Called of Jesus Christ: Not a Set of National Ethics or a Globalist Plan for Living, But the Greatest Calling

Take any part of the Old Testament and compare it with the opening words of the first chapter of Romans.

• How evident and immense the difference, aim, character and scope! 
• What is there, for instance, like it in the five books of Moses, or the historical books that follow? 
• In vain do you search the Psalms and other poetical books for a parallel. 
• Not even the prophets describe or predict such a state of things.

Glorious things are spoken for Israel; 

• mercy from God which will not fail to reach and bless the poor Gentiles; 
• deliverance and joy for the long-travailing earth and lower creation in general—
• all this and more we have abundantly from the prophets and even in the Psalms. 
• But there is nothing resembling the tone even of the Apostle Paul's salutation and preface to the Roman saints.

A new thing was before God here below, answering to a new thing, the greatest of all, in Heaven... 

• Jesus Christ our Lord had come down from Heaven and had paid for our sins. 
• He had now been raised from the dead and had gone back to Heaven where He was now seated on the throne of God. 
• From Him could come forth wondrous grace to all men, everywhere.

The Holy Spirit would now come to speak to the human race and to tell men all that Christ was, is and shall be. 

• Those who had been the object of God’s eternal love and choice would be brought effectively to know Him 
• and to realize the high position for which God has destined all those who put their trust in Christ

This is Christianity. 

• Not a mere set of ethics, 
• or a plan for living in this world, 
• but a calling that puts us in gear with the eternal power and plan of Heaven, 
• that communicates to us the eternal life of Christ 
• and sets us apart for God’s purposes.

Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ: To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called [to be] saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 1:6, 7).

Adapted Excerpt From

Romans, vol 1: Man's Ruin

Donald Grey Barnhouse