Lessons from Paul: Called

I remember it well. I was walking with a couple friends of mine, Wayne and Ralph, outside the massive complex known as the Bristol Motor Speedway, otherwise known as the Last Great Colosseum. We were trying to find our way to our entrance into the racetrack, as we were going to take in a NASCAR event.

As we wandered, Wayne noticed a small tent manned by two people with an “information” sign on it. As he walked up to these unsuspecting folks, the first words out of Wayne’s mouth were striking. “What’s your mission?!” How’s that for an opener? Upon their recovery from that jolt of reality, they were able to help us find our way.

That question, “What’s your mission?” certainly packs a punch, and when applied to our life and witness, that question is critical to answer. 

When the Apostle Paul addressed the believers in Rome, he also had an opener, which included this crucial word “called.” Our calling as Christians is tied into our mission.

As Paul introduced the first letter (first in order, not chronology) he penned in the New Testament revelation, he used the word “called,” a word referring both to himself and to all the believers in Rome:

“Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures, concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead. Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name, among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ; To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 1:1-7).

The Roman Christians were called to be saints. The term “saints” means to be “set apart.” The word “saint” comes from the Greek word hagios, which means “consecrated to God, holy, sacred, pious.” It is almost always used in the plural, “saints.” Therefore, scripturally speaking, the “saints” are the body of Christ, Christians, or the Church.

Here in Romans 1:7, the idea of being called was not something the Roman Christians did by attempting to grow in holiness, but something God did for them when He saved them. He set them apart to Himself and His purposes. Thus the term refers more to a positional idea than a practical, ethical idea, although the two are related. God called them to be set apart for Himself, yes, yet to be called also involves active engagement in His purposes. 

Simply, to be called reflects both position and purpose. 

The idea of being called is replete in the New Testament, with the word “called” being used over 200 times. 

As His people, we are called “saints”, sanctified ones, who are set apart.

But the question remains, “Called for what? Set apart for what?”

One starting point is Ephesians 2:8-10, where Paul provided instruction on salvation and the purpose of the saved ones, the called:

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”

To be called is to be saved by grace through faith in Christ, and it is a gift! Yet, to whom much is given, much is expected.

We, the called, are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, including the good work of evangelism!

While we all have been given unique spiritual gifts that support the work of the church, we all have the similar responsibility to be His witnesses, ambassadors of Christ.

Remember, in Acts 1:8, just before He ascended, Jesus gave His marching orders to the disciples:

“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

And in 2 Corinthians 5:18-29, Paul was addressing the entire congregation in the Corinthian church when he wrote:

“Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.”

That ministry of reconciliation points to the work Christians have been given to do and the gospel message we declare – that people can be forgiven of sin and set free from the power of sin and death and have a restored relationship with God through faith in Jesus.

While the ministry of reconciliation may include our good works, which are certainly a critical component of our gospel witness as the Church (Matthew 5:16), the word of reconciliation is the gospel message specifically. And communicating the gospel of Christ is imperative to our gospel witness, for “faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17).

Simply, the called ones have a calling to follow Jesus in obedience, doing the will of God.

While our individual callings may look different, the general thrust of our calling as God’s people includes being His witnesses to a lost and dying world, while stewarding the ministry of reconciliation and the word of reconciliation, namely the gospel.

May the Lord, by His grace and in the power of the Holy Spirit, help us, the called, to fulfill His calling on our lives for His glory and for the building of His Church! Amen.

“…walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God” (Colossians 1:10).