1 Corinthians 1:1-2 (KJV)
Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,
Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:
Remember I told you last week that this letter was one of rebuke?
Paul will scold them so heavily that in 2 Corinthians he apologizes for how hard he came down on them. (Although he said he was glad he did it because it brought the effect he desired namely, they repented of their sins.[1])
Paul began this letter with certain gracious words and truths, probably to prepare them for what is to come.
He does not want them to get the impression that they are not saved just because they have become so sinful they need the chastening hand.
Notice that in verses 1 and 2, word, CALL and CALLED is found three times.
This word is so significant to the Christian faith that it took me almost a half an hour to go through all the different Greek words translated CALL, and their definitions.
From the three times the word is used in these two verses, I want to show you, Three very important Christian callings:
*I. THE CALL FOR SALVATION
In verse 2 Paul says
"...call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord..."
This is the call of salvation.
And the basic meaning of the word that is used here is, to appeal to an authority.
It is the same word that is found in Acts 26:32,[2]when it appeared that Paul was about to be taken back to Jerusalem as a prisoner, where he knew there was a certain group of people who would assassinate him there.
He appealed to Caesar to protect his life.
Because of this appeal, instead of being taken to Jerusalem, where he would undoubtedly be killed without a trial.
Paul was held in prison, to be taken to Rome where he would at least receive the possibility of a fair trial.
The Bible is very clear that God's plan for our salvation involves such a call.
Not only is it found here in 1 Corinthians,
You will see it in Romans 10:13 and Acts 2:21,
"...Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.."
This is God's only plan of salvation
Jesus said "No man cometh unto the Father, but by me..."John 14:6
And this plan of salvation works in every place
(1 Corinthians 1:2)
*There are two basic "firsts" before a person will, call upon the Lord for salvation:
A. There must be a burden.
This is a sense of need. You would not call out for help if you did not sense a need for help.
God places that sense of need within us through trials in life, through preachers and Christian witnesses, and through the conviction of sin by the Holy Ghost.
B. There must be faith.
Before you would appeal to an authority for help, you would have to believe he has the ability to help you.
Paul said, 2 Timothy 1:12 (KJV)
"I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that HE IS ABLE to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day."
· Everyone, in
· Every place, at
· Every time in history,
who has called upon the name of the Lord is saved.
Now let's go to the second call in our text;
*II. THE CALL OF SEPARATION
verse 2,
"...called to be saints..."
The word saints is related to two other very Christian words:
· Holy, and
· Sanctified
All three words have the meaning of being separated from sin, to God.
The Catholics have a tradition of giving to people they feel are exceptionally worthy the position of "sainthood."
And we have that little phrase, " I know I am not a saint."meaning we know we aren't perfect.
But the Biblical concept of the saint is simply, someone who has been saved.
Everyone who has ever called upon the name of the Lord for salvation has become a saint.
Separated to God.
But let me show you a neat truth to go along with this:
The word called in this passage fits nicely with the word saint.
*It is a word that carries with it two meanings:
A. To be given a new name
Did you ever notice how often people in the Bible were given new names?
· Abram's name was changed by God to Abraham.
· Simon's name was changed to Peter, and
· Saul's name was changed to Paul
Revelation 2:17 speaks of a new name given to those in glory[3]and Isaiah 56:5speaks of God's servants as being given an everlasting name.[4]
B. To carry another’s name
The saved person has been commissioned by God to carry the name of Christ.
We do that two ways:
1. We represent Jesus Christ.
To a great extent, what people see in us is what they will think about Jesus Christ.
Now, I do not mind if people do not like me for my Christian stand.
But I would hate it if people do not like Christ because of my personal lifestyle.
And we represent Christ in the fact that
2. We carry the message of Salvationto others for Christ.
Jesus is not here personally any more. He has commissioned those of us who are saved to carry His message to those who are not saved.
Finally,
*III. THE CALL OF SERVICE
"Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God..."
Paul opened several of his correspondences with those words, probably because his apostleship was challenged so often.
But it does illustrate a point for us.
When Paul got saved, one of the first things the Lord said to him is that He had a job for Paul to do.[5]
And, although our salvation stories and our lives may not be quite as dramatic as Paul's was, the fact is,
God has called each of us who are saved to some task.
A. We are to walk worthy ofthe vocation wherewith we are called
Ephesians 4:1 (KJV)
I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
That means God has called us to a vocation.
B. We are called according to His purpose
Romans 8:28 (KJV)
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
That means that God has a purpose for us.
And that purpose is service.
I am always asked questions like,
"How can I know what that purpose is for me?"
I can't tell you specifically, but I can assure you of this, God’s purpose for you is to serve Him.
· Paul began by witnessing, then
· Went back to Tarsus for a while, where the Lord taught Him
· Barnabas sent for him to help pastor the church in Antioch, and finally,
· God called him into the Work he is so well known for
Start serving the Lord in the way you are most needed today, and if God has something else in mind, He will show that to you as time goes on.
[1]2 Corinthians 7:8-11 (KJV)
For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season.
Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing.
For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.
[2]Acts 26:32 (KJV)
Then said Agrippa unto Festus, This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed unto Caesar.
[3]Revelation 2:17 (KJV)
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.
[4]Isaiah 56:5 (KJV)
Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off.
[5]Acts 9:15-16 (KJV)
But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:
For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.
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