starting today – you belong to this group. You did nothing. You were called. Today, God calls you to be part of Team Jesus.
2. Loved by God
Not only do we belong, but we are loved. What a comforting thought that I was not just called to belong but when I was handpicked to be part of the family – love (God’s unconditional love) was extended to me.
3. I am a Saint.
Whoah – I thought saints are for those who have died and are recognized by the church and venerated as such. But in the New Testament, believers were called saints.
In the heart of the gospel – what makes a person, a saint is not his or her good works and achievements. It is the finished work of Christ on the cross that makes us righteous and holy before God. We are called saints not because of our holy work for Christ but because of Christ’s holy work of dying on the cross for a sinner like me. My sins were paid for when Christ died for me. Therefore, I am now a saint in God’s eyes. I have been set-apart to do good works because of the saving faith I received from Christ’s work on the cross.
4. The recipient of grace and peace.
I am a product of God’s grace and peace. This keeps me stable in my walk with Jesus. Every day, I am made aware of his grace in my life that produces peace – a sense of peace that the world cannot give.
Prayer: Lord thank you that you called me to belong in your family. Thank you that I am loved unconditionally by you. You do not base your love and grace on my good works but on your mercies and grace that are new every morning. Lord, I receive and I live under your grace. Let the peace of God rule and reign in me in Jesus name, amen!