Called & Separated Romans 1:1-2
1. Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,
2. (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,)
I. Calling (from God)
a. Calling in Romans
i. 1:6. Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ:
ii. 1:7. To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints
iii. 4:17. God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.
iv. 8:28. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
v. 8:30. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
vi. 9:25. As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved.
vii. 11:29. For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.
b. Calling throughout Scripture
i. From the Old Testament
1. Genesis 3:9 And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where [art] thou?
2. Genesis 22 -- The Lord called to Abraham . . .
3. Exodus 3:4 And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here [am] I.
4. 1 Samuel 3:8 And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here [am] I; for thou didst call me. And Eli perceived that the LORD had called the child.
ii. From Jesus in the Gospels
1. Mark 1:20 And straightway he called them: and they left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants, and went after him.
2. Matthew 22:14 For many are called, but few [are] chosen.
3. Mark 2:17 When Jesus heard [it], he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
iii. From Peter
1. Acts 2:38-39 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, [even] as many as the Lord our God shall call.
2. 1 Peter 2:9 But ye [are] a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
iv. One of Paul’s favorite teachings
1. 1 Corinthians 1: 23-27
a. 23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; 24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. 25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, [are called]: 27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
2. Ephesians 4:4 [There is] one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
3. Philippians 3:13-14 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but [this] one thing [I do], forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
4. 1 Thessalonians 2:12 That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.
5. 1 Thessalonians 4:7 For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.
6. 2 Thessalonians 1:11 Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of [this] calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of [his] goodness, and the work of faith with power:
7. 2 Timothy 1:9 Who hath saved us, and called [us] with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
8. Hebrews 3:1 Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;
II. Separated
a. Under the Law in the Old Testament
i. Israel to be a Separate People
1. Exodus 33:15-18
a. 15 And he said unto him, If thy presence go not [with me], carry us not up hence.
b. 16 For wherein shall it be known here that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight? [is it] not in that thou goest with us? so shall we be separated, I and thy people, from all the people that [are] upon the face of the earth.
c. 17 And the LORD said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken: for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name.
d. 18 And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory.
2. Leviticus 20:22-26
a. 22 Ye shall therefore keep all my statutes, and all my judgments, and do them: that the land, whither I bring you to dwell therein, spue you not out.
b. 23 And ye shall not walk in the manners of the nation, which I cast out before you: for they committed all these things, and therefore I abhorred them.
c. 24 But I have said unto you, Ye shall inherit their land, and I will give it unto you to possess it, a land that floweth with milk and honey: I [am] the LORD your God, which have separated you from [other] people.
d. 25 Ye shall therefore put difference between clean beasts and unclean, and between unclean fowls and clean: and ye shall not make your souls abominable by beast, or by fowl, or by any manner of living thing that creepeth on the ground, which I have separated from you as unclean.
e. 26 And ye shall be holy unto me: for I the LORD [am] holy, and have severed you from [other] people, that ye should be mine.
ii. Priests to be separate from the people
1. Leviticus 22:2 Speak unto Aaron and to his sons, that they separate themselves from the holy things of the children of Israel, and that they profane not my holy name [in those things] which they hallow unto me: I [am] the LORD.
2. Deuteronomy 10:8-9 At that time the LORD separated the tribe of Levi, to bear the ark of the covenant of the LORD, to stand before the LORD to minister unto him, and to bless in his name, unto this day. Wherefore Levi hath no part nor inheritance with his brethren; the LORD [is] his inheritance, according as the LORD thy God promised him.
iii. Levites to be separate from the congregation
1. Numbers 8:14-15 Thus shalt thou separate the Levites from among the children of Israel: and the Levites shall be mine. And after that shall the Levites go in to do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation: and thou shalt cleanse them, and offer them [for] an offering.
iv. Cities of Refuge separate from other cities
1. Deuteronomy 19:2 Thou shalt separate three cities for thee in the midst of thy land, which the LORD thy God giveth thee to possess it.
b. Voluntary Separation of Nazirites
i. Numbers 6:2-8
1. 2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When either man or woman shall separate [themselves] to vow a vow of a Nazarite, to separate [themselves] unto the LORD:
2. 3 He shall separate [himself] from wine and strong drink, and shall drink no vinegar of wine, or vinegar of strong drink, neither shall he drink any liquor of grapes, nor eat moist grapes, or dried.
3. 4 All the days of his separation shall he eat nothing that is made of the vine tree, from the kernels even to the husk.
4. 5 All the days of the vow of his separation there shall no razor come upon his head: until the days be fulfilled, in the which he separateth [himself] unto the LORD, he shall be holy, [and] shall let the locks of the hair of his head grow.
5. 6 All the days that he separateth [himself] unto the LORD he shall come at no dead body.
6. 7 He shall not make himself unclean for his father, or for his mother, for his brother, or for his sister, when they die: because the consecration of his God [is] upon his head.
7. 8 All the days of his separation he [is] holy unto the LORD.
c. Barnabas & Saul Separated to missions call
i. Acts 13:2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.
d. Separation teaching in Epistles
i. 2 Corinthians 6:14-18
1. 14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
2. 15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
3. 16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in [them]; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
4. 17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean [thing]; and I will receive you,
5. 18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
ii. Galatians 1:15-16 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called [me] by his grace, To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:
e. The power of God comes to a life separated to godliness
i. 2 Timothy 3:1-5
1. This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3. Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4. Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5. Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
III. Inseparable Nature of Calling & Separation
a. Calling is heavenly mandate, Separation is earthly execution
b. Calling is God’s purpose, Separation is our commitment
c. Calling is God’s eternal plan, Separation is our life’s offering
d. Calling is the voice of Grace, Separation is the power of Grace
