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Romans 1:7 "To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be his holy people: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ."

Think

Identity is a buzzword in our culture. We craft it, curate it, and cling to it. It's in our bios, our brands, our personality tests, our Enneagram numbers. But the more we try to define who we are, the more exhausted we seem to become. Because when identity depends on us, it constantly shifts. Paul opens his letter to the Romans by offering a radically different starting point: we are loved by God and called to be his holy people.

That truth isn’t just the end goal of spiritual growth. It’s the very beginning of the Christian life. Before Paul gives any commands, any instruction, any exhortation, he roots the church in their identity. Loved. Called. Set apart. And it’s not based on their behavior, but on their belief. God’s love came first. His call came first. Their holiness flows from that, not toward it.

"Loved by God." Let that sink in. You are not just tolerated. You are not just part of the crowd. You are loved specifically, personally, eternally. That word “loved” in Greek carries the weight of divine affection—a perfect, pursuing love that doesn’t run dry when you mess up. It’s not a love that waits for you to get your act together. It’s a love that meets you right where you are.

And Paul says we’re not just loved, we’re called. That word means summoned. Invited. Appointed. You didn’t stumble into faith. You were drawn into it. God didn’t just save you from something. He saved you for something. To be his. To reflect his character. To live set apart in a world that blurs every line.

The phrase "holy people" can feel intimidating. We often think of holiness as moral perfection, but it’s first and foremost about position before it becomes about practice. To be holy is to be set apart for God’s purposes. Like fine china in a cabinet or cufflinks on a dress shirt, your life isn’t ordinary anymore. You have a new identity, and that identity calls you to a new way of life.

Holiness isn’t just about avoiding sin. It’s about embracing purpose. It means saying yes to things that reflect God’s character and no to things that cheapen it. Holiness is not a cold, distant, religious posture. It’s vibrant and relational. It means being so marked by the presence and love of God that your life can’t help but point back to him. The call to holiness isn’t a demand to become something you’re not. It’s an invitation to live in alignment with who you already are in Christ.

Paul closes this greeting with two words that seem simple but carry deep theological weight: grace and peace. Grace is God’s unearned favor—the foundation of our relationship with him. Peace is the result of that grace—restored relationship, settled identity, and inner confidence no matter the chaos around us.

If you’re in Christ, these truths are not future goals. They are your current reality. You are loved. You are called. You are holy. Grace has already been given. Peace is already yours. The world will try to label you based on your past, your performance, or your popularity. But God names you based on the cross. And that name does not change.

Living out your identity in Christ isn’t about trying harder. It’s about trusting deeper. When you start from a place of grace, obedience becomes a response, not a requirement. Holiness becomes a joy, not a burden. You stop striving to prove who you are and start living from the security of who God says you are.

Think of a passport. It proves your citizenship. You don’t have to earn it every time you travel—you simply carry it. That’s what Romans 1:7 is. It’s your gospel passport. You belong to a new kingdom now, one marked by love, grace, and peace. And nothing can revoke that citizenship.

So who are you? You are not your worst decision. You are not your latest success. You are not what others expect or what you failed to become. You are loved. Called. Holy. That’s your gospel identity. Wear it well.

Apply

Speak this truth out loud today: "I am loved by God, called by him, and set apart for his purposes." Let it interrupt the lies of comparison and insecurity. Then share that truth with someone else who may need to hear it.

Pray

Father, thank you for loving me before I ever loved you. Thank you for calling me, not because I earned it, but because of your grace. Help me live today from the truth of who I am in you, not who the world says I should be. In Jesus’ name. Amen.