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| NASB | NLT | VOICE |
| 7 to all who are beloved of God in Rome, called as saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. | 7 I am writing to all of you in Rome who are loved by God and are called to be his own holy people. May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace. | 7 To all those who are God’s beloved saints in Rome: May grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus, the Anointed One, surround you. |
The early Christian community in Rome was full of both Jewish and Gentile believers. The love of God isn’t based on human works, but it’s a divine mission. To be a saint means to be set apart for God’s purposes, which is both a privilege and responsibility. It involves living a life that reflects God’s holiness. Grace refers to God’s unmerited favor. Peace refers to wholeness and well-being. Together, they give us the foundation of what God’s message is all about.
Being called to be saints means living a life that is set apart for God. It’s a much different perspective than being called holy, right? They are essentially the same exact word but carry two different meanings. Holy is often a descriptor, while a saint describes a noun. Being a saint involves changing your lifestyle and your identity. Your words and actions all need to be founded in Christ, through His grace and peace. We are called to reflect those characteristics to all around us, sharing the love of Jesus to each person we interact with. It can be both through our words or actions, but at the foundation of it all – it must be love. What we do as a hobby, as a lifestyle, as a career, as a member of a society, and more should based out of God’s love for the betterment of humanity. They may not be what’s best for us, but God’s love is self-sacrificial. It’s about sacrificing our wants for the needs of those around us.
REFLECTION CHECKPOINT: What is one thing you would like to see your community do in love next year? How would you be involved?
| NASB | NLT | VOICE |
| 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, | 4 But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, | 4 But God, with the unfathomable richness of His love and mercy focused on us, |
The love of God is the Greek word agape “ah-gop-ay.” This type of love is selfless and unconditional. It seeks the best for others. God shows us this love through the giving of His Son for the salvation of the world. The Old Testament shows agape love in Deuteronomy 7:7-8. God chose Israel, not because of their actions, but because of His love and faithfulness to His promises. God’s mercy refers to His compassion and forgiveness towards humanity despite their sinfulness. It’s inexhaustible and freely given.
God gifted us the gift of salvation this Christmas season. The birth of His son on earth would be the eventual way that we can have a right relationship with God. Christ’s death torn the curtain and removed the barrier that kept us from approaching God boldly and confidently. God did not HAVE to do this. He could have waited until we got it right. He could have let us go to our own devices, but God loved us so much that He sent Jesus for us. Sending your own son on this kind of mission is absurd to think about in our modern context. How many of us would send out their offspring to die if it meant to save your family? It’s a big question to ask and can bring up many emotions. God’s act of doing this was an act of love. Our response is to be grateful for what He did for us that day and all of our days. Our response is to respond to His teachings and commands to continue spreading the Good News to all people. Our response is to love each other in the same way that He loved us.
REFLECTION CHECKPOINT: What are you experiencing this Christmas season that have you haven’t before?
| NASB | NLT | VOICE |
| 12 So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience; | 12 Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. | 12 Since you are all set apart by God, made holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with a holy way of life: compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. |
All of us believers are a part of God’s chosen people. We are set apart from the world and deeply loved by God. We show this through five traits:
Have you ever heard a preacher, Sunday School or small group teacher, or a youth leader teach about “clothing yourself” in Christ? It’s kind of a strange concept. We’re taught to wear Christ every day. Then again, we reflect Christ. God created us in His image, so we are wearing Christ each and every day. The Bible teaches us our actions and words should be dressed in these five virtues. They are strengthened through the Holy Spirit each and every time we utilize these virtues. These feel hard to come back in our world today, right? We see all kinds of people lacking compassion for those that are suffering. People who are prideful and putting themselves first over others. People who fly off the handle and cause chaos rather than place a peacekeeper. People who want things this minute instead of later. There will be a balance to it all. No one will be perfect at it from the start. It takes time to adopt these virtues. It’s growth. It’s painful. It’s scary. In the end though – it’s so very worth it.
REFLECTION CHECKPOINT: Which virtue is the strongest for you right now and how? Which do you need to strengthen and why?
| NASB | NLT | VOICE |
| 4 that each of you know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, | 4 Then each of you will control his own body and live in holiness and honor – | 4 Learn how to take charge over your own body, maintaining purity and honor. |
To control your body reflects being self-disciplined and pure. In the Greco-Roman world, where sexual immorality was prevalent, this instruction would be counter-cultural. This control wasn’t just a physical one, but it’s also about controlling the mind and spirit. This control comes from holiness and honor. Holiness, as I’ve discussed, is about Christians being set apart from the world’s lifestyle to reflect God’s. In the Old Testament, holiness was connected to ritual purity and the sacrificial system. In the New Testament, it takes on a moral and ethical dimension. Honor describes the respect and dignity that characterizes the life of a Christian.
Let’s talk about honor. Generally, honor is about living in a way that brings glory to God and respects your own dignity. It includes sexual purity, integrity, and respect in relationships. Sexual purity is more than just “don’t have sex” or “wait until marriage – although I tend to agree to that.” It’s about making the best decisions that honors your body, mind, and soul and honors your partner as a human with proper boundaries. It’s about being integrous, living a life that is truthful and doesn’t lie to each other. It’s about being truthful, even when it’s hard. It’s about doing what’s right, even when it’s scary. It’s about living a life that best reflects who God is to your community. It’s about honoring your relationships as a commitment. No matter if it’s platonic, romantic, or work relationships – you need to give 110% to those relationships. You need to respect the person on the other side, even if they are struggling to respect you. Sometimes, relationships must end – but it can be done respectfully. Honor describes being a respectful Christian. The world needs you to show how it’s done.
REFLECTION CHECKPOINT: When it comes to living a life of honor, what does that mean to you? How can you live honorably?
Above all remember: I am greatly loved by God.
Praise God for all these virtues we can receive from Him through the Holy Spirit.
Read 2 Timothy 2:21.
Ask God for a cleansing. Ask Him to remove the things that aren’t from God and replace those things with the gifts that are from God.
You are a wonderful person. You are a strong human. You may have battled a lot in this world, but God is stronger than all those battles. He is there to help see you through to the other side of them.
Next series: The Birth of Christ – Luke’s Edition || Curious About Christmas || Part 1
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