Calling

It is God’s will that all people hear and believe His Good News of salvation; God’s invitation comes through his word and his Spirit. He calls, equips and sends messengers with the gospel of what Jesus Christ has done, calling sinners to repentance and faith.

Christians receive a calling to live a holy life through the power of the Holy Spirit. God gives the power to be separated out of the world by faith. It includes being patient in suffering, aiming for peace, serving one another in freedom and love, and working to spread the gospel. God is calling us to Himself–for Himself.

Basic meanings of “call”
1. To summon to a conference — Gen. 3.9; Acts 4:18
2. To pray to the Lord — Gen. 4:26; Rom. 10:13
3. To name something or someone — Gen. 2:19; Lk. 1:60
4. To make someone one’s own — Isa. 43:1; 1 Pet. 2:9
5. To appoint someone to service — Ex. 3:4-5; Mk. 1:19-20
The call to become God’s children
1. What is its nature?
  1. It is heavenward — Phil. 3:14; Heb. 3:1
  2. It is irrevocable — Rom. 11:29
  3. It is linked to our election — Rom. 8:30; 2 Thess. 2:13-14
  4. More are called than chosen — Mt. 22:14
2. What must we do?
  1. We must repent — Lk. 5:32; Acts 2:38-39; 17:30
  2. We must call on God’s name — Acts 9:21; Rom. 10:12
  3. We must confirm God’s call by our lives — 2 Pet. 1:5-10
3. What are its results?
  1. We are justified and glorified — Rom. 8:28-30
  2. We have fellowship with Jesus — 1 Cor. 1:9
  3. We enter God’s kingdom — 1 Thess. 2:12; 2 Pet. 1:9-10
  4. We enter God’s light — 1 Pet. 2:9
  5. We enter Christ’s glory — 2 Thess. 2:14
  6. We have Christian hope — Eph. 4:4
  7. We receive our inheritance — Heb. 9:15
  8. We will conquer along with the Lamb — Rev. 17:14
The call to live a holy life
1. Basic call — Eph. 4:1; 1 Thess. 1:4; 2 Tim. 1:9
2. What that call involves
  1. Patient suffering — 1 Pet. 2:20-21
  2. Working for peace — 1Cor. 7:15; Col. 3:15
  3. Serving one another — Gal. 5:13
  4. Working as an apostle — Rom. 1:1
  5. Working as missionaries — Acts 13:2
How does God call us?
1. The Holy Spirit — 1 Thess. 1:5
2. Grace — Gal. 1:15
3. The message of the gospel — 2 Thess. 2:14; Rom. 10:14