Are you a Saint?

Romans 1:5 – 7 Through him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for his name, among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ: to all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

In this first chapter of Romans, we have met the apostle Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ. He has reminded us of the prophecy that Jesus Christ would be born of the seed of David and declared to be the son of God through His resurrection.  Continuing on Paul reminded us that through Jesus Christ we received grace. Grace is favor. God chose to bless us even though we don't deserve it and could do nothing to deserve it.

God was gracious in making Paul an apostle through whom so many would come to obedience in faith.  Paul makes clear to the Romans that they were called of Jesus Christ to salvation through the preaching of God's word (Rom. 10:9-13) and by the conviction of the Holy Spirit. 

Individuals who respond to the call of God to salvation are called saints. Some believe that a saint is an individual who never does wrong and achieves some great status before God. In reality a saint is one who has been put in a position of sainthood by God. A saint is one who has been declared righteous, that is justified. To clarify, a saint is not one that is deemed a saint by the church. A saint is a person that is deemed a saint through salvation by the blood of Jesus Christ. Paul was addressed all the believers at Rome who had trusted Jesus Christ and Him alone for salvation. The same is true today.  Every individual who has trusted in the blood of Christ to cleanse their sins for salvation is a saint.

Paul finished his introductory paragraph in verse seven when he offered this blessing, “grace and peace from God our father and the Lord Jesus Christ." His desire was that these believers in Rome would continue to experience God's grace in their lives. This grace would come in many forms as they grew in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ and  conformed to His image. This blessing also included peace.

When individuals come to Christ for salvation they are no longer enemies of God and experience peace not only because of this but also through trusting in Christ alone for guidance.   It is through this life of obedience that individuals recognize Jesus Christ as Lord.

 Our hope is that you too experience the grace and peace of God the father our Lord Jesus Christ.

The video version of this is available at www.youtube.com/user/churchoflittleton  FW # 61