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The Believers' Calling - Part 2: Call to the Purpose of Christ

6/30/2022

Call to Purpose and Grace

2Tim 1:9: Who hath saved us, and called us with an 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.

As believers, we are first and foremost called to testify of the saving power of Jesus immediately we are saved and baptized. This is call to purpose and grace; it precedes and supersedes call to ministry.

Call to Purpose and Grace

2Tim 1:9: Who hath saved us, and called us with an 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.

2 important points in the verse:

He Saved us

Salvation is the first gift of God to us which is “by grace through faith” (Eph 2:8, Tit 3:5).
We are saved from the consequences of what Satan did which brought sin and death to mankind (Rom 3:23, 5:12), to the miracle of what Jesus did on the cross which brought grace and salvation to mankind (Rom 5:12-19).

2. He Called us

As many as have been saved and redeemed by the blood of Christ are called into “His own purpose and grace.”
This calling is directional (Act 9:6, 1Tim 4:14)
This calling is conditional (1Cor 1:26-31)

As believers, we must understand that calling is as important to our salvation as the salvation itself (1Cor 1:26, 2Pe 1:5-8).

We are not just saved and waiting for Christ to take us on a joyride to heaven, we are saved for Christ’s purpose, otherwise, our salvation is unprofitable to Christ and to God on earth (Php 2:12-13).

The Purpose of Christ is that He saved us:

To be useful for Him while on earth (Mat 16:15)
To occupy and testify of Him and for Him (Luk 19:13)
To have victory and demonstrate His power and authority over sin, Satan, demons, and the world (Mat 16:19, Mat 18:18, Luk 9:1, Col 1:13, 1Pet 2:9).

We don’t have to be ordained or hold a special leadership training, skill, or position to do this (1Cor 12:7). This is the basics of being a Christian.

What is the call for the “purpose of Christ” to a believer after the salvation experience?
Discuss the consequences of not entering or functioning in this calling?

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Who is a Disciple?

6/21/2022

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Who is a Disciple?
The Greek word which translates to disciple in English is "mathetes.” It literarily means an “apprentice,” “pupil,” or “student.”
In Biblical terms, it means one who sits at the feet of Jesus to learn (Mat 24:3, Mar 3:14).

The word Disciple is also a derivative of the word Discipline.

It thus means that a Disciple is:

A “disciplined one” (Act 4:13, Phi 3:12)
A follower of Jesus (Mat 9:9, Mat 4:19, Mat 8:22)
A learner (Mat 11:28-30, Eph 4:20-21, 2Tim 2:15)
One who lives a life of denial and sacrifice (Mat 16:24, Luk 14:27, Phi 3:10, 1Pet 4:1-2)
One who lives in accordance with the teaching of the master (Gal 2:20, 1Tim 6:3)
One who lives to please his master (1Tim 2:4, 2Cor 5:9; 1The 2:4, Heb 11:6).

Attributes of a Disciple

Ready to learn from his master (Mat 11:29)
Have a teachable spirit (Mar 4:10-20)

Resemble his master (Mat 10:25)
Learn obedience (Phi 2:8, Heb 5:8, 10:36)
Learn humility (Phi 2:5-7, Jas 4:10)
Be a team player (1Cor 3:6-9, 2Cor 6:1, 2Cor 8:23, 3Jn 1:8)
Ready to suffer persecution (2Tim 3:12, 2Cor 12:10)
Good managers (of time, resources, people, gifts, doctrine, and knowledge). 2Tim 4:1-4, 2Tim 3:1-6, Tit 2:1)
Ready to live a life of suffering (1Pet 2:21, 1Pet 4:1, 12-16, 2Tim 1:8).

Exercises

Which of the definitions do I find most interesting and relatable to my personal life?
Which of the attributes do I find most challenging in my faith walk?

Discuss Acts 4:13 and 1Cor 3.

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The Believers' Calling - Part 2: Call to the Purpose of Christ

Call to Purpose and Grace

Who is a Disciple?

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