Who are you?
Opening Prayer
Loving Lord Jesus, You lead, direct, and bless me each day. I give You my thanks and praise.
Read ROMANS 1:1–7
Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God— 2 the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures 3 regarding his Son, who as to his earthly life was a descendant of David, 4 and who through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord. 5 Through him we received grace and apostleship to call all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith for his name’s sake. 6 And you also are among those Gentiles who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.
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.
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
“We too, if we are to be committed to world mission, will have to be liberated from all pride of race, nation, tribe, caste and class, and acknowledge that God’s gospel is for everybody (5), without exception and distinction. This is a major theme of Romans” (John Stott, 1921–2011).
Paul introduces himself to the congregation at Rome. What does he need to tell them? His focus is on his relationship with God and on the ministry that has been entrusted to him. He sees himself as a slave of the Messiah Jesus—someone who is owned by him. Just as a slave of the emperor in Rome might be given significant roles because of his owner’s status, so Paul has been called and set apart as an apostle of the Gospel. He has such status because of God’s gracious dealings with him.
Paul does not want the Roman Christians to focus on his own person but on Jesus, his master. In a few words he sets out the wonder of the Savior: Son of God from all eternity who, as predicted in the Scriptures, has become Son of David. Jesus’ divinity is proclaimed to the world as he is raised by the power of the Holy Spirit to become Lord of all. To grasp the truth of the two natures of Jesus gives us confidence in the reality and reliability of the salvation he gives.
Paul can speak of the grace he has received in becoming an apostle. Before he pronounces the grace and peace from God on the Roman believers he sets out the pattern, path and content of salvation. Gentiles as well as Jews are called to respond in obedience to put faith in the crucified and raised Messiah. The Roman Christians are now people who have a new status as the holy ones of God. Their identity, like Paul’s, is defined by their relationship to Jesus Christ. Whatever their social or ethnic origins, they are his people. There is no higher status, even in the imperial capital. They have the peace and grace of God—and that is what gives us also self-esteem.
Apply
How do you feel about the fact that you are identified by your relationship with Jesus?
Closing prayer
Dear Lord, I am Your child and I rejoice that I am a part of Your family. Thank You for the identity, security and hope that this membership gives to me.
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