2 Timothy 1:8-9
You all know the show “The Price is Right”.
Your name is called out and you hear; “Come On Down!”…and you have the
opportunity to be a participant and win lots of prizes. Can you imagine sitting
in that audience and hearing your name called out, only you don’t answer that
call? You just sit there with your arms folded…thinking; “I don’t think he
means ME…” No, you or I, would jump up
screaming and acting crazy just like everyone else, run down that isle, and
give it our best shot!
Did you know that according to scripture, our names are called by someone a lot bigger and better then the host of the Price is Right, and for a prize worth more than anything this earthly life could afford?
There are two things that I really want to
bring out of this scripture this morning; The first is the fact that as
Christians we all are called…that’s #1. Most people, when you mention the word
“called” think of the ministry…of being called to be a pastor or preacher or
missionary. But, God’s Word says that we are all “called”.Did you know that according to scripture, our names are called by someone a lot bigger and better then the host of the Price is Right, and for a prize worth more than anything this earthly life could afford?
This scripture today says that God not only “saved us” but “called us to a holy life”… Am I making that up? Romans 8:28 tells us that “In all things, God works for the good of those who love him…who have been “called” according to His purpose.” 2 Peter 1:3 says “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who “called” us by his own glory and goodness”. I want you to know that God calls us in spite of our lack of credentials or abilities: I Corinthians 1:26-29—“Brothers, think of what you were when you were called”…(there it is again!) “Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth… But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.”
We may not feel “wise, or influential, strong or important …but, we are much more than that, we are called! There are more scriptures as we shall see, but the fact is that we are called !
The second thing I want to show you is what we are called to…If we are called, then we are called to something.
First, we have 1 Corinthians 1:9 - “God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.” I would say that absolutely nothing comes before this. There is nothing more important in our life than to realize we are called into a right relationship, which is fellowship with Jesus Christ.
It originates in the free Grace and eternal purpose of God in Christ Jesus His Son. Not according to our works, or anything we have done or can do. It is not our good works or our religious activities that make us right with God. It is the free grace of God, the un-merited favor of God, that purchased our salvation and offered heaven and eternal life unto us. God, in His goodness, has provided this great salvation for us. We are invited to simply receive this wonderful gift of salvation by faith. We can have fellowship with him and find the assurance of eternal life offered to us as a free gift. Romans 6:23 – “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
2 Tim 1:12 “I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.”… One thing I do not know is why we park on a driveway and drive on a parkway? I may not know why they call them apartments when they’re all together in one building? I may not know why a week’s worth of garbage weighs three times more than a week’s worth of groceries? I don’t even know if Adam and Eve had belly buttons? But there is one thing I know… I know in whom I have believed! … And, I am convinced that He is able! So, #1 is a call to “fellowship” with Christ Jesus, God’s only Son. More on this tomorrow…
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