Called to His Purpose

2 Timothy 1:9 Who hath 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 us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

Not only have we been called according to grace but we have also been called according to His own purpose. That is, our calling relates to and is integral to God's purpose. He is working everything after the counsel of His own will and plan.

Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

The works, which God has for us to perform, have been prepared ahead of time. The works prepared are directed toward our part of fulfilling God's purpose.

God spends more time preparing us as the worker than He did in preparing the works for us to do! We need to learn how to yield ourselves to His preparation process in order to do the works that He desires.

We have examples of this in Jesus and in Paul. Jesus made two “it is finished” statements. The second one was on the cross and related to the completion of the sacrifice of the Lamb. It was absolutely necessary and had to be completed for our atonement. The first one was just as important and it related to Jesus' purpose of ministry.

John 17:4 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.

When Jesus made this statement, the cross was still in the future. This relates to His ministry, specifically, the development of the Twelve and their preparation to carry on His work after receiving the Holy Spirit.

Paul made a similar statement when it was about time for him to die.

2 Timothy 4:6-7 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. (7) I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

He had completed the work given to him to do by the Lord. The works prepared before hand for him were now completed to the furtherance of the Kingdom of God.

God calls us to work. Calling involves His purpose and our role in it. We are born into the family of God but we are called to the work of God. It is important that we see the difference. The work that we accomplish according to His purpose is His inheritance in us. We talk a lot about our inheritance in Him but forget that He has an inheritance in us.

Ephesians 1:18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

2 Thessalonians 1:10-11 (10) When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day. (11) Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power:

There is a hope associated with our calling that we need to know: when He is glorified in his saints, He will be admired in all of them that believe. This is Jesus in His saints as the One New Man to be admired by all of heaven and earth.

This is a heavenly calling and a holy calling. We are called according to his own purpose given before the world began.

Hebrews 3:1 Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;

2 Timothy 1:9 Who hath 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 us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

This is demonstrated by who and how God calls. Those called are truly according to His own pleasure and not according to any aspect of the flesh.

1 Corinthians 1:24-26 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. (25) Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. (26) For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:

While God doesn't change His mind about our calling, it can appear that way. It is up to us to make our calling sure or steadfast. This requires that we do certain things in order not to fall. We have to yield to the preparation process.

Romans 11:29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.

2 Peter 1:10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

From the viewpoint of God’s purpose we need to recognize that some are not only “the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28), but some are called to a “high calling”.

Philippians 3:12-14 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. (13) Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, (14) I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

The “high calling”, in Paul's case, involves completing that for which Christ Jesus called (apprehended) him. He continually pressed toward this high calling, which we already know that he achieved because he said that he had completed his course. Can we say the same?

What is the difference between being “called” and the “high calling”? We are all called to be sons of God and to do the work that a son would do for a Father. I submit that the “high calling” involves our participation in the purpose and plans of the Father. That we develop a father's heart and begin to appreciate the Father's perspective.