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The Gospel Observer
"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...teaching them to
observe all that I commanded you, and lo, I am with you always, even to
the end of the age" (Matt. 28:19,20).
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April 4, 1990
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Contents:
1) The "Called" (Tom Edwards)
2) God's Word on Christ's Voluntary Death (Tom Edwards)
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-1-
The "Called"
by Tom Edwards
Just as God so many hundreds of years ago called His people out from
Egyptian bondage, He is also today calling people out of their bondage
of sin and into the glorious liberty that exists in Christ Jesus.
In Matthew 22:14, Jesus proclaims that "many are called, but few are
chosen." In the preceding scriptures, the parable of the wedding feast
is given, in which the king had sent out his slaves to call those who
had been invited; but, unfortunately, they were not willing to come --
though called, they were afterward rejected due to their own refusal.
Paul, writing to Timothy, expresses that God "has saved us, and called
us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to
His own purpose and grace, which was granted us in Christ Jesus from
all eternity, but now has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior
Christ Jesus, who abolished death, and brought life and immortality to
light through the gospel" (2 Tim. 1:9,10). It is not on the basis of
our works, but rather on the basis of God's purpose and grace that one
can be saved. The apostle John testifies to this Divine fervor in 1
John 4:10 by showing that it was "...not that we loved God, but that He
loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins" -- a
love that was extended to every transgressor "while we were yet
sinners" (Rom. 5:8).
But what about the idea of being saved "according to His own purpose?"
What is God's purpose? This we find revealed in the gospel. According
to 2 Tim. 1:9, it was granted "from all eternity;" but not known until
it had been made evident through Jesus Christ (v. 10).
It appears that God has always had a purpose for everything. It is His
plan that the gospel be the power of God unto salvation to everyone who
believes (Rom. 1:16). Therefore, those who had God's grace and purpose
granted them from all eternity (and can take advantage of that) are
those who hear the gospel and obey it.
The need to respond is also brought forth in 2 Thessalonians
2:13,14. The passage states: "But we should always give thanks to
God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you
from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit
and faith in the truth. And it was for this He called you through our
gospel, that you may gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ." Again,
we are made aware that God's plan of salvation was not a last-minute
accommodation, but rather it had been carefully designed even prior to
the creation of the universe. And with this scheme of redemption, man
can be saved through "sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the
truth." It is not a mystery or some inexplicable operation as to how
one is "called."
A comprehensive faith is a prerequisite for "sanctification by
the Spirit", and faith can not come without hearing the word of God
(Rom. 10:17) -- as verse 14 indicates, God "...called you through
our gospel." Therefore, man has an active role in the conversion of his
soul. Salvation does not hinge entirely upon God -- though without His
love and mercy, all the believing, repenting, and working righteousness
would be to no avail -- man must also humbly submit to God's righteous
plan by his obedience to the gospel.
Because of man's needed response to the Divine call of God, man must
keep in tune to that call. Many of those who were of God's elect during
Old Testament times perished in the wilderness due to their sin and
rebellion: they inadvertently manifested a disregard to their calling
by their shameful ways. Is it any wonder why Peter encouraged the
brethren in 2 Peter 1:10 by saying, "...give diligence to make your
calling and election sure"? Such exhortation would be unnecessary, if
one's calling were totally up to God, separate from any necessary
action on the believer's part; but the child of God must continue to
live the righteous life that God demands. This, too, is part of God's
"purpose" for man that He had planned before the world began. 1
Thessalonians 4:7 also reflects this: "For God has not called us for
the purpose of impurity, but in sanctification" ("holiness", KJV).
Throughout the New Testament, the Christian is exhorted to "walk in a
manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called" (Eph.
4:1). And as the Hebrew writer proclaims in Hebrews 12:14,15, "Follow
peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the
Lord: looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest
any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be
defiled." Yes, Christians are "called to be saints" (1 Cor. 1:2); and
as the term connotes, a "saint" is one who is "set apart," "made holy"
for a special service to God.
Another part of God's preordained purpose for the saint who works at
making his calling and election sure is the calling "to His eternal
glory" (1 Pet. 5:10), which can only come about through the
individual's cooperation (Heb. 10:35-39; 2 Pet. 2:20-22). Paul urged
Timothy to "Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal
life to which you were called" (1 Tim. 6:12). No, we're not saved by
works in a meritorious sense, but our faith must be active if we want
to be saved -- James 2:26, "faith without works is dead."
Briefly, the Christian has been called to also follow the example of
Christ (1 Pet. 2:21) and to "proclaim the excellencies of Him" (1 Pet.
2:9). To sum it up, all in which God instructs us to do is part of His
purpose, His plan, and that which the Christian has been called for.
As we consider these truths, it is obvious that without obedience we
are simply turning our backs on our calling from God. How could one
possibly assume that this could be done without the for feiture of
salvation?
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-2-
God's Word on Christ's Voluntary Death
Luke 9:51, "And it came about, when the days were approaching for His
ascension, that He resolutely set His face to go to Jerusalem."
John 10:17,18, "For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down
My life that I may take it again. No one has taken it away from Me, but
I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down,
and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received
from My Father."
John 18:11, "Jesus therefore said to Peter, `Put the sword into the
sheath; the cup which the Father has given Me, shall I not drink it?"'
Philippians 2:8, "And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled
Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a
cross."
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The Steps That Lead to Eternal Salvation
1) Hear the gospel,
for that is how faith comes (Rom. 10:17; John 20:30,31).
2) Believe in the
deity of Christ (John 8:24; John 3:18).
3) Repent of sins
(Luke 13:5; Acts 17:30).
4) Confess faith in Christ
(Rom. 10:9,10; Acts 8:36-38).
5) Be baptized in water
for the remission of sins (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; Rom. 6:3,4;
Gal. 3:26,27; 1 Pet. 3:21).
6) Continue in the faith;
for,
if
not,
salvation
can
be lost (Heb. 10:36-39; Rev. 2:10; 2 Pet.
2:20-22).
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First published for the Tri-state church of Christ in Ashland,
Kentucky, at 713 13th Street.
evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards
tedwards1109@gmail.com
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