Rom 1:6,7 Called to Belong to Christ

[bcbsr]

Called to Belong to Christ

Rom 1:6,7 And you also are among those who are called to belong to Jesus Christ. To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

One aspect of the gospel is that of ownership such that "whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord." Rom 14:18b "So, my brothers, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit to God." Rom 7:4 Consequently when a person becomes a Christian he is relinquishing ownership of himself.

One has to be qualified to belong to Jesus Christ. Just as no woman can claim to be someone's wife without marrying him, so also no one can claim to belong to Christ without pledging allegiance to him, relinquishing one's reliance on other sources of salvation. This will be a theme in Romans.

Paul does not assume his readers belong to Christ, but that they are being called to belong to Christ. He does not assume they are saints, but rather that they are being called to be saints. This is in contrast to some of his other letters in which he speaks of his readers already achieving such a status, like Ephesians, "To the saints in Ephesus" Eph 1:1 And Peter writes, "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God" 1Peter 2:9 "For many are called, but few are chosen." Mt 22:14 Thus Romans contains fundamental elements of the gospel as a message to the unsaved among the Christian community, as well as fundamental teachings concerning Christian living for those who have just come to belong to Christ.

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The Berean Christian Bible Study Resources

[Desopixi Seilynam]

 

"I have written the more boldly unto you... that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified  by the Holy Ghost" Romans 15:15-16

Paul's stated purpose for writing is the sanctification of the Gentiles.

"For if you live after the flesh you shall die, but if you through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the flesh you shall live" Romans 8:13

"For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God" Romans 8:14

 

[leah777]

1 hour ago, bcbsr said:

Paul does not assume his readers belong to Christ, but that they are being called to belong to Christ. He does not assume they are saints, but rather that they are being called to be saints

You have the wrong tense. Not future tense, but present tense. Same as all the writings on the subject by Paul.

Belonging to Christ and being a saint is instant when born again.

Language is my hobby. Paul has an interesting way of phrasing things. Reading his words slowly out loud helps with untangling his sentences.

[Desopixi Seilynam]

On 6/3/2020 at 11:48 AM, Addy said:

Sounds to me like you are pushing PERFECTION... Does Jesus not want our hearts to love HIM??  and... that LOVE for Him is what persuades us to NOT offend HIM... It is the love of CHRIST in our hearts that make us to NOT want to sin... and HURT the Lord...  I am new here... and I am not yet able to argue scripture with scripture... but you seem to be pushing the death of flesh... over the LOVE of CHRIST. 

The Love of Christ, causes the death of flesh; just as you said, our faith based love for Him persuades us to not offend Him. We are motivated by our belief in His death and resurrection,

and motivated by our love for Him. 

For with the heart man believes unto righteousness Romans 10:10

 

And we are not only motivated by sincere belief and love, we are also empowered by His Spirit, for one of the fruits we receive is self-control. Galatians 5:14-24.

 

For we are His creation created in Christ Jesus for good works which God has pre-ordained that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10

 

Sincere belief in Christ leads to love for Christ which leads to Galatians 5:24 shining true in the believers' life.

 

Following Christ is righteousness, not perfection, perfection would be following the whole entire Torah, all 600+ laws.

The good news is that all that is required is that we follow Christ,

and His commands are summarized as sincere love for everyone; Matthew 7:12, Luke 6:27-49, Romans 13:8-10, Galatians 5:14, 1 John 4:8, 5:3.

 

"And that He died for all that they which live should henceforth not live unto themselves, but unto Him that died for them and rose again" 2 Corinthians 5:15

[JustPassingThru]

I believe verse 7 clears up the meaning and intention the Holy Spirit, ...not Paul, ...has for us.

Good old King James:

 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.

Please notice "to be" is not in the original manuscript, ...this is how the Holy Spirit wrote it:

To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

To make His intention even more clearer for us and eliminate any confusion, ...He said we "have" Peace, ...no where in His Word does He tell someone who is Lost to have/be in, ...Peace, ...in their Hell bound state.

Lord bless

[Sower]

On 6/3/2020 at 10:40 AM, bcbsr said:

One aspect of the gospel is that of ownership such that "whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord." Rom 14:18b "So, my brothers, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit to God." Rom 7:4 Consequently when a person becomes a Christian he is relinquishing ownership of himself.

 

"I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me;
and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God,
who loved me and gave Himself for me"      Galatians 2:20