Paul writes, “as a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.” (Ephesians 4:1)
As we see, from this verse and the following verses, a calling refers to our calling as believers, not our calling to a specific ministry.
“To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be His holy people, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ—their Lord and ours” (1 Corinthians 1:2).
“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in His holy people” (Ephesians 1:18).
“There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called” (Ephesians 4:4).
“With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of His calling…” (2 Thessalonians 1:11).
“He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of His own purpose and grace” (2 Timothy 1:9).
Our calling is to love God, love others, obey God, and take care of others. We need to understand that the calling is “of God” and is irrevocable (Romans 11:29). We are called “by His grace” (Galatians 1:15), and “into the grace of Christ” (Galatians 1:6).
We are called “out of darkness” and “into His marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9). In addition, we are “called to be saints” (Romans 1:7). We “share in the heavenly calling” (Hebrews 3:1), and in response, we should press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus, (Philippians 3:14).
To “live a life worthy” refers to the daily godly conduct of one’s life.
Paul also encourages the Colossian believers, praying with Timothy that they would “live a life worthy of the Lord and please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of His holy people in the kingdom of light” (Colossians 1:10-12).
To be worthy connotes that our actions should match our words, and our outward appearance should match our inward convictions. To “live a life worthy” of our calling means to live up to that calling; to live in such a way as to honor God by everything we think, say and do.
Paul is exhorting believers to live their lives so as to prove they belong to Christ. They are to maintain a fidelity to Christ and live with integrity. True believers will display the fruit of the Spirit who lives in them (John 14:17; Galatians 5:22-23). Their daily lives reflecting their position in Christ, and the character of Christ.
We have been called out of darkness into light (Acts 26:18), out of slavery to sin into freedom (Romans 6:16–18), and out of the kingdom of Satan into the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 1:9; Colossians 1:13).
The New Testament writers mention many things to which we are called. We are “called unto the fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord” (1 Corinthians 1:9). We are “called unto liberty” (Galatians 5:13). We are called “to His own glory and goodness” (2 Peter 1:3), and God also “called us to His eternal glory in Christ” (1 Peter 5:10), for we are “called the sons of God” (1 John 3:1).
In summary to make one’s calling and election sure is to live out the Christian life in the power of the Holy Spirit. It is to do more than simply pay lip service to Christ. Those who profess salvation but never grow in their walk with God will suffer a lack of assurance, always wondering if they are really saved or not. On the other hand, those who grow ever more like Christ will be sure of their calling. They will know they have eternal life (1 John 5:13); and will be living testimonies of the power of God to change lives.
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