Called and Blessed

Notice the historical progression here: we move from humiliation, to exalation, to gift-giving, to application

You are Called to Christ

Romans 1:6 KJV 1900

6 Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ:

You are Christ’s fruit

en hois — among whom, among those Gentiles commanded to obey Christ are the Roman Christians.

You are called to Christ

subjective Genitive? No: possessive Gentivie. Called and, thus, belonging to Jesus Christ”

The kind of call that is a command to come.

1 Corinthians 1:9 “9 God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Paul repeats this theme later down in the next verse; put a pin in it for now.

You are Blessed by Christ

Romans 1:7 KJV 1900

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.

They are in Rome: historically reality.

You are loved by God

agapatois = one who is dearly loved, indicating a close relationship, esp. that betw. parent and child

You are a saint of God

Romans 1:7 KJV 1900

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.

Notice the italics. “to be” is implied in Greek very often .It’s an interpretative decision. It says “called saints.”

κλητός in Paul’s writings is never used of human potential or effort. It always refers to the powerful call of God. When God calls, something happens.

Gen. 1.5; Gen. 1.10. To be called something by God is to become that thing in the order of His creation. The name creates identity.

Gen. 12.1-3. When God called Abram, there was no debate or arguing. Abram went, period.

John 11.43-44. When Jesus called Lazarus to rise up, Lazarus didn't’ turn around and debate with him. He got up.

Gal. 1.15-16. When God called Paul, there was no argument. Paul’s calling is sovereign, gracious, effectual—it produces the action of his apostleship. The call isn't optional or hypothetical.

The term ἅγιοι is used by Paul as an identity marker for Christians, not as a goal to achieve.

Let’s think about the word ‘called’ for a moment. In everyday life, when someone calls you on the phone, you can pick up or you can ignore it. That’s how we usually think of calling.

But when the Bible speaks of God calling people to Himself, it speaks of something deeper—something life-giving. Think about it: when Jesus stood outside the tomb of Lazarus, He didn’t say, ‘I hope Lazarus is going to come out.’ No—He said, ‘Lazarus, come forth!’ And the dead man rose. The call itself carried the power to bring life. In the same way, when God calls someone a ‘saint’—holy, set apart, beloved—it is not just a wish for who they might become one day.

It is a declaration of who they are in Christ. And yes, we respond—joyfully, willingly, genuinely. We act like saints every day. We make the choices that saints make.

But behind our response is the gentle hand of the One who first breathed life into our souls. This is the great mystery of grace: that God works in us, and we truly choose, yet even our choosing is a gift He gives. Like Saul on the road to Damascus—blinded, shaken, called by name—our response flows from a heart that God Himself awakens. We are called… and the calling creates the response. So if you belong to Jesus today, it is because He called you not just by name, but into new life itself. And that’s good news. It means your belonging doesn’t rest on how well you hold onto Him, but on the fact that He has first held onto you.

Notice how loved by God comes first here.

“The love of God does not find but creates that which is lovely.” Thomas Aquinas

You are blessed by God the Father and Son

Normal greeting transposed into depth by Paul

Blessing of Aaron adapted for NT times, Num. 6.25-26

Numbers 6:25–26 KJV 1900

25 The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: 26 The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.

First grace, then peace. Not the other way around.

Neither without the Father and the Son: without the true God.

You are loved, called, and blessed by God with grace and peace.