"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."
"who are beloved of God" this speaks of the special privileged relationship that the Christian has with the Heavenly Father; of course, God has love for all His creation and Jesus died to not only save all those who would believe in Him, but also that creation itself would be fixed in the fullness of time when He makes all things new. However, God has set aside a special affection for those whom He has elected after His own name for His name's sake; as it is written, "but as many as received Him, who believe in His name, He gave the right to become children of God, born not of flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." (John 1:12,13). Therefore as children also heirs, for we are co-heirs with the Lord Jesus Christ "and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him"(Romans 8:17) Paul uses the Greek word agapetos (ag-ap-ay-tos) and also the Hebrew word Hephzibah (hef-zuh-buh) which literally means "my delight is in her". God shows His love to us by giving Himself for us: "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8) and again, "nor height, nor depth, nor any otheer created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:39) and last example (there are many more) is the verse that everyone knows, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life." (John 3:16). God's law sets the bar so high that the only way to be just while justifying sinners (to express His love) is to pay the penalty Himself. Jesus set aside His heavenly glory to be born into this world; He lived a perfect life; He died as the perfect sin sacrifice at the perfect time; and was raised to life on the third day to show that the debt had been paid perfectly.
Well that is all the time we have for this week kiddies. Tune in next week for the continuing adventures of the Romans.
Not to us, O Lord not to us,
But to Your name give glory,
Because of Your lovingkindness,
Because of Your truth.
