Semikkah7

07/05/2026 – “Called to be saints.” Romans 1:7 / Commentary below

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Romans 1:7 reads: “To all who are in Rome, loved by God, called as saints. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.“

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“We are very apt to regard the apostolic saints as if they were “saints” in a more especial manner than the other children of God. All are “saints” whom God has called by His grace, and sanctified by His Spirit; but we are apt to look upon the apostles as extraordinary beings, scarcely subject to the same weaknesses and temptations as ourselves. Yet in so doing we are forgetful of this truth, that the nearer a man lives to God the more intensely has he to mourn over his own evil heart; and the more his Master honours him in his service, the more also doth the evil of the flesh vex and tease him day by day. The fact is, if we had seen the apostle Paul, we should have thought him remarkably like the rest of the chosen family: and if we had talked with him, we should have said, “We find that his experience and ours are much the same. He is more faithful, more holy, and more deeply taught than we are, but he has the selfsame trials to endure. Nay, in some respects he is more sorely tried than ourselves.” Do not, then, look upon the ancient saints as being exempt either from infirmities or sins; and do not regard them with that mystic reverence which will almost make us idolaters. Their holiness is attainable even by us. We are “called to be saints” by that same voice which constrained them to their high vocation. It is a Christian’s duty to force his way into the inner circle of saintship; and if these saints were superior to us in their attainments, as they certainly were, let us follow them; let us emulate their ardour and holiness. We have the same light that they had, the same grace is accessible to us, and why should we rest satisfied until we have equalled them in heavenly character? They lived with Jesus, they lived for Jesus, therefore they grew like Jesus. Let us live by the same Spirit as they did, “looking unto Jesus,” and our saintship will soon be apparent.”

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Soli Deo Gloria!

Commentary from the Apologetics Study Bible from the book of Romans:

“1: 6-7 “Call” refers not to God’s selection of some individuals rather than others for salvation but to His identification of those whom He names as His own. Later, Paul quoted Hosea 2:23, that says God will call them “My-people” who were not His people, they will be called children of the living God (9:26). Thus God Himself called the Roman Christians to belong to Christ.

“Saints” (“holy ones”) does not designate some rank of Christians superior to others but describes all those God has set apart for Himself. In the New Testament it designates believers in Christ. All Christians are saints – those who belong to Him (Acts 9:13; Romans 8:27; 15: 25-26; 16:2; 1 Corinthians 14:33).”

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“For in it God’s righteousness is revealed from faith to faith, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.” Romans 1:17

And Apologetics Study Bible commentary on this verse:

“1:17 – “Righteousness” is blamelessness before God. Contrary to the widely held view that righteousness is a human achievement. Paul’s position is that righteousness is a gift that can’t be earned. God declares guilty sinners righteous and so puts them in right relationship with Himself. Those who respond to God’s gracious offer to be made right with Him receive the Holy Spirit. Through the Spirit’s power those who have declared righteous are in the process of being transformed into the image of Christ (8:29).”

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A final note, referencing the two part post on 06/26/2026: George Barna’s statistical research conclusion that 90% of American adults hold syncretism as their dominant worldview instead of biblical theism. Just one data point: a mere 28% of “theologically identified born-again christians” strongly disagree with the statement that “people are basically good.” By logical inference – That infers that 72% believe that man is basically “good”. We’re more than a little bit off here as the Christian worldview answer, grounded in Biblical Truth, is – 0 % -!

Standing back to cover all seven questions in the Barna Survey, here are other minority opinions who profess the Bible to be the infallible Word of God:

“Human life is sacred” – 44%

“Strongly agree: you are passionately pro-life” – 48%

All three are more than a little bit off from where they should be – 100%.

What is the point?: We desperately need small group discipleship within the church! And of course: Prayer groups!