"To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the
Lord Jesus Christ."
What does it mean to be “loved by God and called to be saints”? This question has already been answered in the previous 6 verses. We experience God’s love for us in the gift of His son Jesus. God loves us so he gave. We you love you give.
The amazing thing about God’s gift of love is that we are changed by it. We are called. The direction of our life becomes that of saints. We are set apart for God’s service. Our lives are no longer own. We joyfully surrender our rights to directing our life to Jesus and make him Lord of our life. We can surrender joyfully because of the knowledge that God is much better equipped to supply and direct our lives than we are. It is in allowing Jesus to be Lord of our lives that we show ourselves to be saints. The holiness evident in a saint is only available to us through the saving work of Jesus. With Jesus as Savior and Lord we bear his holiness and it this holiness that gives us the ability to be called saints.
Paul’s greeting of grace and peace sums up well what God’s good news means for those who will accept it. We receive grace in being forgiven of our many sins in the midst of still being sinful. Not only are we forgiven but God establishes with us a new relationship, He is our Father. And the peace we receive is in knowing that God is guiding and supplying our lives through Jesus who we follow as Lord. Grace and peace from God our Father and Jesus our Lord, we can know no great grace or peace than this!
Tye Parks 