The concept of the "Call of God" to man is a profound theme woven throughout the Scriptures, reflecting the divine initiative to draw humanity into a relationship with Himself. This call is not merely earthly or temporal but is fundamentally heavenly, originating from the divine realm and inviting individuals to partake in the eternal purposes of God.

Heavenly Origin and Nature

The call of God is heavenly in its origin, as it emanates from the very throne of God. Hebrews 3:1 exhorts believers to "fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess," highlighting the heavenly nature of our calling. This call is not rooted in human wisdom or earthly ambition but is a divine summons to partake in the heavenly kingdom.

A Call to Holiness and Transformation

The heavenly call of God is a call to holiness and transformation. In 1 Peter 1:15-16 , it is written, "But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do, for it is written: 'Be holy, because I am holy.'" This call to holiness reflects the character of God and His desire for His people to be set apart for His purposes.

Participation in the Divine Nature

Through the heavenly call, believers are invited to participate in the divine nature. 2 Peter 1:3-4 states, "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. Through these He has given us His precious and magnificent promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature." This participation is a transformative process, aligning believers with the character and purposes of God.

A Call to Eternal Inheritance

The call of God is also a call to an eternal inheritance. Hebrews 9:15 declares, "Therefore Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, now that He has died to redeem them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant." This inheritance is not of this world but is reserved in heaven, awaiting those who respond to God's call.

A Call to Fellowship with Christ

Central to the heavenly call is the invitation to fellowship with Christ. 1 Corinthians 1:9 affirms, "God, who has called you into fellowship with His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful." This fellowship is the heart of the Christian life, where believers are united with Christ in a relationship that transcends earthly ties.

A Call to Witness and Service

The heavenly call also commissions believers to witness and service. Acts 1:8 records Jesus' words, "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." This call to witness is a divine mandate to proclaim the gospel and serve others in the name of Christ.

Conclusion

The call of God to man is a heavenly invitation that encompasses holiness, transformation, participation in the divine nature, eternal inheritance, fellowship with Christ, and a life of witness and service. It is a call that transcends the temporal and beckons believers to align their lives with the eternal purposes of God.Hebrews 3:1
Why, holy brothers, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Of Heavenly Weal and Hellish Woe
... When a man feels God within himself with rich and full grace, this I call heavenly
health; for then he is wise and clear of understanding, rich and outflowing ...
/.../john/the adornment of the spritual marriage/chapter vi of heavenly weal.htm

Prayer --Fills Man's Poverty with God's Riches
... revelation of Himself, which is the first call to prayer ... Prayer is no petty invention
of man, a fancied relief ... dead and death-dealing, but is God's enabling act ...
/.../bounds/the reality of prayer/ii prayerfills mans poverty with.htm

How Holy Charity Produces the Love of Our Neighbour.
... that he makes no difficulty to call himself our father, and to call us his ... man towards
man, is the true image of the heavenly love of man towards God. ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter xi how holy charity.htm

How Cuthbert, a Man of God, was Made Bishop; and How He Lived and ...
... put a stop to the plague sent from God, by incantations ... shone in his angelic face,
that no man present dared ... continuing among the hill folk to call that simple ...
/.../bede/bedes ecclesiastical history of england/chap xxvii how cuthbert a.htm

God's Love for Man
... Jesus is "not ashamed to call them brethren" (Hebrews 2:11 ... And all this that man
might be uplifted from the ruin ... that he might reflect the love of God and share ...
//christianbookshelf.org/white/steps to christ/chapter 1 gods love for.htm

To Cledonius the Priest against Apollinarius. (Ep. Ci. )
... others with the assertion that the "Man of the Lord," as they call Him, Who ... dogma
the Unity and Identity of Person, Who of old was not Man but God, and the ...
/.../select letters of saint gregory nazianzen/to cledonius the priest against.htm

Wisdom's Call
... them.' There is allusion to Wisdom's call in verse 23 ... of two directions for
ourselves"either towards God, to seek ... they are safe, 'destroys them.' No man is in ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/wisdoms call.htm

He Restoreth My Soul.
... at any time, we really turn away from God and break ... The native perversity of nature
in a normal man can never ... and our ears attuned to the voice and call of our ...
/.../callan/the shepherd of my soul/v he restoreth my soul.htm

'The Heavenly vision'
... our convictions, and as true and powerful a call for our ... and crowding it with meaning
is when a man forms and ... and the time after that in which 'God said, Let ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture the acts/the heavenly vision.htm

The Life of a Christian Man. Scriptural Arguments Exhorting to It.
... have respect, if we would answer the call of God ... endeavour to show forth the glory
of God, and guard ... virtue, never rise higher than the natural dignity of man. ...
/.../calvin/the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 6 the life of.htm

If Jesus was God, why did He call God "My God?" | GotQuestions.org

Is it biblical to call the wife of a pastor, elder, or bishop the First Lady of the church? | GotQuestions.org

Why do some people not turn to God until later in life? | GotQuestions.org

Call: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus