Beloved and Saint

Romans 1:5-7 "through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for His name's sake, among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ;

to all who are beloved of God in Rome, called as saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."

When the Apostle Paul wrote to the church of Rome, he hadn't yet been there in person, so his introduction of himself and the way he chose to greet them had to be specific.

We can glean much light from the first seven verses in Romans chapter one.

One of the things he addressed when greeting the church was the truth of who they are In Christ.

They were beloved of God and called as saints. This truth doesn't just apply to that specific church; it also applies to us as believers in Christ!

We, too, are beloved of God and called saints! Just like the church in Rome, we didn't earn God's love or earn the title of saint, but it was given to us in Christ because of what Jesus has done for us and in us!

I encourage you this week to meditate on those two simple but amazing truths. You are beloved of God and called as a saint. That means you are already whole, righteous, washed, cleansed and sanctified! Not because you deserved it but because God made you that way! Praise the Lord!

Don't let any feeling of guilt and shame rob you of the joy of the truth of who you are in Christ! Instead, you tell shame and guilt to go because it is not of God and it does not belong to you and who Jesus has made you to be.

Remember, we love you, and we are praying for you.

Blessings,

Chloe