Title: The Called One/Romans 1:1-7
Contents
In fact, all people in this world are called people. However, all people are called people, but they are completely divided into two types. On the other hand, people who say, 'Oh, God has called me.' There are people who realize the fact and respond to them and live their lives as missionaries that are pleasing to God.
1. Kinds of Calling
There are two kinds of callings. One is the general calling and the other is the special calling. The general calling is the calling God calls us all to save us. Though our sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. It is a common call to “rest”. This is a call to salvation. Those who respond to this call are called saints. The word saints means set apart.
But in addition to this general calling, there is another special calling. There is a so-called mission call, which is called in the book of Isaiah, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” (Isaiah 6:8). It is a call as a missionary for God's work. It is a call as a worker of God and a worker in Heaven.
There are two kinds of calling. What kind of calling did you receive? One thing is clear: all the saints have responded to the call for salvation. However, we should not stay here. Among those who have been saved, we must become those who are specifically called for God's mission.
2. Two callings in the text
What are the two kinds of callings in the text? In verse 1 of the text, it says, “Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, was called to be an apostle.” Here, being called as an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God is a special calling. The word apostles means those who have been called before God for a specific purpose and mission.
In verse 6 of the text, it says, “You among them are those who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.” This calling to belong to Jesus Christ is a common calling. All the saints belong to Jesus Christ. They are of God. People of this world However, this call is the same as the call from Isaiah 43:1, "I have called you by name, and you are mine." This call is God's call to save them. The call of God is completely distinct. One is the general call to save us, and the other is the special call to use us specifically as missionaries.
It is not enough just to be saved, but we must be called as missionaries, but God does not just call us, but the Lord's direct call. Verse 5 says, "Through him we receive grace and the ministry of apostles." The office is given by the Lord directly. Of course, in the church, the session decides. However, the session is done by the command of the Lord, and the session does not have the authority to appoint me or you. It is just commissioned by the Lord. We You must receive a direct call from the Lord. According to the text, it is said that you have received grace and ministry.
3. The person God calls
When God calls us, He calls us through Jesus Himself. Then to whom does He appear and call us?
Third, in order to be called, the missionary must suffer with the one who called it. Romans 8:17 says, "We must also suffer with him so that we may be glorified with him." It is an honor to be called in front of the President, to become a cabinet member or to become the mayor of Seoul. It is an honor to be called before the Lord, Lord of all, and before God. It is not given to us. Only when we have the attitude, “I will suffer with you before God, and if I die, I will die. There is glory, but we must also go through the process of suffering.
Dear saints, We all have a general calling for salvation, but also a special calling as a missionary. The missionary is humble. The humble are those who pray. They are those who depend on the Word. The missionary has a strong sense of mission. The passion of evangelism to save souls is hot. The missionary receives not only glory with those who call it, but also suffers with suffering. We live a life worthy of our calling every day, and the next time we stand before the Lord, we will receive the crown of life and the crown of victory. I bless you in the name of Jesus that you can dictate all of them.