Called with a Holy Calling

“Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity, but now has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle and a teacher.” (2 Timothy 1:8-11 NASB1995)

What was Paul doing that caused him to have to suffer for the gospel? He was obeying God in doing what God – Father, Son Jesus Christ, and Holy Spirit – called him to do. He was not disobedient to God’s call on his life.

He was going to the people to whom God was sending him, and he was speaking truth to them, in the name of the Lord. And he was opening their eyes to the truth of the gospel of Christ so that they might turn from darkness (sin, wickedness), i.e. repent of their sins, and turn to the light (righteousness, obedience, Jesus Christ), and away from the dominion of Satan to now living under the Lordship of God/Christ. And all this was necessary for the people to receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Jesus Christ (Acts 26:18).

See: [Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 9:23-26; Romans 6:1-23; Titus 2:11-14]

And to be sanctified is the process of being made holy, being progressively transformed by the Lord to His likeness of character. For it is to be separate (unlike, different) from the world, to be set apart for God and for his service, and to be becoming more like Jesus in the power of God. For we are but clay in the hands of the Potter (God) being molded into his likeness, but only as we yield control of our lives over to him, and we cooperate with his work of grace in our lives in letting him transform us to be like Jesus. And this involves us putting sin to death and following our Lord in obedience.

Thus, we are to abstain from sexual immorality, and we are to control our own bodies in holiness and honor, and not in the passion of lust like those who do not know God. For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. For we are slaves of the one we obey (in practice, by habit), either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience to God, which leads to righteousness and sanctification and to eternal life with God. For if sin is what we obey, and not obedience to God, we will not inherit eternal life with God regardless of what we have professed with our lips. Take this seriously!

[1 Thessalonians 4:1-8; Romans 6:15-21; Acts 26:18; Hebrews 10:26-31]

Therefore, when this passage of Scripture in 2 Timothy 1:9 says, “..who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace..” this is not teaching a “do nothing” gospel message which says we do nothing but “believe,” and God does all the rest. The gospel message is not “make a profession of faith in Jesus” and “bam!” you’ve got it made, regardless of how you live. Paul was commanded of God to teach genuine biblical repentance (death to sin) and walks of surrender to God in obedience to his commands, or our faith is not real. So "not according to our works" has to do with our own fleshly works.

For Jesus Christ taught that to come to him we must deny self, take up our cross daily (die daily to sin), and follow (obey) him. For if we hold on to living in sin and for self, we will lose our lives for eternity. But if we deny self, die daily to sin, by the Spirit, and we walk in obedience to our Lord and to his commands, in his power, then we have eternal life with God. For not everyone who calls him “Lord” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one DOING (obeying) the will of God (see Luke 9:23-26; Matthew 7:21-23).

[Matthew 7:13-14,21-23; Luke 9:23-26; John 10:27-30; Romans 2:5-10; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; Galatians 5:16-24; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:17-32; Ephesians 5:3-6; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 12:1-2; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 1:1-10; 1 John 2:1-6; 1 John 3:4-10; Acts 26:18]

Servant of the Lord 

Based off Romans 1:1-17 

An Original Work / July 26, 2012

Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

Servant of the Lord;

For the gospel you’re set apart.

Promised through the prophets of old:

Jesus, Son of God.

Through Him, and for His name alone,

We receive His grace

To call people, Him to obey;

Coming from their faith.

Servant of the Lord,

For the gospel you’re set apart.

Promised through the prophets of old:

Jesus, Son of God.

You belong to Christ;

Loved by God, and called to be saints;

Serving God with whole heart and mind;

Preaching Jesus Christ;

Always praying for others’ needs;

Helping hand to lend;

Giving courage to others’ faith,

For the praise of God. 

You belong to Christ;

Loved by God, and called to be saints;

Serving God with whole heart and mind;

Preaching Jesus Christ.

Servant of the Lord;

Of the gospel, I’m not ashamed;

For salvation, power of God

To those who have faith.

In the gospel find righteousness:

Being right with God.

Turn from sin, and trust Jesus Christ.

By faith, live in Him.

Servant of the Lord;

Of the gospel, I’m not ashamed;

For salvation, power of God

To those who have faith.

https://vimeo.com/119511640

Called with a Holy Calling

An Original Work / March 9, 2026

Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love