Studies in the Epistle of Paul to the Romans
Called of God
“Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God . . . (Romans 1:1).
Paul
was a man “called” of God for a specific task. He reminds all
Christians that they are called to minister the truth and evangelize the
lost. “I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk
worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,” (Ephesians 4:1).
This concept of calling to service or ministry is a universal truth taught throughout Scripture.
Abram was called of God. “Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee
out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy Father’s house,
unto a land that I will shew thee” (Genesis 12:1). Moses was called of
God. “Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou
mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt”
(Exodus 3:10). To be called means simply to be given specific
directions by God for a particular ministry. Therefore, all believers
have a vocational calling in the Great Commission as believer-priests
before God.
Paul
was specifically called of God and given specific instructions from God
to do the work of the ministry. “But rise, and stand upon thy feet:
for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister
and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those
things in the which I will appear unto thee” (Acts 26:16). Every
Christian has a calling or “vocation” in the body of Christ.
As
individual Christians within a local church fulfill their vocational
calling in the “work of the ministry” a synergy is created. A synergy
is defined as the working together of two or more things, people, or
organizations, especially when the result is greater than the sum of
their individual effects or capabilities. However, the central
factor defining a biblical synergy is when individual Christians are
divinely empowered by the indwelling Holy Spirit of God. When all the
members of a local church habitually live in this state of empowerment, a
spiritual synergism is created and true spiritual revival takes place.
Synergism is absolutely worthless if it is not the direct outcome of fellowship with God.
In other words, a local church can experience an outward show of unity
with everyone getting along, and not experience a truly spiritual
synergism where all the members of the local body are living
Spirit-filled lives. Therefore, “unity of the Spirit in the bond of
peace” (Ephesians 4:3) is not the same as everyone in a local church
just getting along with one another and tolerating each other.
“Unity
of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3) is supernaturally
produced through the filling of the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18). Such
unity includes unity in doctrine (right doctrine), unity in a missional
vision (purpose), and unity in biblical methodology (practice).
Therefore, a biblical calling is a calling is intended to create a
spiritual synergism with other believers within the context of a local
church of like-minded believers (the Body Principle).
No one is being called by God today as was Paul or Moses, where God spoke directly to the person called. When
God called me to preach, I did not hear a voice in my head telling what
to do or where to do it. God burdened me to reach souls and
teach/explain the Word of God to them. In order to do that well, God
burdened me to in-depth study of His Word. Reaching souls and leading
Bible studies became the preoccupation of most of my free time. It
became very obvious to me very early in my ministry that new believers
did not survive long if they did not learn the Word of God and did not
align themselves with a faithful accountability group that the Bible
calls a local church.
We
often hear Christians make statements such as God told me to do this or
to do that. God communicates to us through His Word and through the
leading of the Spirit today. The leading of the Spirit is usually
through opened doors of ministry opportunity. However, every opened
door of ministry opportunity will also be accompanied by a person
meeting the qualifications for that ministry opportunity. If God leads a
person into a ministry of which a person is not prepared to do, God is
actually leading that person to first to get prepared. Novices do not
belong in leadership positions in and through a local church until they
have been tested and proven both capable and faithful (I Timothy
3:1-13). Faithful in most case simply means knowledgeable, teachable,
consistent, and dependable. These things defined themselves as
Christian character with convictions.
We
have two major Scripture texts teaching the synergism of the “body of
Christ” (local church). When we learn the Body Principle of Scripture,
we learn that every believer was formally united to a local body of
believers through the ordinance of water baptism. It would have been
foreign to early New Testament Christians not to be united together with
a formal assembly of believers through which they were being perfected
for the work of the ministry (Ephesians 4:12).
The purpose of all ministry was to grow the body. The word “edifying” in Ephesians 4:12 is from the Greek word oikodome
(oy-kod-om-ay’), which means to build a home or family. The building
blocks of this spiritual structure are born again Christians, who are
“living stones” have been shaped by discipleship. I Peter 2:5 speaks of
this with the words “are built up a spiritual house, an holy
priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus
Christ.” Therefore, this “holy priesthood” calling is common to all
believers and is the ministry of all believers. Every believer is
called to be involved in building the “spiritual house” of his local
assembly.
“12
For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of
that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. 13 For by
one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or
Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink
into one Spirit. 14 For the body is not one member, but many. 15 If the
foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it
therefore not of the body? 16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not
the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? 17 If
the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were
hearing, where were the smelling? 18 But now hath God set the members
every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. 19 And if they
were all one member, where were the body? 20 But now are they many
members, yet but one body. 21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I
have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of
you. 22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more
feeble, are necessary: 23 And those members of the body {dealing with
positions that seem less important and are given little
acknowledgement}, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we
bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts {the parts of the
body that are concealed rather than exposed} more abundant comeliness
{these parts are extremely important to the body’s functions}. 24 For
our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together,
having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked: 25 That
there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have
the same care one for another. 26 And whether one member suffer, all the
members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members
rejoice with it. 27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in
particular. 28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles,
secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts
of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. 29 Are all
apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of
miracles? 30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues?
do all interpret? 31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I
unto you a more excellent way” (I Corinthians 12:12-31).
The
“more excellent way” of which Paul speaks is elaborated upon in great
detail in I Corinthians chapter thirteen in the principle of biblical
love defined by extreme self-sacrifice to the benefit of others.
The general purpose of the argument of I Corinthians chapter twelve in
the Body Principle is that most people want to be in charge. They do
not consider the enormous responsibilities of being a leader of people
who often do not want to do what God commands. These wannabes are
simply enamored with being looked up to by others. This reveals a great
ignorance about leadership. Leaders are often mistrusted, criticized,
abused, slandered, and maligned for no other reason than someone does
not want to be a follower. The point of I Corinthians chapter twelve is
do not covet leadership. Covet love!
“1
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye
present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which
is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but
be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what
is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. 3 For I say,
through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to
think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think
soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. 4
For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the
same office: 5 So we, being m any, are one body in Christ, and every one
members one of another. 6 Having then gifts differing according to the
grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according
to the proportion of faith; 7 Or ministry, let us wait on our
ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; 8 Or he that exhorteth,
on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that
ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness”
(Romans 12:1-8).
Paul pleads with believers in Ephesians 4:1 to “walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called.”
“1
I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy
of the vocation wherewith ye are called, 2 With all lowliness and
meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 3
Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace”
(Ephesians 4:1-4).
When
we read what Paul says in Ephesians 4:1-3 in conjunction with what he
says in Romans 12:1-8, we know that all believers have a vocational
calling according to the gifts of ministry that God has given them. It
is their responsibility to perfect those gifts as they begin to
minister. Every believer is a priest before God and each person as a
priest before God is expected to evangelize and make disciples.
Some
vocational callings, like Abram, Moses, and Paul, were special callings
for specific purposes. Other specific callings, like those of a
Pastor\teacher or Evangelist (Ephesians 4:11), are defined by a specific
function and qualifications. These callings do not come
because a person wants them or because he has some special personality.
They do not come because they might be a good profession or because
someone enjoys working with people. These people hold their positions
for one reason, they have been called of God and they know they have
been called.
Gideon
was such a man. “And the LORD looked upon him, and said, Go in this
thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites:
have not I sent thee” (Judges 6:14). Isaiah was such a man. “Also I
heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go
for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me” (Isaiah 6:8).
Paul
was called of God to be an Apostle as defined by Romans 1:1. In other
words, Paul’s calling was defined by the word “servant” with a specific
ministry. He was “separated unto the gospel of God.” The only
higher authority over him in the whole world was God, yet he was called
and commissioned to be a servant. Every person called to leadership in
a local church understands this critical definition of ministry–
SERVANTHOOD. Paul considered being an ambassador for Christ the highest
honor in this world (II Corinthians 5:17-21). Being an ambassador for
Christ is common to all believer-priests in the New Covenant.
“17
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are
passed away; behold, all things are become new. 18 And all things are
of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath
given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 To wit, that God was in
Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their
trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of
reconciliation. 20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God
did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled
to God. 21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that
we might be made {to cause to be; to generate} the righteousness of God
in him {in the New Creation}” (II Corinthians 5:17-21).
Paul
demanded obedience to the Word of God for all believer-priests. He
commanded (by apostolic authority) that believers follow the leadership
of the pastor God that calls to shepherd them.
“Obey
them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch
for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it
with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you” (Hebrews
13:17).
Men
like Moses and Gideon were remarkable men of God. They were not
remarkable because of their abilities, but because of what God did with
them in spite of their weaknesses. God used them so that God
could be magnified through the weaknesses of men. God wants to magnify
Himself through the life of every Christian in this way. These men were
not great in themselves. They both tried to argue with God because
they both had disabilities and weaknesses of which they thought God must
have overlooked when He chose them. These are the kinds of people God
delights in using.
Most
people have aspirations of being great in the eyes of men. True
Christians are people who understand their overwhelming spiritual
weaknesses and frailties and who simply what to be used by God to help
others see the greatness of God and His grace. Any Christian
that can escape the foolishness of his own ambitions for a greatness in
the eyes of men can be used of God. This quality of character is the
primary qualification for anyone to be used of God. This character
quality has the attitude, I cannot do what God asks of me. If a
Christian has this character quality, he will never take credit for what
God has done through him.
“26
For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the
flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 27 But God hath
chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God
hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which
are mighty; 28 And base things of the world, and things which are
despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to
nought things that are: 29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.
30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom,
and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: 31 That,
according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord”
(I Corinthians 1:26-31).
Most
Christians are not called to be a Pastor\Teacher or an itinerant
Evangelist. However, every Christian is called to be a servant of God
with two primary purposes – to minister and bring forth fruit to God’s
glory.
Ministry or Servanthood
“And
whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Even as the
Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give
his life a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:27-28).
Here
is where everyone’s Christianity either succeeds or fails. Individual
Christians must accept their calling of God in Jesus Christ and then do
it.
“Which
now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell
among the thieves. And he said, Be that shewed mercy on him. Then said
Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise” (Luke 10: 36-37).
The
whole significance in becoming a servant means giving yourself to meet
another person’s needs without expecting anything in return. Such a
desire is a complete sociological abstract. Yet it was how God
intended His children to function in His society. This attitude
defines a biblical local church both when it is present and when it is
absent. Great spiritual church leaders are capable in modeling
servanthood and in teaching others to have the spirit of servanthood.
“Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ {law of love}” (Galatians 6:2).
“As
we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially
unto them who are of the household of faith” (Galatians 6:10).
The second primary purpose of every servant of God is to bring forth fruit.
“Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you {vocational calling as believer-priests},
and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that
your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in
my name, he may give if you” (John 15:16).
“Wherefore,
my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ;
that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the
dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God” (Romans. 7:4).
Our
individual vocational calling of God as believer-priests should be
taken very seriously (whatever our spiritual gifts might be). To be a
believer-priest is to be the voice of God in this world.
Believer-priests represent God to the world. This is the emphasis in
the word “ambassador” in II Corinthians 5:17-21. All believer-priests
are commissioned to speak the Word of God. In other words, we are to be
the voice of righteousness and the voice of appeal in calling the world
to repent.
“Wherefore
the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election
sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fail” (II Peter 1:10).
II
Peter 1:10 is not referring to salvation, but to ministry. Your
“calling” is God’s invitation to minister on His behalf. Your
“election” is God choosing you to do that ministry. When God commands us “give diligence to make your calling and election sure,” He is telling us to hurry up in our efforts to insure that our ministry has good footings, or solid theological foundations.
The insurance of never failing as God’s ambassador is making sure we
speak to others what God has spoken in His Word. We must sow the right
spiritual seed if we are to reap the spiritual fruit that God wants
produced.
“12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out {work on to the finish} your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For it is God which worketh in you {through the indwelling Holy Spirit}
both to will and to do of his good pleasure. 14 Do all things without
murmurings and disputings: 15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the
sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse
nation, among whom ye shine as lights {as stars in outer space} in the world {the greater the darkness, the greater the need for light}; 16 Holding forth the word of life {as a lamp; this is what creates the light}; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain” (Philippians 2:12-16).
The
eternal destinies of millions of souls depend upon our faithfulness to
our calling as priestly ambassadors of Jesus Christ. Messengers are
useless if they never proclaim the Message that they are sent to give.
People cannot respond to a message that is never delivered.
Even God cannot bless something you never do. The central reason so few
are coming to Christ to be saved is because very few invitations are
being given. We cannot wait for the lost to come to us. The whole
purpose in sending ambassadors is for us to GO to the lost with God’s
invitation of redemption.
“13
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 14
How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how
shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall
they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach, except they
be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that
preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things”
(Romans 10:13-15)!
All believers serve as priests before God and have a priestly ministry under the direction of our High Priest Jesus Christ. Our
calling (like Paul’s) separates us from living for the things of this
world and separates unto preaching the good news of God’s salvation in
Christ.
Perhaps
one of the greatest perversions of Christianity was the early
development of the division of the church into clergy and laity. The
word laity simply refers to all people who are not priests or
ministers. The very use of the term laity is misleading. No
one who understands the priesthood of the believer should ever use the
term. This misunderstanding results in an ungodly outcome where only
certain special people in local churches are supposed to do the “work of
the ministry.” This is an absolute aberration and corruption of the
doctrine of the Church. God expects every believer-priest to be
equipped doctrinally and matured spiritually so as to be able to do the
“work of the ministry” (Ephesians 4:12).
“18
And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus
Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 To wit,
that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing
their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of
reconciliation” (II Corinthians 5:18-19).
“24
Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let
him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 25 For whosoever
will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for
my sake shall find it. 26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain
the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in
exchange for his soul” (Matthew 16:24-26)?
“4
To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but
chosen of God, and precious, 5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a
spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices,
acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. 6 Wherefore also it is contained in
the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect,
precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. 7 Unto
you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be
disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made
the head of the corner, 8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of
offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient:
whereunto also they were appointed. 9 But ye are a chosen generation, a
royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew
forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his
marvellous light: 10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now
the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained
mercy. 11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims,
abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; 12 Having your
conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against
you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold,
glorify God in the day of visitation. 13 Submit yourselves to every
ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as
supreme; 14 Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the
punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. 15
For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence
the ignorance of foolish men: 16 As free, and not using your liberty for
a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God” (I Peter 2:4-16).
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Numerous studies and series are available free of charge for local churches at: http://www.disciplemakerministries.org/
Dr. Lance Ketchum serves the Lord as a Church Planter, Evangelist/Revivalist.
He has served the Lord for over 40 years.
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