The Called Of God
Those who are the called according to His purpose.
Romans 8:28
The New Testament epistles use the terms called and calling in reference to the sovereign, regenerating work of God in a believer’s heart that brings him to new life in Christ. All the called of God are chosen and redeemed by Him and are ultimately glorified. He has securely predestined them to be His children and to be conformed to the image of His Son.
Although human faith is essential if we are to be among the called, it is even more essential that God initiate our calling to salvation. God’s choice not only precedes man’s choice but makes man’s choice possible and effective. “‘No one can come to Me [Christ] unless it has been granted to him by My Father’” (John 6:65).
Primarily, God’s call to the redeemed is once and for all. But secondarily, it continues until the Christian is finally glorified. That ought to thrill us and motivate us to emulate Paul’s resolve to “press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil 3:14).
MacArthur, J. (2001). Truth for today : A daily touch of God's grace (Page 280). Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman.
Lessons Learned: We are incredibly privileged to be the 'called of God'. It means that God has chosen us to be lifted up from the misery of our sinful, depraved existance. By God's grace we have been shown mercy, and we have been given new hearts of flesh, new lives in Christ. We have been adopted as God's children. But once we are called, we cannot continue to live our lives in the same way as before. We are "called according to His purpose", so by His good providence, God will use every circumstance, every situation in our lives to teach us and to conform us to Christ's image. Once we answer God's call and are justified, we must start on the path of discipleship, of following Christ. We must be filled with the Holy Spirit and we must follow the path of sanctification, leading ultimately to glorification.
Applications: God's call is sovereign and it is effectual. Those who are called have been chosen to fulfill God's purposes. Nothing that we do can earn the right to be called, and nothing that we do can resist God's call once He has made it. But once we are called, we must live our lives for Him and not for ourselves, because the 'called of God' are 'those who love Him'. Those who love Him are those who are obedient to His will and to His commands (John 14:21). So as one of the called of God, love Him with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength (Mat 12:30), and demonstrate this love by obeying His commands (1 John 5:3). Then you will be fulfilling God's purpose for you, being conformed to the likeness of His Son.
Prayer Subjects: Pray that I would be thankful for God's mercy and grace. Pray that I would be thankful for the privilege of being adopted into God's family. Pray that I would not take that privilege for granted and that I would live my life for the purpose of glorifying God and following Christ. Pray that I would boldly proclaim the gospel, so God's calling to His redeemed people would continue to be spread to the ends of the earth.
Listen to this entry
Romans 8:28
The New Testament epistles use the terms called and calling in reference to the sovereign, regenerating work of God in a believer’s heart that brings him to new life in Christ. All the called of God are chosen and redeemed by Him and are ultimately glorified. He has securely predestined them to be His children and to be conformed to the image of His Son.
Although human faith is essential if we are to be among the called, it is even more essential that God initiate our calling to salvation. God’s choice not only precedes man’s choice but makes man’s choice possible and effective. “‘No one can come to Me [Christ] unless it has been granted to him by My Father’” (John 6:65).
Primarily, God’s call to the redeemed is once and for all. But secondarily, it continues until the Christian is finally glorified. That ought to thrill us and motivate us to emulate Paul’s resolve to “press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil 3:14).
MacArthur, J. (2001). Truth for today : A daily touch of God's grace (Page 280). Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman.
Lessons Learned: We are incredibly privileged to be the 'called of God'. It means that God has chosen us to be lifted up from the misery of our sinful, depraved existance. By God's grace we have been shown mercy, and we have been given new hearts of flesh, new lives in Christ. We have been adopted as God's children. But once we are called, we cannot continue to live our lives in the same way as before. We are "called according to His purpose", so by His good providence, God will use every circumstance, every situation in our lives to teach us and to conform us to Christ's image. Once we answer God's call and are justified, we must start on the path of discipleship, of following Christ. We must be filled with the Holy Spirit and we must follow the path of sanctification, leading ultimately to glorification.
Applications: God's call is sovereign and it is effectual. Those who are called have been chosen to fulfill God's purposes. Nothing that we do can earn the right to be called, and nothing that we do can resist God's call once He has made it. But once we are called, we must live our lives for Him and not for ourselves, because the 'called of God' are 'those who love Him'. Those who love Him are those who are obedient to His will and to His commands (John 14:21). So as one of the called of God, love Him with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength (Mat 12:30), and demonstrate this love by obeying His commands (1 John 5:3). Then you will be fulfilling God's purpose for you, being conformed to the likeness of His Son.
Prayer Subjects: Pray that I would be thankful for God's mercy and grace. Pray that I would be thankful for the privilege of being adopted into God's family. Pray that I would not take that privilege for granted and that I would live my life for the purpose of glorifying God and following Christ. Pray that I would boldly proclaim the gospel, so God's calling to His redeemed people would continue to be spread to the ends of the earth.
Listen to this entry
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