Romans 1:1-7: a reflection

1Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart for the Good News of God, 2which he promised before through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, 3concerning his Son, who was born of the offspring of David according to the flesh, 4who was declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, 5through whom we received grace and apostleship for obedience of faith among all the nations for his name’s sake; 6among whom you are also called to belong to Jesus Christ; 7to all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

As Paul opens his letter to the Romans, he addresses them with words that capture their identity, and ours: to all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints. And earlier: among whom you are also called to belong to Jesus Christ. Three things are said of them: they are called, called to belong to Christ; they are beloved of God; and they are called to be saints, God's holy ones. This is their identity, given by God: called, beloved, belonging to Christ, and set apart as his.

Notice the identity Paul names: called to belong to Christ, beloved of God, called to be saints. It is not an identity they achieved, but one given to them by God. They were called, summoned by God to belong to Christ; they were beloved, loved by God; they were called to be saints, God's holy people, set apart as his. This was who they were, not by their own doing, but by God's calling and love. Their identity was given: called, beloved, belonging to Christ, holy ones of God.

That identity is worth taking to heart, for it is ours too, if we belong to Christ. We can define ourselves by many things, our achievements, our roles, our failures; but if we belong to Christ, our deepest identity is this: called to belong to him, beloved of God, called to be his holy ones. This identity is given by God, not achieved by us; it is who we are in Christ. Do not define yourself only by your achievements, roles, or failures; if you belong to Christ, your deepest identity is that you are called to belong to him, beloved of God, called to be his. Rest in the identity God gives you in Christ, called, beloved, belonging to him, and set apart as his, rather than defining yourself by lesser things, as Paul addressed the believers as beloved of God, called to be saints, called to belong to Jesus Christ; for this is who you are, given by God's calling and love.

Lord, as Paul opens his letter to the Romans, he addresses them with words that capture their identity, and mine: to all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints. And earlier: among whom you are also called to belong to Jesus Christ. Three things are said of them: they are called to belong to Christ; they are beloved of God; and they are called to be saints, your holy ones. This is their identity, given by you. Show me the identity Paul names: called to belong to Christ, beloved of God, called to be saints. It is not an identity they achieved, but one given to them by you. They were called, summoned by you to belong to Christ; they were loved by you; they were called to be your holy people, set apart as yours. This was who they were, not by their own doing, but by your calling and love. Take that identity to my heart, for it is mine too, if I belong to Christ. I can define myself by many things, my achievements, my roles, my failures; but if I belong to Christ, my deepest identity is this: called to belong to him, beloved of God, called to be your holy one. This identity is given by you, not achieved by me. Keep me from defining myself only by my achievements, roles, or failures; if I belong to Christ, my deepest identity is that I am called to belong to him, beloved of you, called to be yours. Help me rest in the identity you give me in Christ, Lord, called, beloved, belonging to him, rather than defining myself by lesser things.