EPIPHANY 2 – January 19, 2020 – 1 Cor. 1:1-9
“CALLED TO BE SAINTS”
Introduction: Grace be to you and peace, from God our Father, and from our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Our text is the Epistle Lesson just read, from 1 Cor. 1. We begin with prayer.
Dear fellow disciples of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ:
- We often talk about our vocations as “callings.” Likewise, we look at tasks and relationships as “callings” – to be a father, mother, caretaker, homemaker, or the “maintenance” person around the house. We even look at the burdens and troubles that we have as “callings” – to deal with an injury, or an illness, or a mishap, or a mistake that someone makes that has enduring consequences that we have to bear. All of these callings have responsibilities, privileges, and pleasures, and include both pleasant things and unpleasant things.
- In our text, the apostle Paul refers to our relationship with the Lord as a “calling.” In fact, he uses the word “kaleo,” or “to call,” in four different ways in the first two verses of our text, three of which apply directly to you. You are part of the “ekklesia,” the church, those who are “called out” of this world. Likewise, you are called “kletois,” people who have been “called” to be saints and called into the fellowship of our Lord Jesus Christ. And finally, you are described as among those who are “calling” upon the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Then Paul mentions that he was “called” to be an apostle.
- So, it is apparent that your faith, your relationship with God, your very being as a child of God, is a “calling” – something that defines who you are, that defines and dictates various aspects of your life. And just as callings can be pleasant or unpleasant, so this “calling” as a Christian has aspects that are pleasing to us and easy, comforting and strengthening, and other aspects that challenge our sinful nature and may be unpleasant.
- But always, and in every respect, our “calling” from God is a blessing, and very good for us! We see in our text that:
I. It Is The Will Of God To Richly Bless His Church, Those Whom He Has Called
A. He Has Called Us To Be Saints – Holy
Text: “To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours.”
1. We have been declared righteous and holy through faith in Christ, having His righteousness accounted to us
2 Cor. 5:21 “For our sake He made Him to be sin Who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.”
Romans 3:21-24 “But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it – the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by His grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”
2. And we are also being sanctified, being made holy, by the gracious working of God within us
Phil. 2:13 “God works in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.”
B. We Are Called By God To Be Guiltless Now And Forever
Text: “Our Lord Jesus Christ will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
1 John 1:7 “The blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanses us from all sin.”
C. We Are Called To Receive Grace And Peace
Text: “Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
D. We Are Called To Be Enriched, Not Lacking Any Spiritual Gift
Text: “I thank God for you, because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, that in every way you were enriched in Him, in all speech and all knowledge – even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed among you – so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift.”
E. Our Calling Is Into The Fellowship Of Jesus Christ, God’s Son
Text: “God is faithful, by Whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Statement: It helps to be clear and understanding about our “callings” in life, and so also about our “calling” into Christ Jesus. All aspects of this calling are blessings to us – to know His gracious mercy and forgiveness, to experience His restorative power in renewing us and enriching us with every spiritual gift, and to be in “the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Application: Then there is the living in our calling, the fulfillment of our calling, which God, Who is faithful, will continue empowering within us. But we must know our calling, and be willing to receive it – may God grant it to us all!
Transition: At any rate, we see clearly that this is His will and desire for us, and:
II. To This End He Also Calls Some To The Ministry Of His Word
A. In The Past, To The Office Of Prophet And Apostle
Text: “Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus.”
B. Even Today He Calls Some To Be Servants Of His Word – Men Who Are Bestowing His Same Grace And Blessing Upon Those Called To Be His Saints
Eph. 4:11-13 “And He gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.”
Statement: As it appears we may have shortages of pastors in the next couple of decades, we should pray fervently to the Lord to continue “giving” us, His Church, pastors and teachers that we and others continue to be “called” into the fellowship of Christ, and all the blessings thereof. Some of you young men might give this “calling” some consideration.
Application: At the very least we must continue giving thanks and praise to God for the blessings that accompany our “calling” into the church: being justified, declared righteous by God, forgiven all of our sin and guilt, living always in the grace and peace of God, and enriched with every spiritual gift. Oh, how God loves us and blesses us.
Conclusion: As you contemplate your many “callings” in life, do not forget this most important “calling” to be saints of God within the fellowship of Jesus! Of all our “callings” this alone is eternal, and it provides the greatest blessings! God grant each of us to see and rejoice in these blessings! Amen.
Votum: And the peace of God, which surpasses all human understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds in the true faith, which is in Christ Jesus, even unto life everlasting, Amen.