◄ What Does Romans 1:6 Mean? ►

Paul was 'called' of God to be the apostle to the Gentiles. He was to proclaim the unsearchable riches of Christ which is freely given to all who trust in the Lord Jesus as Saviour (by grace, through faith in God's only begotten Son).

And in writing to the Christians in Rome, Paul was also addressing you and me, together with multitudes of believers down through the centuries who, for 2000 years, have trusted in His saving blood. Like Paul and the believers in Rome, we too are the 'called' of Jesus Christ. And as the called of God, we have God's absolute assurance of an eternal inheritance, fixed for us in heaven, for we read: "Those whom He called He justified; and those He justified, He also glorified."

God knew before we were born, if we would be someone who one day would receive His gift of salvation. And packaged in our great salvation, is not only justification (when we first believed) but sanctification (as we grow in grace throughout our Christian life) and also glorification (when Jesus returns to take us to be with Himself in heaven).

Yesterday we were justified and tomorrow we will be glorified, but today we are both:
1. Positionally sanctified (permanently positioned in Christ and clothed in His righteousness).  
2. In the process of being practically sanctified (incrementally becoming more and more like Christ).

Today, we are called of Jesus Christ to sanctification; to grow spiritually in the grace of God and to become mature believers who are rooted and grounded in Christ. This cannot be done in our own might or power, but only as we willingly submit to the guiding hand of the indwelling Spirit of God.

May we be willing in all things, to say: "Thy will not mine be done." May we actively depend on Him to produce in us the fruit in righteousness in our daily lives. And may we be actively dependent and yet passively productive for His greater glory, as we submit to His leading in all we say and do.

Heavenly Father, thank You that I am also "the called" of Jesus Christ, by grace through faith in Him. Keep me low at the Cross and willing to say: "Thy will be done in my life." In Jesus' name I pray, AMEN.