What call did you receive that brought you the greatest happiness? Maybe it was that offer of a particular job you wanted. Think about the excitement of the college athlete who is home waiting for that call from some professional sports team. However great the earthly call you received is, it pales in comparison to God’s call! As Jude begins his little letter, one of the terms used for the recipients was “called” (v. 1). It is a special call because….
It is a heavenly calling. All other calls we have received came from somewhere on earth. Not this one. The Hebrew writer reminded us, “Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling” (3:1). Everything here is earthly, but there is another realm, superior to anything we have on this earth. Think of the beings in that realm! Because we have answered that call, one day we can be in that realm where all those spiritual beings exist.
It is a high calling. Paul was excited about his calling as we should be. He said, “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14). It is a high calling because it deals with the spiritual, not the physical. It is a high calling because it deals with the eternal, not the temporary things of this earth. It is a high calling because it deals with God, not man. That high calling leads to a great prize!
It is a holy calling. We live in a vile and wicked world, but Paul tells us, “Who (God) has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity” (2 Timothy 1:9). He expects us to live holy lives to be a shining light in a dark world (Philippians 2:15). This calling is not from corrupt men, but from a holy God. The root idea of “holy” is to be set apart. We have been made holy (set apart) to do a holy work, by our lives and messages.
It is special because of where we were when the call came. We were not called by God because we were holy people. What Paul said, describes us, “And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest” (Ephesians 2:1-3). He could have given up on us, but instead He called us to forgiveness and holiness.
It is special because only a few accept it. The marines formerly had a recruiting message which said, “The few, the proud, the Marines.” It is not God’s will that only a few accept it. “The Lord is…not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). Jesus said, “For many are called, but few are chosen” (Matthew 22:14). It is sad that most who hear the call are not willing to submit to the caller and not willing to live according to God’s standard. Therefore, the world becomes more wicked because men and women want to do it their way. They do not want anyone telling them how to live!
It is special because the called have eternal life. Many people live only for the pleasures they enjoy on this earth. To them, the grave is the end. To those who accept the call, the best life comes beyond the grave! Paul exhorts us, “Fight the good fight of faith, take hold of the eternal life to which you were called” (I Timothy 6:12).
It is special because when one answers the call, God is glorified. God’s desire is for all people to be saved. He gave His Son and the Son gave His life. When one accepts that call, God’s efforts have been successful, and He is glorified. Peter explained, “His (God’s) divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence” (2 Peter 1:3).
How Does God Call?
The Calvinistic doctrine that God calls a person by giving them some special experiences has permeated the religious world. People trust their experience more than they trust the plain teaching of the Word of God. If God calls people by giving them a special experience, then God is to be blamed when one is not saved. God does call, but not directly, but indirectly.
Paul wrote, “He called you through our gospel, that you may gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thessalonians 2:14). When the gospel message is preached, that is God calling the hearers. When one obeys that gospel message, he or she is now one of the chosen.
The fundamental facts of the gospel are the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus (I Corinthians 15:1-4). One obeys that gospel by re-enacting the gospel. As Jesus died, so one must die to sin, as Jesus was buried in the grave, so one must be buried in the water of baptism. As Jesus was raised from the dead, so one is raised from the water to walk a new life (Romans 6:3-4).
The Bible says that Christ is coming from “heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus” (2 Thessalonians 1:8). Notice the phrase, “obey the gospel.” God calls through the gospel message and we respond to that call by being immersed in water for the forgiveness of our sins (Acts 2:38). That is the way “one obeys the gospel.”
The question is, “Have you been called and have you responded to that call the way the Bible describes? If not, why not?
Wayne Burger