“To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be his holy people: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.” – Romans 1:7
We are beginning a new year. We have been given a whole new year to fill with all the things which are going to happen to us as individuals, families, church and the community. The most exciting thing is that we don’t have to do it alone. God will guide us through. As you read, most of Paul’s letters start very positive. In the above verse, Paul is writing to the Roman church and he shares five privileges that belong to all Christians:
1. They are loved by God.
2. They are called.
3. They are saints.
4. They are the recipients of grace.
5. They are the recipients of peace from God the father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
(1)
We are loved by God. There is nothing more to be said beyond that. God simply loves us because of who HE is and not because of who we are or what HE sees in us. God loves His own. We read in Deuteronomy 7:7-9, “The Lord did not set his affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples. 8 But it was because the Lord loved you and kept the oath he swore to your ancestors that he brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the land of slavery, from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt. 9 Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.” It says HE is keeping His covenant of love.
We are Christians for one reason only and that is that God has set HIS love upon us.
(2)
The second privilege is that we are called by God. Paul says that Christians are called in Romans 1:7, “To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be his holy people: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.” All mankind is called to turn from sin and turn to Jesus Christ. God wants us to, gives us the opportunity to follow Him, and does not force us. Secondly, this allows us as a Christian to choose to live and take advantage of all our privileges.
(3)
The third privilege that belongs to us is we are called saints. “Saints” does not mean that we reached a certain level of holiness and therefore worthy of special treatment. In the Bible, being a saint always means separated by God to God and to HIS work. This is what Paul said of himself in Romans 1:1, “set apart for the gospel of God.”
We are loved by God, called by God, then set apart to HIM to live for HIM and work for HIM in this world. The ones who do not know CHRIST should be able to see the difference in our lifestyle.
(4)
The fourth privilege is that we are the recipients of God’s GRACE. Paul emphasizes that our father and Jesus Christ gave us the Grace. In Ephesians 2:8, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—” we see it as a gift.
(5)
The gift privilege that belongs to us is that we are again the recipients of the Peace of God. Paul says in Romans 5:1, “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” This is a marvellous privilege of the Gospel, that we have peace with God. This peace eludes the ones who do not know Jesus Christ.
Paul shares these five privileges belonging only to Christians. And I do believe it belongs to each member of First Baptist. So let us claim them in 2017. God will be honored and glorified in and through us.
God bless,
Pastor Shaker
