Greet One Another

Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks but all the churches of the Gentiles give thanks as well. Greet also the church in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in Asia. Greet Mary, who has worked hard for you. Greet Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners. They are well known to the apostles, and they were in Christ before me. Greet Ampliatus, my beloved in the Lord. Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and my beloved Stachys. Greet Apelles, who is approved in Christ. Greet those who belong to the family of Aristobulus. Greet my kinsman Herodion. Greet those in the Lord who belong to the family of Narcissus. Greet those workers in the Lord, Tryphaena and Tryphosa. Greet the beloved Persis, who has worked hard in the Lord. Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord; also his mother, who has been a mother to me as well. Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers who are with them. Greet Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.
Romans 16:3-16
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Greet One Another
As Paul closes his letter to the Romans, he lists out so many people to greet. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit in the hearts of God's people made them family. Jesus told his disciples that those who hear the Word of God and keep it were his mother and brothers and sisters. We have been grafted into a family and have received adoption as sons by the work of that Holy Spirit. Now, we can call Jesus' heavenly Father our Father. We have been made like him in this regard. The sons are free. The sons know the Father, and the Father promises to listen. The sons and daughters are bound together as a family, with Jesus at the head. As we live our lives as Christians, we greet one another as brothers and sisters, for we have the blood of Jesus covering us and in us to life everlasting.