CALLED

 

Write From My Heart

September 17, 2021

CALLED  summoned; invited

2 Peter 1:3-4 (NLT)  By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.

            The invitation is ours. The summons has our name on it. God has called us through Christ to draw near to him. 

John 12:32-33 (NIV)  “But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself.” He [i.e., Christ] said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.

Romans 8:29-30 (NLT)  For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory.

            Many good Christian folk misunderstand this last passage. God does not pick and choose only selected individuals [concept of predestination] but he makes it abundantly clear through corresponding scriptures:

Romans 10:13 (NIV) …for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Acts 2:21 (NIV) And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

Joel 2:32 (NIV) And everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved…

Revelation 22:17 (NLT) The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” Let anyone who hears this say, “Come.” Let anyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who desires drink freely from the water of life.

            The invitation is clearly open to anyone who will listen and respond. Ah, the key—respond. According to the Romans 8 passage, God prepared in advance his plan to save all those who would respond to him. That plan was to return people from a self-generated, willfully, sinful life, back to right-standing with himself through the sacrificial gift of his only begotten Son. And once restored to right-standing [i.e., righteousness] those faithful ones will receive the promise of blessed hope.

John 3:16 (NIV) For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Titus 2:13-14 (NIV) …while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

            The invitation is ours. The summons has our name on it. God has called us through Christ to draw near to him. How will you respond?

Joshua 24:14-15 (NIV) (excerpts)  Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. … But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve… But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.