Who is Called? All Believers - All of Life - 2 Timothy 1:9, 1 Corinthians 7:17
Share
What Does It Mean to Be "Called" by God? A Biblical Overview
Is calling Only for Pastors and Missionaries? Debunking a Common Misconception
Are only certain people "called" by God to do important work for Him? Many people assume that occupations such as the pastorale or missionary work are true "callings" that have significance before God, while other jobs are just jobs.
Why Defining Yourself by Your Occupation Falls Short of God's Design
Even though work is an important part of life, by itself, it falls far short of describing the significance of an individual. There are many other aspects to being a person - personal growth and development, family, citizenship, friendships, and faith. So to define oneself by one's occupation is inadequate. It tends to place more value on the self than on God, more on activity than on character, and more on success than on relationships. In short, it tends to equate employment with human worth.
The Bible's Definition of Calling: All Believers, All of Life - 2 Timothy 1:9, 1 Corinthians 7:17
From the Bible's point of view, "calling" describes all of the responsibility of all believers to serve God with all of their lives.
The Primary Calling - For All Believers - The Commission and Call
Your primary calling is the invitation to salvation, winning souls for Christ, and to follow Jesus Christ. This is not reserved for pastors or missionaries; it is the universal command for every Christian.
Acts 1:8: "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."
Mark 16:15: "And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature."
Ephesians 4:1-4: "I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness..."
2 Timothy 1:9: "...who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace..."
1 Peter 2:9: "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
Wisdom and Strategy
Proverbs 11:30 "The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,
And he who wins souls is wise."
1 Corinthians 9:19-22 "For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; 20 and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law; 21 to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law; 22 to the weak I became "as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some."
The Message of Salvation
Romans 10:13-15: "For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” 14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written:
“How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace,
Who bring glad tidings of good things!”
Romans 3:23-26: "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, 26 to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus."
Romans 6:23: " For the wages of sin is death, but the [h]gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
The Secondary Calling - For All of Life
1 Corinthians 7:17: "Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him."
Colossians 3:23-24: "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ."
1 Corinthians 10:31: "So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."
Every believer is called to belong to God. Paul indicated to the Christians at Rome that both he and they had the same calling (Romans 1:1,6). Likewise, he wrote to the believers in Ephesians that just as their is one Spirit and one body (that is, the church), "you were called in one hope of your calling" (Ephesians 4:4).
Every believer is called a child of God, in His love. God brings us into His family (1 John 3:1), through faith in Christ Jesus.
Every believer is called to accept the work of Christ on his or her behalf. Though we are sinners deserving of judgment, Christ's death on the Cross has "justified" us, made us able to stand before a holy God and receive His salvation and grace (Romans 8:28-30; 2 Timothy 1:9). For this we have every reason to live lives of gratitude (1 Thessalonians 2:13).
Every believer is called to become like Christ. Living the life God calls us involves change in which we take on the character of Christ. That means resisting the temptation to turn away from Him, even though others may encourage us to do so (Galations 1:6-9). It involves fleeing evil and pursuing good, fighting to maintain our faithfulness (1 Timothy 6:11,12). Just as Christ is holy, so we are to develop holiness in everything we do (1 Peter 1:15;3:9). As we pursue Christlikeness, we can do so with the certainty that the Lord is helping us, equipping us for every good work (Philippians 2:12,13; 2 Peter 1:3-10).
Every believer is called to serve God and other people. Christ has called us to Himself to live out our faith in a manner that is worthy of Him (Ephesians 4: 1-4). We have the privilege of declaring God's work through everything we do and say (1 Peter 2:9, 10,21).
Called to Eternal Glory: The Ultimate Destination of Every Believer
Glorified and Raised to Stand with Christ in Eternal Glory (1 Peter 5:10)
Every believer is called to become a citizen of the new heaven and new earth. The Christian life leads ultimately to the end of being "glorified" raised up to stand with Christ in eternal glory, pure and holy at last (1 Peter 5:10; 2 Peter 3:10,11).
The Marriage Supper of the Lamb: Celebrating the Final Gathering (Revelation 19:9-10)
In that day, we will celebrate the final coming together of Christ and all His faithful ones (Revelation 19:9,10). It is considered the ultimate, climactic celebration marking the eternal union between Jesus Christ (the Bridegroom) and the Church (the Bride).
Obedience Now Confirms Your Ultimate Calling (Matthew 5:19; 2 Peter 3:10-11)
Our obedience to the Lord right now confirms this ultimate calling (Matthew 5:19, 2 Peter 3:10-11).
If you are a believer in Christ, you have the same, significant calling as any other believer in Christ, no matter what your workday occupation may be. We are all called to win souls for Jesus Christ. Calling is not just a matter of what job one has; it means living as a child of God.
Is that the calling that you are pursuing?