“I press toward the mark for the prize of the “high calling” of God in Christ Jesus.” (Phil.3:14). Much is said in the Scriptures regarding the “calling” mentioned in this verse. A lesson of this nature is valuable because it affects our salvation. Any subject involving the salvation of men’s souls is valuable and worthy of prayerful consideration. Though much is stated regarding the subject, there still exists considerable confusion over the subject. In regard to being “called” by God, the most frequent usage is of being “called” to preach. The statement usually made when someone begins to preach is: “The Lord called him/her into the ministry”. Often being ‘called’ is stated as “I felt led by the Lord here”, when a preacher re-locates. Decisions in the religious realm are often related to being “felt led by the Lord” in that decision. What is the basis for being called by God? Does God speak to man in some sort of ‘small still voice’ or in a dream/vision? Exactly HOW does God ‘call’ man? Is the ‘calling’ common to all, or is it unique to the individual?
Let it first be noted from the passage cited above that the scriptures designate this calling as being a “high calling” (Phil.3:14). It constitutes nothing higher for man! It involves the highest and holiest of honors ever conferred upon man by God. Paul said: “I count all things loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord…” (Phil.3:8). That this calling is a ‘holy calling’ is seen from 2 Tim. 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”. He who calls is holy and man is called to a holy way of life. We do not merit this call. It is not according to our works or design, but according to God’s purpose and grace. This calling is also designated as being heavenly. “Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;” (Heb.3:1). Those who make it possible are from heaven. If we accept the call and work worthily, heaven shall be our eternal home. The calling is as lofty as heaven itself. The subject involves: (1) How God calls; (2) How we accept or answer the call; (3) The calling or profession that is the consequence of this calling.
How does God call man or how is this call extended to man? At times, God has called man directly or personally for a particular work. Such a call was given Moses (Exodus 3:10), Jonah (Jonah 1:1-2), and Paul (Acts 26:19). In all these calls, God respected man’s volition. Man could have refused, but in doing so, one could not be pleasing unto the Lord. Let it be noted that these direct and personal calls were not unto salvation or the call itself did not constitute salvation. So many contend that a direct call is needed for salvation, but such was never so! The Scriptures reveal how God calls us to this heavenly calling: “whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thess. 2:14). God does the calling. The medium is the gospel of Christ. The end is the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Wherever the gospel is preached; there goes the call of God! Why? Because the gospel is God’s power to save! We are told that the gospel is “the power of God unto salvation” (Rom.1:16). The call is given in the gospel message. The failure with most people is that they have not realized that they have been called through the gospel!
How does one accept this call? Man must realize that he is being called. So many hear the gospel and never realize any obligation to it. Man accepts the call by obeying the commands of the gospel that are a part of the new birth (faith, repentance of sins, confession of faith in Christ & immersion in water). (Mark 16:15-16 – “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.” Acts 2:38 – “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.”)
A good example of God’s call and man’s acceptance is found in Acts 8:26-39. The angel of the Lord tells Philip where to go to find one who needs to hear the gospel of Christ. Philip preaches Jesus to this officer of Queen Candace of the Ethiopians. “And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thy heart, thou mayest. He answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more and went on his way rejoicing.”
"Jesus" was preached to the eunuch and this involved the call of God to salvation. In his obedience, this man accepted the call of God and became a part of that high, holy and heavenly calling which is available to man today. Circumstances may differ, but the ‘how’ of God’s call and man’s acceptance remain the same.
What is involved when this call is accepted? We are ‘called’ to be saints. (1 Cor.1:2). Having answered the gospel call, we are known as ‘the called’ of Jesus Christ. (Romans 1:6). We are then to ‘walk worthy’ of the vocation wherein we are called. (Eph.4:1). We are exhorted to make the calling ‘sure’. (2 Pet.1:10). Have you responded to God’s call in the gospel? Are you faithful to your calling?
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