CALLED TO A GLORIOUS PURPOSE

Moreover whom He PREDESTINED, these He also CALLED; whom He called, these He also JUSTIFIED; and whom He justified, these He also GLORIFIED” – Romans 8:30

Believers in Christ are CALLED TO A GLORIOUS PURPOSE: “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. 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. Moreover whom He PREDESTINED, these He also CALLED; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also GLORIFIED” (Rom.8: 29-30). Every Believer has a God-ordained Purpose, Assignment or Task to fulfil on earth. First, we are pre-destined into His Purpose: Even before we were born, God by the act of predestination, chose us and prepared specific divine assignments for us. Second, GLORY is the Ultimate Goal of every Purpose in Christ!

The Christian life is not a random, unintentional, haphazard existence. The word “purpose” means “intention: an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides planned actions.” God’s Purpose is the guiding force in the Christian Life. Believers are beckoned to a new life of realizing God’s good purposes for us. Yes, we’ll continue to deal with temptations, evil, pressures, and fears in this fallen world. But, for this reason we must reinforce who we are and understand why we are here. The apostle Paul encouraged believers to hold onto hope and the promises of God at all times, knowing that He operates ceaselessly in the lives of those who love Him and are called by His purpose. The word translated as “called” specifies a summoning to which refusal is not an option, as in a subpoena. We are subpoenaed to His Purpose!

Many Bible passages speak of the Believer’s calling: “God is faithful, by whom you were CALLED into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord” (1Cor.1:9). 1 Corinthians 7:17 instructs: “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.” Paul personally testified: “But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and CALLED me through HIS GRACE” (Gal.1:15). Paul explains to Timothy that God “has saved us and CALLED US with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began” (2Tim.1:9).

We who believe in Christ, born-again by the Spirit of God, are children of Destiny; redeemed and called to be glorified; chosen by Grace and privilege of divine election. God’s Grand Purpose is that we might be conformed to the image of His Son (v.29). Beyond the Grand Purpose, God has specific assignments for each of us. His Purpose in calling us is twofold: for our eternal good (v.28) and His Glory (v.30; 1 Pet.2:9).