Obeying God’s Call

Obeying God’s Call

                                          by Theodore H Epp

 (Founder Back to the Bible)

Genesis 12: 1-3

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Abraham was chosen, or elected, on the basis of the sovereignty of God.  He has no Bible, so he was not able to receive his call through God’s written Word.  God sought a man, and on the basis of His sovereign will and purpose, He chose Abraham.

As to calling or electing, we are reminded of Peter’s words: “Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father” (1 Peter 1:2).  Abraham was not chosen because of any merits in his life.  His was a supernatural call based on God’s own purpose and will. When God calls according to His own purpose and will, it is always a call for the good.  Abraham had no choice in the matter.  God did not ask “Abraham, would you like to be the man that I can use?”  Instead, God said, in effect, “Abraham, I want you to come out of your country.”

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Abraham was called to begin a special, chosen nation through which salvation would eventually come to all mankind.  There was much involved in this great call.  God staked His whole plan of redemption of the possibility of a man’s being willing, by his faith and obedience, to become the bridgehead for delivering as erring world.

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 Timothy 1:9)

(From the archives of Confident Living Magazine)

Source: 

Back to the Bible Intl.

The Good News Broadcasting Society

Confident Living Magazine

WANTED FAITHFUL SERVANTS

WANTED: FAITHFUL SERVANTS

by Theodore H Epp

Hebrews 11: 8-18

Have you ever thought about the fact that you and I have the Gospel today because Abraham and others who were chosen of God were faithful? God has chosen to work through men; therefore, the future of God's work rests on what He is able to motivate men to do. In Old Testament times, the work of God depended on men such as Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. In New Testament times, Jesus Christ made His future program dependent on the apostles. He spent time with these men and properly trained them for the work they had to do.

Not only was faithfulness required of the patriarchs and the disciples, but it is also required of us because God has committed to us the ministry of reconciliation. Paul wrote: "God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 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" (2 Cor. 5:19-20). There is no choice in the matter. We are the sovereign appointees of God to represent Him to others. Abraham was faithful. The disciples were faithful. Are we faithful?

Without faith it is impossible to please him [God] (Heb. 11:6).

(An Adaptation from the Daily Devotional Book “Strength for the Journey—A Daily Devotional For Your Spiritual Walk” By Theodore H Epp The Founder Director of Back to the Bible)