Calling

God calls individuals to belong to him and serve him

God calls all people everywhere

Acts 17:30 ESV

The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people 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 ESV

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 ESV

For God has not called us for impurity, 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 ESV

But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by 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 ESV

Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches.

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