How Christians are Created, Called, Chosen, Conformed, and Commissioned to serve God.
The Christian life can be summarized this way: Christians have been created, called, chosen, conformed, and commissioned by God for a purpose. In this Bible study, we will examine each of these five aspects of the life into which God has called us.
(I) CREATED: Every person has been created by God for a purpose.
(a) Every human being is a remarkable creation of God “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139 KJV) to play a part in His everlasting Kingdom and eternal heavenly family.
(b) Unlike all other creatures, we are spiritual beings created specifically to know God, have an intimate relationship with Him, and reflect His image and nature (see Genesis 1:26-27).
(c) The Bible tells us—rather amazingly—that God knew us before the world was created (Ephesians 4:1-9) and has uniquely designed each of us to serve Him in certain ways: “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works which God has before ordained that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10 KJV).
(d) As such, we have all been given different gifts, talents, abilities, and personalities with which to fulfill His callings in our lives (see Romans 12:3-9; I Corinthians 12:4-31).
(II) CALLED: Every person is called to have a relationship with God and to serve Him in different ways.
(a) Our first calling is to know God and to establish a relationship with Him: “God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord” (I Corinthians 1:9 KJV).
(b) Each person is called to become a part of the Kingdom of God: “We pleaded with you, encouraged you, and urged you to live your lives in a way that God would consider worthy. For he called you to share in his Kingdom and glory” (I Thessalonians 2:12 NLT).
(c) We can only become part of the Kingdom of God if we receive Christ as our Savior and become spiritually reborn. As Jesus told Nicodemus, a highly religious priest who did not know God personally, “‘Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God… unless one is born…of the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God’” (John 3:3, 5b ESV).
(d) Despite what many people say, we are not “all God’s children.” We are all God’s creations, but people become God’s children only through personally receiving the salvation of Jesus Christ: “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Galatians 3:26-27 KJV). The Apostle John put it this way: “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:12-13 ESV).
(e) Whatever God calls us to do, He will give us the grace to do: “Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it” (I Thessalonians 5:24 KJV).
(III) CHOSEN: We have been chosen by God to serve in His Kingdom.
(a) Although God’s calling goes out to all people, He is only able to use those who accept His offer of salvation, new life, and useful service: “For many are called, but few are chosen” (Matthew 22:14 KJV).
(b) Once we yield ourselves to God, He begins to ready us for the specific work which he will have us to do: “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, 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 it you” (John 15:16 KJV).
(IV) CONFORMED: In order to for us to serve God effectively, He must do a spiritual transformation in us to conform us to the character and nature of Christ.
(a) God uses real-life experiences to develop the Christ-like attributes which believers need to fulfill our callings: “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren” (Romans 8:28-29 KJV).
(b) By giving Christians His Holy Spirit, God equips us with an unfailing source of the spiritual virtues which characterize His perfect and holy life: “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust” (II Peter 1:4 KJV).
(c) Some of these divine characteristics are called “the fruit of the Spirit”: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23 KJV). There are many other Christ-like attributes that God develops in His people, such as purity, wisdom, honesty, mercy, selflessness, courage, and diligence.
(V) COMMISSIONED: All of God’s work in our lives is meant to prepare us to be sent into the world on whatever God-ordained missions He has for us to fulfill.
(a) Christians are volunteers in God’s army; however, when we respond to His call, He gives us specific jobs to carry out. This may come in the form of a career or ministry that lasts a lifetime, or it may change during various phases in our lives. Even within our everyday lives, we must always be available to be called into situations to be His voice, His arms, His hands, and His feet. We are all here “on assignment!”
(b) Jesus came to the earth on a divine mission to bring lost humanity back to God. He has called believers to assist Him in fulfilling that mission: “Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you” (John 20:21 KJV). The Expanded Translation reads: “Even as the Father has sent me on a mission…I am also sending you.”
(c) Though there are many ways in which God can use His people to help others, the most important way God can use us is to fulfill what is called “The Great Commission”: “‘Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age’” (Matthew 28:19-20 ESV).
(d) Sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with others is the most powerful way of helping others to become who and what they were meant to be. It is God’s chosen means for effecting change on the Earth and making sure that others make it to heaven. It is the most important job that Christians will ever be given.
Questions to consider:
(1) Do you count it a privilege to be able to serve God?
(2) How important to you is God’s call in your life?
(3) Do you pray regularly for God to show you His will?
(4) Do you have questions about what your calling is, or about your ability to fulfill it?
(5) In what areas do you need to grow in order to serve God more effectively?
(5) How does the paramount importance of helping to build God’s Kingdom affect your perspective on your life goals and career goals?
