Rom 1:5-7

Called Preachers, Called Christians

1. Paul’s calling and commission — Rom 1:5
a. Through Him—Everything must remain Christian centered—we don’t get any of the credit for our salvation, “Jesus paid it all…”
(1) Paul received (aorist) Grace — a man cannot minister to others unless he is himself saved—Gal 1:11-17
(2) Paul was called to Apostleship — 1 Cor 1:1

b. Paul was called to grace and apostleship at the same time—see Acts 9:1-16
(1) Paul met the qualifications—1 Cor 9:1-2
(2) Paul was a "God-called Preacher", receiving his commission personally from Christ Jesus
(3) For obedience to the faith—Matt 28:19-20" Among all nations for His Name — Paul was sent to spread the gospel to the gentile peoples, and to represent the Name of Christ — he focused on those missions, not on any other agenda. However, Paul’s mission was not about winning converts, it was about winning disciples—obedience to the faith.
2. The God-called Believers—Rom 1:6 "among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ;"
a. The Called — a Called-Out assembly, called by the effectual inward working of the Holy Spirit, and through the Sovereign Grace of God awakening their hearts and minds and opening their eyes and ears to their need of salvation.
b. “Also…”, All believers are called, just as Paul was called.
(1) The Called of Jesus Christ
(a) We belong to Him, given by the Father to Him—Jn 17:6
(b) The source of our call is the Father, and the Spirit is also involved—Jn 6:44-47, 63-65
(c) In this call, the Father reveals the Son to the sinner—Mat 16:17, 11:25-27
c. This call comes to all who are saved.
(1) They come by divine revelation — men and women come to Christ because God has revealed to them their need of salvation, and that the only way to that salvation is through the blood of Jesus—John 6:44-45, Matt 16:16-18,
(2) They come by divine calling —
(a) there are two types of calling in the Bible:
(i) The outward call which goes to all who hear the Gospel (Mat 11:28), and to all who see God's creation (Ps 19)—Mat 22:14 ""For many are called, but few are chosen.""
(ii) The inward call, what the puritans called "effectual calling," which is part of the mysterious working of God in calling out His people—
(b) The difference must be seen in the context—2 Thes 2:13-14, Acts 2:37-39
(c) They come willingly — it is not that God "forces" anyone to come — the awakened, called, sinner WANTS to come. The drawing of individual people to Himself is one of God's great mysteries, and He does not share the intimate details of how He does it — He only tells us that He does it—Psa 110:1-4
(3) They come in Faith — the doctrine of election does NOT teach that faith is unnecessary — the Bible is crystal clear that the man or woman who comes to God must come in faith, believing in the shed blood of Christ—John 6:37, Acts 13:48
Rom 8:28, 30, 1 Cor 1:1-2, 9; 1 Cor 1:24-26, 2 Tim 1:9, Eph 4:1-4, Heb 9:15, 1 Pet 2:9, 2 Pet 1:3, Jude 1:1, Rev 17:14, 1 Cor 7:18, 1 Cor 7:20-22, 1 Cor 7:24, Gal 1:6, Gal 1:15, Gal 5:13, Eph 1:18, Phil 3:14, 1 Th 2:12, Heb 3:1, 1 Pet 2:21

3. Called by love—Rom 1:7 "…beloved of God…”
a. They are the beloved of God, His special people, His remnant, and they are called to be saints — to live lives set apart unto God. Based on who they are, Paul wishes them Grace (continuing) and peace.
Ep 2:4 "But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,"

1 John 4:10 "In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins."
b. Beloved of God. Romans is thought of as an epistle heavy with deep doctrinal teaching — and it is — but it is also an epistle heavy with the teaching of God’s Love, and exhorting believers to emulate that love of God. Rom 5:5-8, Rom 8:28, Rom 8:35, Rom 8:38-39, Rom 12:9-10, Rom 13:8-10, Rom 14:15, Rom 15:30
4. Called to a purpose — to Follow Christ—Rom 1:7 "… called to be saints…”
a. “…called … saints...”
(1) “To Be” is not in the original
(a) It is not that we make some special effort to be a special person and that makes us a saint
(b) A saint is one set apart by God and called—in other words, every true believer
(2) A saint is not some special person who is perfect in life and has special powers because of that.
(3) A saint is a normal Christian—Rom 1:7, Rom 8:27, Rom 12:13, Rom 15:25, Rom 15:26, Rom 15:31, Rom 16:2, Rom 16:15, 1 Cor 1:2, 1 Cor 6:1, 1 Cor 6:2, 1 Cor 14:33, 1 Cor 16:1, 1 Cor 16:15, 2 Cor 1:1, 2 Cor 8:4, 2 Cor 9:1, 2 Cor 9:12, 2 Cor 13:13, Eph 1:1, Eph 1:15, Eph 1:18, Eph 2:19, Eph 3:8, Eph 3:18, Eph 4:12, Eph 5:3, Eph 6:18, Phil 1:1, Phil 4:22, Col 1:2, Col 1:4, Col 1:12, Col 1:26, 1 Th 3:13, 2 Th 1:10, 1 Tim 5:10, Phile 1:5, Phile 1:7, Heb 6:10, Heb 13:24, Jude 1:3, Jude 1:14

b. Saints are given the revelations of God—Col 1:26, Mat 16:17
c. A saint is one who has been set-apart for a purpose—Eph 4:12
d. A saint is one who has been saved, whether they live like a saint or not.
5. Called to possess Grace and Peace
a. Grace—God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense
b. Peace
(1) With God—Rom 5:1—the result of justification
(2) Of God—Phil 4:4-7—the result of discipleship
c. God Our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ—The Trinity is again emphasized.