CALLED CHOSEN AND SEPARATED UNTO GOD
Anita Clark – PastorGrace Chapel, Carbondale, Kansas
Throughout the Old Testament we read that God chose men and women to serve him in special ways. We see Abraham, Jacob, Moses, the Prophets and King David and many more. As we read the New Testament we see many more individuals i.e. the Disciples, and the Church Apostles, including especially Apostle Paul.
Apostle Paul wrote to the people of God in Romans 1:1, “Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called as apostle, separated unto the gospel of God. The word used here “Apostle” means “a delegate, ambassador, he that is sent.” Many characters in the Bible were chosen by God before they were born. We see this in Galatians 1:15-16, where Apostle Paul says, “But when it pleased the Father, who separated me from my mother’s womb; and called me by His grace, to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the heathen, immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood.”
In Romans 8:28, Paul says, He was “called according to His purpose.” In verse 29, Paul says, “Whom He did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son.” The word “conformed” in the Greek means “fashioned like unto.” The word “image” means “likeness or resemblance.” Verse 30 states, “Moreover whom He did predestinate, them He also called, them He also justified, them He also glorified.” The word “justified” means “just, innocent, or righteous.” Those who are “righteous” are declared “glorified.” (“rendered glorious”). In this portion of the Scripture, Apostle Paul speaks of 6 steps of the work of God in our lives: 1. “Whom He foreknew” (Vs.29). 2. He did “predestinate” (Vs.29). 3.”He conformed (fashioned like His Son) (Vs.29). 4. “He Called” (Vs.30). 5. “He justified” (declared innocent and righteous). (Vs.30). 6. “He glorified” (Vs.30) (“to render glorious, honored, and to magnify”). Also in Ephesians 1:4, “According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love. Having predestinated us unto the adoption of sons...” The word “predestinated” means “to determine before, or ordain.” The words “adoption of sons,” means “son placing.”
The second part of this message is “We Belong To Christ.” Jesus said this in Mark 9:41. We need to be separated unto the Lord. In II Corinthians 6:14-18, Apostle Paul emphasizes this theme, speaking of the separation of believers in Christ. Verse 14 states the separation of the believers with unbelievers, and how we are not to marry unbelievers. Verses 14-16 stress the fact that spiritually light and darkness do not mix. Verse 16 states, “And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? For ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” Paul was dealing with real worship of literal idols in his day. Today, many various religions worship idols. Our God is real and living not made with stone or gold or some other precious stone.
Verse 17 “Wherefore come out from among them and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing, and I will receive you. And I will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters saith the Lord Almighty.” “Idols” are anything in the world that we love more than God the Father and Jesus Christ. In John 15:19 Jesus said, “If ye were of the world, the world would love his own; but because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.”
Do you feel this? Jesus said, we belong to Him. We are separated unto Him. John 17:16, Jesus said in his prayer to His Father, “They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.” Romans 12:2, states, “Be not conformed to the world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.” The word “conformed” means “to be fashioned like.” The word “transformed” is the word “metamorphose.” This speaks of the change that happens in our lives as we yield to the Lord, and His Word. I Corinthians 7:31 says, “They that use this world, as not abusing it, for the fashion of this world passeth away.” This verse in The Amplified Version reads like this, “And those who deal with this world, over using the enjoyments of this life, let them live as though they were not absorbed by it, and as if they had no dealings with it. For the outward form of this world - the present world order is passing away.” Philippians 3:20 says, “For our citizenship is in heaven from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.
THIS WORLD IS NOT MY HOME, I’M JUST A PASSING THROUGH, MY TREASURES ARE LAID UP SOMEWHERE BEYOND THE BLUE.
