“God’s Call"
Ephesians 1:1-2
God’s Individual Call
God’s Call to the Church
What we are called from and called to:
I. Called from labor to rest (Matt. 11:28)
II. Called from death to life (1 John 3:14)
III. Called from bondage to liberty (Gal 5:13)
IV. Called from darkness into light (1 Pet. 2:9)
V. Called from bondage to peace (1 Cor. 7:15)
VI. Called to the fellowship of His Son (1 Cor. 1:9)
What we are made by obeying the call:
I. We are made sons of God (John 1:12)
II. We are made the children of God (Gal. 3:26)
III. We are made the servants of God (Matt. 25:21)
IV. We are made God’s saints (Col. 1:1)
V. We are made God’s witnesses (I Thess. 2:10)
VI. We are made workers together with God (2 Cor. 6:1)
VII. We are called to a high calling (Phil. 3:14)
VIII. We are called to a holy calling (2 Tim. 1:9)
IX. We are called to a heavenly calling (Heb. 3:1) Pulpit Helps, August, 1992, p. 11.
Let’s examine this issue of being “Called of God today…
God’s Individual Call
Ephes. 1:1 (NIV)
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,
Paul begins his letter to the Church in Ephesus by giving his statement of calling.
Paul begins by giving his Christian name, then states he is an apostle. An Apostolos, Gk; a delegate, especially an ambassador of the Gospel appointed by Jesus Christ.
Paul was greatly privileged.
Do you count your relationship with Christ a privilege?
“Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you” (John 15:16).
Paul was privileged--to serve.
Do you today consider it a privilege to serve?
Paul’s apostolic mission was to serve the Gentiles and to bring the “God News” or gospel message to the world.
The message that salvation was available to all who believed on Jesus Christ, the son of God.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16
Paul considered it a high honor.
I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: Romans 1:16
I love the fact that God allows us to be a part of His “good and perfect” will.
“But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee” (Acts 26:16).
“And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry” (1 Tim. 1:12).
Will you like Paul be faithful to God’s call on your life?
We need be mindful that we must get off our seats, get on our feet and get in the street to show others the love of Jesus.
Remember, God’s call was by the will “thelema”, Gk., the determination and choice of God.
If you have asked Jesus into your heart, God determined and chose “you”.
God’s Call to the Church
Ephes. 1:1-2 (NIV)
…To the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus:
[2] Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
This letter next addressed the called “saints” and “faithful”
Notice these were not “saints” or “faithful” in themselves, but “in Christ Jesus”.
Do you understand, God calls “born again believers” to be “saints” and “faithful”?
Would you be considered as a “saint” and “faithful” today by God?
The Greek words translated are hagios, which means sacred (physically pure and morally blameless), holy; and pistos, which means trustworthy, faithful, sure and true.
Saint refers to all “born again” believers, not just a selected few that certain religious orders deem to be saints.
A saint is a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ who has been “set apart” to live for God.
The saint has given themself to live a consecrated, sacred, and holy life—all to the glory of God.
It’s what Jesus called us to:
… "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. Mark 8:34
We are saints because of our new heart…
“And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness” (Ephes. 4:24).
“And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him” (Col. 3:10).
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Cor. 5:17).
We are also “saints” because we are set apart…
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Romans 12:1-2).
“As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: but as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation [behavior]” (1 Peter 1:14-15).
A faithful “pistos” person has placed their faith in Jesus Christ.
They have:
believed Christ could and would save them.
counted Christ worthy of all trust.
placed their confidence in Christ and His Word.
entrusted their salvation in the hands of Christ.
And committed their life to Christ.
If someone asked you today “Are you a “saint” and “faithful” one of Jesus Christ, how would you answer?
“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:14-15).
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).
“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him” (John 3:36).
"I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me." John 14:6
Paul was sure of his calling, to bring the world to the knowledge of the saving grace of Jesus Christ.
Have you asked Jesus Christ to be Lord and Savior of your life?
God’s word tells us we can also be sure of our “calling” in Christ Jesus, Our Lord.
Have you acknowledged your calling since asking Jesus into your heart?
If you would like to do either, please come forward.
Let’s show our Christ-likedness by answering God’s call for us as “saints” and the “faithful” people of God.
We can go and tell others of Jesus:
“I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness” (John 12:46).
Let’s be faithful to go and tell others about Jesus and the “hope” that He can bring in their lives…as we “Go ye therefore to all nations…” to the glory of God.
