God Calling

The Bible speaks extensively about God’s calling to us and our calling out to God in return.

Jesus taught, “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him” (John 6:44). God calls people to salvation by commissioning ministers to share the Gospel (Romans 1:1; 1 Corinthians 1:1). To those who respond to the Gospel He promises, “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:13).

Having responded to God’s call to salvation, He next calls us to sanctification. Sanctification is the process of daily living to become more like Jesus. In the Bible, sanctified Christians are referred to as saints. A saint is someone who each day dies to themself, takes up their cross and lives for Jesus.

Jesus said, “For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it” (Luke 9:24). Paul embraced this truth. “I affirm to you brethren…I die daily” (1 Corinthians 15:31). Paul referred to the Christians in Corinth as “those who have been sanctified in Jesus Christ, saints by calling” (1 Corinthians 1:2).

Jesus lamented that “many are called but few are chosen” (Matthew 20:16; 22:14). The chosen are those who accept the call to be saved and in addition are obedient to the call to be sanctified. “God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.” (2 Thessalonians 2:13).

The next calling on the lives of Christians is the call to service. God has called us to salvation and sanctification so that we are prepared to serve His purpose for our lives. One of the greatest promises in the Bible is for those who serve Him, “we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).

We express our gratitude to God for His calling us to salvation and sanctification by living a life of service to Him. Just as our call to salvation came through hearing the Gospel, we must in turn share the Gospel. “How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard?” (Romans 10:14).

When Jesus returns, He will be accompanied by his saints. Revelation 17:14 describes “those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful.” They were called to salvation, chosen through sanctification and faithful in their service to Him.

Until Jesus returns, God preserves, protects and perfects His saints. In addition of the assurance given in Romans 8:28, Jude reassures us that we are “those who are called, beloved of God the Father and preserved in Jesus Christ” (Jude 1:1).

Finally, as the church we are to “pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart” (2 Timothy 2:22).