Monday, March 06, 2006
The Doctrine of God - Call of God
"I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:14)
The call of God is His summons upon the life of His creatures. God's call has a threefold emphasis. First, He calls all men everywhere to repentance; that is, the call of salvation (Acts 17:30). Second, all Christians are called to complete dedication (1 Cor. 1:9). Third, God calls to a specific sphere of service or ministry, or a "holy calling" (2 Timothy 1:9)
Illustration: The Gospels record three "calls" of Christ to His disciples, each illustrating some aspect of the call of God (John 1:35-51; Luke 5:1-11; Matt. 10:1-5).At times God calls one to be a Christian (Rom. 1:6; 1 Cor. 1:9), at times God calls to sanctification (1 Cor. 3:4), and at other times God calls His servants to special service (Acts 13:2).
Application: When a Christian senses the call of God in some area of his life, he should quickly respond.
The call of God is His summons upon the life of His creatures. God's call has a threefold emphasis. First, He calls all men everywhere to repentance; that is, the call of salvation (Acts 17:30). Second, all Christians are called to complete dedication (1 Cor. 1:9). Third, God calls to a specific sphere of service or ministry, or a "holy calling" (2 Timothy 1:9)
Illustration: The Gospels record three "calls" of Christ to His disciples, each illustrating some aspect of the call of God (John 1:35-51; Luke 5:1-11; Matt. 10:1-5).At times God calls one to be a Christian (Rom. 1:6; 1 Cor. 1:9), at times God calls to sanctification (1 Cor. 3:4), and at other times God calls His servants to special service (Acts 13:2).
Application: When a Christian senses the call of God in some area of his life, he should quickly respond.