Calling

God calls individuals to belong to him and serve him

God calls all people everywhere

Acts 17:30 NKJV

Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent,

See also Pr 8:4; Is 45:22; Is 55:1; Mt 9:13; Mt 11:28–30; Mt 22:9; Jn 7:37; Ac 2:39; Ro 10:18; Ps 19:4

Few respond positively to God’s call

Matthew 22:14 NKJV

“For many are called, but few are chosen.”

See also Is 65:12; Is 66:4; Je 7:13; Je 35:17; Mt 22:2–10

Responding to God’s call results in salvation

Heb 9:15; Jud 1

See also Jn 5:25; Jn 10:3; Ro 1:6; Ro 8:28–30; Ro 11:29; 1 Co 1:9; 1 Co 1:24–29; 1 Co 7:18–22; Ga 1:6; Eph 4:1; Php 3:14; 2 Th 1:11; 2 Th 2:14; 1 Ti 6:12; Heb 3:1; 1 Pe 5:10; 2 Pe 1:3; 2 Pe 1:10; Re 17:14

God calls Christians to live differently

2 Ti 1:9; 1 Pe 2:9

Living in peace:

1 Co 7:15; Col 3:15

Ga 5:13 serving one another

Living in hope:

Eph 1:18; Eph 4:4; 1 Pe 2:20–21; 1 Pe 3:9

1 Thessalonians 4:7 NKJV

For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness.

God called particular individuals to do specific tasks at specific times

Abraham:

Ge 12:1–3; Is 51:2; Heb 11:8

Ex 3:4 Moses; 1 Sa 3:4–10 Samuel; Is 6:8 Isaiah

Cyrus:

Is 41:2; Is 45:4

The servant of the Lord:

Is 42:6; Is 49:1

Je 1:4–5 Jeremiah; Ho 1:2 Hosea; Am 7:15 Amos

Jonah:

Jon 1:1–2; Jon 3:1–2

The disciples:

Mt 4:18–22; Lk 5:2–11; Jn 1:35–42

Ac 13:2 Barnabas and Paul

Paul:

Ro 1:1; 1 Co 1:1; Ga 1:15

God called a people, Israel, to serve him in a special way

Isaiah 43:1 NKJV

But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine.

See also Ho 11:1–2

The believer’s place in life is understood to be a calling

1 Corinthians 7:17 NKJV

But as God has distributed to each one, as the Lord has called each one, so let him walk. And so I ordain in all the churches.

See also 1 Co 7:20; 1 Co 7:24