Paul introduces himself
The first seven verses in Romans are the introduction. Paul introduces himself and he also describes to whom he is addressing. The sender and recipient are listed in the introduction. To whom it is addressed is described in verses 5-7.
“[On Jesus Christ our Lord], through whom we received grace and apostleship to the obedience of faith among all nations for His name (among whom you are also called ones of Jesus Christ), all beloved of God and called saints who are in Rome: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!”
Rom 1:5-7 KNT
Paul’s general commission was to proclaim “obedience of faith among all nations for His name” as an apostle. It is a very generous definition of the target audience of its mission, which includes all non-Jewish peoples. The recipients are only a subset. This is only about the church in Rome.
Today, we hardly have a city where there is only one church parish. There are many denominations and depending on the size of a city, there are also several areas in which individual congregations are established. Paul, however, is addressing all the believers in Rome. He sees this as a single congregation, which apparently corresponded to the self-image of the believers there. However the church in Rome was organized, the letter was explicitly meant to apply to all believers there.
Called by Christ
If one observes the order of expressions in these verses, one is not first a “member of a church,” but one is a “called of Jesus Christ.” That’s where it starts. It is the bond with Christ that precedes everything else. Only this leads to community with people, other believers, who experience it in the same way. To these Paul addresses himself with the assurance that they are “beloved of God” and “called saints.”
You may keep these statements in mind and let them affect you. God loves us and we are called by Him. Paul explains: We are called as “saints”, namely as “set apart”, because whoever is taken into the presence of God experiences both. From this speaks a confidence of the apostle that the believers in Rome (and in a figurative sense also we) have come into a special and living relationship with God. In this, Christ is the one who calls, through the gospel, and it is God who does this out of His love, making us called saints.
All believers are saints
Paul addresses the people in the church at Rome as “beloved of God” and as “called saints.” So you don’t become a saint by canonization. All believers are called saints by Paul! All that is needed is the Good News of the grace of God, who makes the dead alive through His Word. Whoever gives place to this word in life will be “set apart” by it. It is not spatial segregation, and it has nothing to do with a halo.
The saints, they are those touched by God’s grace. Saints are not without faults, they do not have to be martyrs or have performed miracles. Saints are called of Christ Jesus and beloved of God! This is the description, and those who are called and loved in this way are automatically the called saints.
Grace and peace
“Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!”.
Rom 1:7
A greeting like from a thousand-and-one nights? No, much better, but very much oriental. Grace and peace are mentioned together. The peace, the shalom, does not denote the absence of war, but the well-being. It is a good expression for well-being and for the fulfillment of our humanity. However, grace precedes this term. Grace is not new in the New Testament. From the first book of the Bible, “grace” is an expression of God’s nature and work. Grace is shown. Grace is thus also the first expression in this greeting formula. Peace is the result.
Both grace and peace are attributed by Paul. Both come from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. There lies the source of both words. It is in this understanding that the letter now begins.
