What Does It Mean To Be "CALLED"?

Much Has Been Written About This...

I have many books on Systematic Theology in my LOGOS library and all of them have articles on the topic of the believer’s CALLING. The Greek word for CALL is καλεω kaleo and these theologians generally discuss various ways in this word is used in Scripture. For example, the well known theologian Lewis Sperry Chafer writes an entire chapter on CALLING on Volume 7 of his Systematic Theology. He discusses things like GENERAL CALLING, NATIONAL CALLING, EFFECTUAL CALLING etc. Most of his discussion is on EFFECTUAL CALLING which he summarizes by saying.....

Systematic Theology, Volume 7: Doctrinal Summarization Calling

Calling, then, is that choice on the part of God of an individual through an efficacious working in the mind and heart by the Holy Spirit, to the end that the will of the one who is called may be moved by its own vision and determination in the exercise of saving faith. By so much two great necessities are preserved and equally satisfied, namely, only V 7, p 68 those are called whom God has predetermined to be justified and glorified, and those who are thus called elect from their own hearts and enlightened minds to receive Christ as Savior.

However, it is surprising that when one looks at the references for the key words κλητός kletos = called and κλῆσις klessis = calling there is almost no evidence to support the idea of an EFFECTUAL CALL. For example, Jesus Christ only used one of these words κλητός kletos = called in His teaching and that - in only two places.......

Matthew 20:16 (NKJV)

16 So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen.”

Matthew 22:14 (NKJV)

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

But it is very clear that both of these statements are spoken to BELIEVERS and have to do with being CALLED TO RULE WITH CHRIST [the message of both of the parables in which these two references are found]. Though many are CALLED to RULE WITH HIM, not many are actually CHOSEN to RULE WITH HIM.

In fact, we will shortly see that this same meaning is - by far - the meaning associated with these two words in the entire New Testament.

Jesus Christ spoke of being CALLED to RULE WITH HIMSELF.

CALLED and CHOSEN ....

In the references quoted above from the words of Jesus the word κλητός kletos = called is used with the word ἐκλεκτός eklektos = chosen. But this also occurs elsewhere in the New Testament. For example....

2 Peter 1:10–11 (NKJV)

10 Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; 11 for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Revelation 17:14 (NKJV)

14 These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful.”

Again it is very striking that CALLED and CHOSEN are used together with reference to RULING WITH JESUS CHRIST in His coming KINGDOM ON EARTH.

Many Other Scriptures Speak of This CALLING....

Note, for example...

Galatians 5:7–8 (NKJV)

7 You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? 8 This persuasion does not come from Him who calls you.

The Grace New Testament Commentary

5:8–9. The persuasion of the Judaizers does not come from Him who calls you. God, who invites them to rule in the life to come, is not persuading the Galatians to be legalists. That persuasion comes from the adversary, Satan.

Hebrews 3:1 (NKJV)

1 Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus,

The Grace New Testament Commentary

The heavenly calling is not the invitation to the gospel. In the context of Hebrews this is a calling to the greater heavenly realities associated with the New Covenant, culminating with participation in the New Jerusalem of the messianic kingdom (cf. 11:16). This is the pilgrimage on which they have embarked, one which will hopefully result in sharing in the dominion and inheritance of God’s King-Son.

2 Peter 1:10–11 (NKJV)

10 Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; 11 for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

The Grace New Testament Commentary

Here is one of the many verbal allusions in the Petrine epistles to the teaching Peter had heard from the Lord Jesus Christ Himself: “many are called, but few are chosen [eklektoi]” (Matt 20:16; 22:14).All Christians have been given a royal summons by God Himself, inviting them to the glorious privilege of co-reigning with Christ in the life to come (2 Tim 2:12; Rev 2:26–27; 3:21). But not all Christians will be chosen to co-reign (cf. Rom 8:17b; 2 Tim 2:12).Peter, therefore, wishes his readership to produce in their lifestyle appropriate verification that they are royal people, destined for high honor in the coming kingdom of God.

Note, also,” not all Christians will be chosen to co-reign (cf. Rom 8:17b; 2 Tim 2:12).Peter, therefore, wishes his readership to produce in their lifestyle appropriate verification that they are royal people, destined for high honor in the coming kingdom of God.”

That is,

Though I may be CALLED to RULE, I may not be CHOSEN to RULE if I am UNFAITHFUL or LIVING OUT OF FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD [Cf 2 Pet 1:5-9].

Jesus Christ Himself says....

Revelation 2:25–28 (NKJV)

25 But hold fast what you have till I come. 26 And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations—

27 ‘He shall rule them with a rod of iron;

They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessels’—

as I also have received from My Father; 28 and I will give him the morning star.

That is.....

I will only be given “authority over the nations” = SHARE THE RULE OF JESUS CHRIST if I “keep His works until the end of my life”.

Being CHOSEN TO RULE is dependent on my KEEPING CHRIST’S WORKS until the END of my life.

CALLED in the book of ROMANS....

To better understand how the word CALLING is used in the New Testament we will look at all of the references [six of them] to κλητός kletos = called and κλῆσις klessis = calling in the book of Romans. This should help us see how prevalent the sense of CALLED TO RULE is found.

Romans 1:1 (NKJV)

1 Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God

This is the only reference to a single individual being called ....but clearly this is the calling of the Apostle Paul to the TASK of being an Apostle [Acts 22:10, 26:16].

Romans 1:6–7 (NKJV)

6 among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ;

7 To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Here it is important to see that the word ἁγίοις hagiois [here translated saints] actually means “holy ones”. In other words, these believers were CALLED to be HOLY that they might REIGN WITH JESUS CHRIST [Cf Heb 12:10, 14].

Romans 8:28–30 (NKJV)

28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

The Grace New Testament Commentary comments about the phrase “firstborn among many brethren”....

The Grace New Testament Commentary (7. Suffering Enhances Glorification (8:18–39))

God’s purpose in foreknowledge and predestination is that suffering believers may share with Christ (i.e., He) in His firstborn privileges (cf. cf. vv 14–15, 17–22). Hence these many brethren, contextually, are those who will have a special status as firstborn who will reign with Christ since they also suffered with Him (v 17; 2 Tim 2:12; Heb 1:9; 3:14; Rev 2:26).

That is, these are believers who LOVE GOD and therefore will BE AMONG THE FIRSTBORN ONES who REIGN WITH JESUS CHRIST. That is, they are CALLED TO RULE WITH CHRIST.

Romans 11:26–32 (NKJV)

26 And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written:

“The Deliverer will come out of Zion,

And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob;

27 For this is My covenant with them,

When I take away their sins.”

28 Concerning the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but concerning the election they are beloved for the sake of the fathers. 29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. 30 For as you were once disobedient to God, yet have now obtained mercy through their disobedience, 31 even so these also have now been disobedient, that through the mercy shown you they also may obtain mercy. 32 For God has committed them all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all.

This passage is speaking of ISRAEL - as a NATION - who will be delivered by Christ to SHARE HIS RULE during the MILLENNIUM [Cf Zech 13:8-9]. ALL OF ISRAEL will be preserved to RULE WITH CHRIST. This is the CALLING that is here being referred to.

Thus, we can see that - except for Rom 1:1 - each of the other references to CALLING in Romans are speaking of the CALL TO RULE WITH CHRIST.

All but one of these references in Romans are referring to the CALL TO RULE WITH CHRIST.

A General Conclusion....

Though we do not have time to look at every reference to κλητός kletos = called and κλῆσις klessis = calling in the New Testament, one would see the same thing there that we saw in the book of Romans.....that

Most of the references in the New Testament are referring to the CALL TO RULE WITH CHRIST in His kingdom.

In my opinion, NONE of the references in the New Testament are speaking of the idea of an EFFECTUAL CALL to salvation.

This leads us to say...

Believer…You are CALLED to RULE WITH CHRIST in His Kingdom. Will you be CHOSEN to RULE WITH HIM?