What does "called to be saints" imply about our daily conduct? Opening Scripture “to all who are in Rome, loved by God and called to be saints: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 1:7) Saint: A Title for Every Disciple • In the New Testament, “saint” (ἅγιος) simply means “holy one,” someone set apart for God. • Paul greets whole congregations with this title—“to the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be saints” (1 Corinthians 1:2). • There is no elite spiritual class. If you are in Christ, you are already a saint by calling and position. Called: A Divine Invitation and Commission • “Called” is God’s summons into a new life (Ephesians 4:1). • It carries both privilege and responsibility—“so that you would walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into His own kingdom and glory” (1 Thessalonians 2:12). • He doesn’t merely invite us to believe; He commissions us to live out holiness in a visible, tangible way. Set-Apart Holiness in the Mundane Because we are “called to be saints,” daily conduct is to be distinct: • Speech: words that build up, not tear down (Ephesians 4:29). • Thoughts: taking every thought captive to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5). • Relationships: displaying forgiveness and sacrificial love (Colossians 3:12-14). • Work ethic: serving “as to the Lord and not to men” (Colossians 3:23). • Integrity online and off: blameless and shining as lights in a crooked generation (Philippians 2:15). Holiness touches everything—from how we handle money to how we treat the difficult neighbor. Grace-Powered, Not Self-Powered • Romans 1:7 places “Grace and peace” right beside the calling, reminding us that God supplies what He requires. • “For the grace of God has appeared… training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions” (Titus 2:11-12). • Christ lives in us, enabling true holiness (Galatians 2:20). Together as the Community of Saints • We’re “fellow citizens with the saints” (Ephesians 2:19), encouraging one another toward love and good deeds (Hebrews 10:24). • Isolation stifles holiness; community sharpens it (Proverbs 27:17). • Model saintly living for younger believers; seek counsel from those further along. Living Worthy of the Name • Remember the identity: loved by God, called to be saints. • Let that identity inform each decision, conversation, and priority. • Our daily conduct becomes a living testimony that the God who calls also transforms. |
    |