Thou Shalt Be Called

Thou Shalt Be Called (John 1:40-42)

Thou are Simon the son of Jona.

Art -  to be or become ascertained with certainty, to be known.

Simon was already his name. Jesus isn't giving him the name Simon. He is identifying who he already was.

Thou shalt be called Cephas

Called - to be or become identified by a specific word; giving someone a name, title, or designation that they had not previously been known by.

Someone saves a man that got trapped in a house fire. That man is now a HERO.

Someone who has never killed someone, now has, is now called a murderer.

Genesis 17:5 “Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.”

Abram = "exalted father"

Abraham = "father of a multitude" or "chief of multitude"

So God wasn't merely giving him a nickname. God was assigning Abraham a new name that corresponded to God’s promise concerning Abraham.

Has God called you something? Has he given you a name, title, or designation that you have never been known by?

A Call To The Family

1 John 3:1–2 “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.”

Galatians 4:4–5 “But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.”

Redemption by the blood of Christ changes the title of sinner to SON!

A Call To Follow

1 Peter 2:18–22 “Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:”

1 Peter 2:9 “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:”

Matthew 4:18–20 “And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.”

I have decided to follow Jesus! Can people call you a follower of Christ?

The closer that Christ got to Calvary, the less people followed Him.

Peter had this problem

Luke 22:54 “Then took they him, and led him, and brought him into the high priest’s house. And Peter followed afar off.”

Luke 22:57 “And he denied him, saying, Woman, I know him not.”

A Call To Fashion

1 Peter 1:13–16 “Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.”

So God wasn't merely giving him a nickname. God was assigning him a new name that corresponded to His promise concerning him.

Romans 12:1–2 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

Can people look at you and call you a Christian?

Acts 11:26 “ And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.”

The disciples were already believers and followers of Christ, but “Christian” was a new designation given to them. They were called Christians—meaning they came to be known or identified by that name.

Christian - A real disciple of Christ; one who believes in the truth of the christian religion, and studies to follow the example, and obey the precepts, of Christ; relating to Christ, or to his doctrines, precepts and example.

Can people look at you and see that you are like Christ? Can people tell that you are a Christian?

A Call To Friendship

James 2:22–23 “Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.”

Friend - a person you know well and regard with affection and trust.

This was a title that God gave to Abraham! (Isaiah 41:8 “But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, The seed of Abraham my friend.” )

The Lord is looking for friends!

He’s not looking for people that are sinless. Abraham was a sinner

He’s not looking for people that are legalistic. Abraham wasn’t under the law.

He’s not looking for people that are faultless. HE’S LOOKING FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE FAITHFUL!

HE’S LOOKING FOR PEOPLE THAT LISTEN TO HIM, OBEY HIM, HAVE THE SAME INTERESTS AS HIM! FAITH PRODUCES FRIENDSHIP WITH GOD!

James 4:4 “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.”

1 John 2:15–17 “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.”

Can people look at you and call you a friend of God? Most importantly, does the Lord look at you and call you FRIEND?