Is there an inward call of God?

For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,

Since I've heard of your continued faith in Jesus and love toward all the saints, I (Paul) am constantly giving thanks for you in my prayers, asking the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory. I ask him to give you a spirit of wisdom and understanding in knowing him – opening the eyes of your hearts – that you may know the hope to which he has called you and the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints…

Paul’s opening to the church in Ephesus. His prayer continues for several more verses, including a third “what” he is praying for them to know – specifically, “what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe” (vs 19).

For many are called, but few are chosen.

Many are called but few are chosen.

Jesus is in the final week of His public ministry – in Jerusalem – teaching in parables.

There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

There is one body and one Spirit. Likewise, you were called to one hope that is your calling. There’s also only one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father of all who is over, through, and in all.

Paul is turning to urge the brethren to be unified and to “walk in a manner worthy of the calling” to which they were called (vs 1). He is encouraging them to do so humbly and in love (vs 2) while remembering the grace that has been given to each one (vs 7).

Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches. Was anyone at the time of his call already circumcised? Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision. Was anyone at the time of his call uncircumcised? Let him not seek circumcision. For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God.

Let every one lead the life that God has granted them and to which God called them. This is my [Paul] standard in all the churches. If you were circumcised at the time of your conversion, remain so. Don’t attempt to hide it. If you were uncircumcised at the time you became a child of God, don’t become circumcised. These physical states mean nothing, but only now that you keep the commandments of God.

Paul is emphasizing the ‘higher calling’ of Christians, over and above whatever their calling in life might be. He goes on to use an example of a slave as well. His main point is “in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God” (vs 24).

One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul.

Lydia from Thyatira and a seller of purple goods and worshipped God. God opened the heart of Lydia in order for her to truly listen to Paul’s words.

Paul and his traveling companions are in Philippi and have sought out worshippers of God in order to teach them about Jesus. Lydia is one among a group of women they found at a known place of prayer (so presumably she was praying to God). She responded to their message and was baptized.

I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.

I [Paul] am amazed that you are listening to a different gospel and so refusing the gift of Christ to which you were called by God. Not that there is a “different gospel” – there is only one – but some do you harm by distorting Christ’s call. Even if an angel were to come from heaven to preach something contrary to what we have preached and you have heard, they should be doomed to destruction. We have said this before but will say it again, if anyone contradicts the gospel of Christ that you have obeyed, let them be doomed to destruction.

Paul’s letter to the churches of Galatia – churches that he had established not too long ago on his first missionary journey (Acts 13-14). He is astonished by their quick turning from the gospel due to, in particular, “Judaizing teachers” that required Gentiles to be circumcised (affectively, accepting Judaism) before becoming, or in order to become, a Christian. This was a significant issue throughout first-century Christianity and almost immediately becomes a problem after Paul’s first journey to Galatia (Acts 15). Apparently, there was a “stigma” cast on Christians that had not been Jews first – or not part of the “circumcision party” (2:12), and even Peter is somewhat affected by this teaching (2:11-14).

Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods. But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more?

Before when you did not know God, you were beholden to those that by nature are not gods. But now that you have come to know Him – or be known by Him – how can you turn back to those weak and worthless worldly principles?

Paul’s letter to the Christians throughout Galatia, converted during his first missionary journey (Acts 13-14). He is confronting a persistent effort by Jewish Christians to continue in and bind on Gentile Christians customs and practices from the Old Law.

For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt.

It’s impossible to restore to repentance those that have fallen away after coming to understand and experience salvation – having shared in the Holy Spirit and the goodness of God’s word and the power to come – since they crucify all over the Son of God, putting him to public shame to their own harm.

The Hebrews writer is arguing the “better” things in Christ, contrasting with things from the Old Law these Hebrew Christians had turned from, but apparently were at risk to turn back. He is chastising them for having become “dull of hearing” (5:11) and requiring someone to still need to teach them these “basic principles” (5:12).

But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We should give thanks to God for you, brethren loved by the Lord, since God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved through the setting apart by the Spirit and belief in the gospel. This salvation is what He called you to by the gospel message we had preached, and its end is glorification with our Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul’s second letter to the church in Thessalonica. The preceding verses describe deception among those who refuse the truth and take pleasure in unrighteousness, and God’s sending a strong delusion (vss 9-12). Paul then contrasts this with thanksgiving for his readers and their calling (vss 13-14).

If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

We are lying if we say we are partnered with God when we walk in worldly ways and ignore the truth. However, if we walk in righteousness, as he is righteous, we have fellowhip with each other and the blood of Jesus washes away our sins.

The Apostle John’s opening in a letter written to Christians encouraging them to love each other (as God loves) and resist false teaching. His instruction appears to be to individual Christians (not a particular church). His is to encourage Christians to continue to “practice the truth” and “walk in the light” (1 Jn 1:6,7). Throughout it, John refers to believers as those who are “born of God”. (2:29, 3:9, 4:7, 5:1, 4) It’s a phrase that he actually introduces in his gospel where he opens, “But to all who did receive him [Jesus], who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” (Jn 1:12-13)

For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.

God has called us to be holy and not to be impure. Therefore, whoever chooses to disregard this is disregarding the very God that has given his Holy Spirit to you.

Paul is giving his final admonitions in his letter to the Thessalonians and imploring them to remain sanctified especially avoiding sexual immorality (vs 3).

And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

Paul is making the argument that the Christian is “called to freedom” (vs 13) and the freedom is from Christ (vs 1). Specifically in this context, he is arguing their freedom from being circumcised according the Old Law who as a result are “severed from Christ” (vss 2-6).

As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, You shall be holy, for I am holy.

Act as an obedient child and do not follow the passions that formerly led you when you were ignorant [of Christ]. He [God] who called you is holy, so you too must be holy in all of your conduct, as it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

Peter is writing to Christians in difficult times, reminding them to continue in their faith in Jesus. He is encouraging them to be prepared for “the revelation of Jesus Christ” (vs 13) and goes on to remind them that they will be judged according to their deeds (vs 17). Peter quotes from Leviticus 11:44, but really echos the entire book of Leviticus and God’s call for his people to be holy as He is holy.

Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Fellow Christians, I do not consider that I have already obtained the goal. Forgetting what lies behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press toward the prize of God's upward call in Christ Jesus.

Paul is urging them to “rejoice in the Lord” (vs 1) in spite of the false teachers among them. He has just expressed his own striving to attain “the resurrection from the dead” (vs 11). This is what he has “not yet obtained” (vs 12) but continues to “press on toward.”

For you know how, like a father with his children, we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.

You know that just as a father would with his children, we urged, motivated, even commanded you to live according to God’s desire, who continues to invite and beckon you into His kingdom and glory.

In Paul’s extended introduction to the “church of the Thessalonians” (1:1), he is recalling the events around their first hearing Paul bring them the gospel (Acts 17 during his second missionary journey).

But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.

We thank God that though you were once slaves to sin, you have become obedient from your heart and remained committed to the standard of teaching you heard. You were set free from sin and have since become slaves of righteousness.

Paul is making the broader point of the richness and fullness of God’s grace toward sinful man (chap 5) before turning to man’s response (and responsibility) for salvation. He states the absurdity of continuing “in sin” (vs 1) because they killed off their old self through baptism (vs 3), and uses the very real master/slave (“human terms” as Paul puts it in vs 19) relationship to illustrate.

To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

To everyone in Rome that are loved by God and called to be saints, grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Introduction of Paul’s letter to the church in Rome.

Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,

Therefore, don’t shrink back from God’s word, nor from me His prisoner, but likewise suffer for the gospel by God’s power. He saved us and called us to a holy calling. He didn’t save us because of anything we did, but because of His own purpose and grace, given in Christ Jesus before the world began.

Paul’s second letter to a younger evangelist, Timothy. In both letters, he instructs him on matters of doctrine and congregational order, but this second letter includes mostly admonition for Timothy to remain strong in the faith.