With an upbringing in the Army, I was early convinced that all men are called to salvation, and that they after having received salvation consequently had a calling to a special ministry. William Booth believed that all who had experienced salvation automatically were called to get others saved as well. The question: "How can you say that you are not called if you know that there are people who are perishing?" was asked in several of his sermons and writings (1).
For Paul as a mentor it was important to remind Timothy call:
God is the one who saved and called us with a holy calling. This wasn’t based on what we have done, but it was based on his own purpose and grace that he gave us in Christ Jesus before time began.Paul’s thoughts about the calling could have been the subject of reflection for many days. There is no doubt that he considered the call sacred.
2 Timothy 1:9
His own calling was revealed to him in the vision he received on the road to Damascus. When he testified about this before King Agrippa, was his consciousness about his holy calling expressed in this way: Therefore, King Agrippa, I have not been disobedient to the heavenly vision. No, I have preached first in Damascus and Jerusalem, then in Judea and for the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God and do deeds of repentance. (2)
In his letter to the Ephesians the reminder of the call comes in the form of an exhortation: “As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.” (3)
In Paul's understanding of the gospel, the idea that one can be saved without being called does not exist. The call is as holy as he who has called me.
‘Manna’ for today:
Of course I am called, and the calling is sacred!-------------------------------------
(1) See "A vision of the lost"
(2) Acts 26:19-20
(3) Ephesians 4:1
Ingen kommentarer:
Legg inn en kommentar