The call of God part 3

     For God has not called us for the purpose of impurity, but in sanctification. So he who rejects this is not rejecting man but the God who gives His Holy Spirit to you.
     1 Thessalonians 4:7,8 NASB

   "Therefore,come out from their midst and be separate," says the Lord. "And do not touch what is unclean; and I will welcome you. And I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to Me," says the Lord Almighty. Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
     2 Corinthians 6:17-7:1 NASB

     These two passages of scripture expand upon the first two aspects of God's call to us.
     1. We are called to be holy.
     2. We are called to adoption as children of God.

     The first passage makes it clear that holiness is not an option. God has not called us to remain in sin.
He has called us to be separate from sin, and to serve Him with all that we are. This passage contains a warning to those who think that holiness is not required by God. To reject holiness is to reject God.
     The verses in 2 Corinthians link holiness (separation) to adoption. The context of these verses deal with the Corinthian believers who were dabbling with immorality, selfishness, and idolatry. Paul tells them that there has to be a separation. Light and darkness do not mix. Righteousness and lawlessness do not mix. there is no harmony between Christ and the devil. Since Christians are the temple of the Living God, it stands to reason that they must come out of all unholy alliances, they must turn their backs on sin, and be separated unto God.
     This passage contains a promise. If they would come out of the sinful life they were dabbling in, if they would avoid immorality, God would be a father to them, and they would be sons and daughters to Him.
     God will not have His children unequally yoked. He will not have His children playing with sin. God calls each one of us to live lives that are dedicated to Him. Without holiness, no one will see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14).






    

The call of God part 2.

     He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will.
     Ephesians 1:5 NASB

    We were once children of wrath (Ephesians 2:3), but God in His mercy has chosen us to be adopted sons, through the offering of Jesus Christ. We were once sons of disobedience (2:1), children of the devil (John 8:48), but now we have received the spirit of adoption testifying that we are children of God (Romans 8:15,16).
     Most children when asked what they want to be when they grow up, will desire to be like  their parents. A little boy will say "I want to be just like my dad". A little girl will desire to grow up to be like her mother.
     Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children (Ephesians 5:1). It is the same for the child of God. They desire to be like God. To have the same attitudes, desires, and actions. The child of God does not want to do anything that would bring sorrow or reproach to the name of his heavenly Father.
     We are told in Romans 8:14, that it is those who are led by the Spirit of God, who are the sons of God. It is also those who walk in the Spirit (order their lives by) that do not fulfill the lusts of the flesh (Galatians 5:16).
     Can you say that you are a true son? Does your life imitate your heavenly Father? Does the Spirit bear witness with your Spirit that you are indeed a child of God?

    

The call of God part 1.

     Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called.
     Ephesians 4:1 NASB

     We have been called by God with a holy calling (1Timothy 1:9). This calling is a vocation, a way of life. This calling requires us to walk in a manner worthy of it. This is no different than an employer hiring a qualified individual for a job. He would have every right to expect this individual to do the job to the very best of his ability. A doctor is required to be thorough in examining his patient. He must then prescribe the proper treatment. A doctor who is careless, neglecting important tests, or treatment, would soon loose his job, license, and face malpractice suits. Likewise we are under obligation to walk in the call of God upon our lives in a manner that is worthy of Him (1 Thessalonians 2:12).
     Just what is this call of God upon our lives? What does it consist of?
     1. It is a call to be holy (Ephesians 1:4). To be holy is to be set apart for the service of God. It is to be separated from ordinary use, and devoted to God. We are called to separate ourselves from sin and self, and to give ourselves to the service of God. Even our everyday ordinary tasks are to be done in the name of Christ, and for His glory. This is not dealing with a positional standing before God, but with how we live out our lives on a daily basis. We are to be holy because He is holy, holy in all of our conduct (1 Peter 1:14-16). We are called to live a holy, blameless life, to be above reproach.
     I will expand upon this idea of the call of God, and what it means to us, in the next several posts. I hope that it will challenge each one of us to pursue God in a deeper way, to become more intimately aquainted with Him, growing in His grace.

                                                                                                              

A warning against complacency.

     For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it.
     Hebrews 2:1 NASB

     This warning is not given to the unsaved. It is given to those who know Christ, those who are blood bought and redeemed. It is a very real possibility to drift away. We are exhorted to give heed to the word of God. We must pay attention to it and allow it to shape our lives. We must be diligent to put it into practice. It is my belief that a christian does not just get up some day and decide to fall away. It is a drifting away over time, gradually growing comlacent, content with our salvation, comfortable, feeling safe, letting down our guard. We can get careless about obedience, we can get lazy about prayer, and time in the word. We will soon forget the truth and fall into deception.
     How will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation (verse 3)? We neglect our salvation at our own peril. We live in a world that bombards us with every imaginable temptation. Deception abounds. It is the overcomer, the one who endures to the end (Matt 24:13) that will be saved. For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end (Heb 3:14). 
     The good news is this "Greater is He that is in you, than he who is in the world" (1John 4:4).

A coveting spirit.

We live in a society given to instant gratification. Whatever we desire, we obtain. We don't always crave what want, we just go get it. Because of this, we don't consider that we may have a problem with covetousness. Try going without something that you want. Try foregoing a habit. Do you begin to desire that thing? Does it grow into an obsessive desire? We can easily see by this if we have a problem or not. When we do not gratify our desires, we can see how strong they are. To covet, is to be an idolater. It is a very dangerous thing spiritually. We must be on guard at all times, keeping our eyes on Jesus, who is worthy of our worship.

Pay attention!

For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it.
     Hebrews 2:1 NASB

     It is vital that we take God and His word seriously. We live in an age where the truth is compromised. People live as if the Bible is irrevelant, as if what it teaches does not matter in the long run. Pastors and bible teachers present a washed down version of what the Bible really teaches, in an effort to please men instead of God.
     Pay attention to the truth! This means that we hold God in a reverent fear! He means what He says. It is important that we hear, and then go and do what He says! It is not enough to know what God says, we must let it have its way in our lives. It must become part of us. If we truly believe in a cause, we will be moved to act on behalf of that cause. If we believe God's word, then we will take it seriously, and live it out.

Christ, the object of our pursuit.

     And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
     Hebrews 11:6 ESV.

     Many individuals seek God. they seek Him to meet needs, they seek Him to provide things, they seek His forgiveness. Many of these needs are legitimate. In fact we are to bring our needs to God, and trust Him to provide for us. Ample scriptures can be found to encourage us to come to God with our cares and burdens.
     However, I believe that far too often we neglect the greatest pursuit of all. We tend to seek our needs. We seek the gift, not the giver. This verse speaks of drawing near to God, seeking Him. We are to believe that He will reward those who seek Him. Our greatest need, and the greatest blessing we can obtain, is the presence of Christ Himself. To walk with Him, and dwell with Him, to live as it were in the very holy of holies itself.
     Let's begin to pursue God Himself, not for what He can do for us, but for the sake of knowing Him deeper. That is true relationship!