Romans 1:7

In his opening greeting, Paul is identifying his readers. He had not, at the time of this writing, visited the church in Rome. The church had organically grown from those that made their way to the great city after the Pentecost in Jerusalem and those that had come from churches established elsewhere.

Paul doesn’t mention the believer’s love for God but rather that which is far more fundamental – God’s love for the believer. WE ARE LOVED BY GOD! Get used to it.

“Called to be saints” means kept holy by being set aside for dedicated use. As Charles Spurgeon put it, “They were not called because they were saints, but they became saints through that calling.”

This letter to the Romans applies to us today and we should walk in these promises and be thankful that we are loved by God and are “called according to His purpose.”

Set aside for Him,

Pastor Gerard Deleeuw