Romans 1:7 To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. The text might have been rendered "called saints." It is requisite to remember this, because you might think that it means "called to be saints" hereafter, as though it would be impossible to be a saint here. I. WHERE AND BY WHAT MEANS ARE WE CALLED TO BE SAINTS? 1. By the election of God and the providence of birth in a Christian land. 2. By the dedication and grace of baptism, 3. By those inward calls felt in the heart. 4. By the many voices of affliction and the constant gentle operations of the Comforter in the soul. II. WHAT IS THE PROCESS? 1. Stands the pardon of sin and the sense of pardon. Many greatly increase the difficulty of saintliness by putting holiness before peace. 2. But forgiveness is not merit; it is not even acceptance. You must be acceptable and pleasing in God's sight, And for this you must have righteousness not your own, and be able to present yourself to God in Christ, and be pleasing even to Him, because He sees the Christ in whom you are. 3. When you are so justified, an act of union takes place between Christ and your soul, Through that union the Holy Ghost, who is the fountain of all saintliness, flows into you, and the flow will vary according as the Spirit is grieved or honoured in you, 4. And now saintliness, properly so-called, begins. You are a thing dedicate, (1) There is intercourse set up between your soul and God, You feed on spiritual food, Your Bible is a home — worship is the atmosphere of your love, especially the Holy Communion. (2) Meanwhile the natural appetites are being subdued, and the body subjugated. The besetting sin, by the power of a wonderful alchemy, is being gradually turned into a characteristic grace. The temper which was hot, is meek — the spirit which was restless, is patient — your appetites first changed, then turned, go upward. (3) You have become devoted to good works; you love the brethren; whatever is holy, it is akin to you; you yearn for souls and to extend the Church. (4) And now men are beginning to "take knowledge of you."(5) I do not venture now to look where those blessed ones, in the dazzling lustre of their white robes, are still pursuing their saintly offices. But I do ask, "Out of what material is that holy saintship made?" And He who makes the rainbow from the mist, and the pearl from the shell, and the butterfly from the grub, and the diamond from the charcoal gives the answer. "These are they which came out of great tribulation," etc. (J. Vaughan, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. |
    |