Topical Bible: The Call of God: To Man Is: Holy

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Topical Encyclopedia

The concept of the call of God to man as holy is deeply rooted in the biblical narrative, emphasizing the divine initiative in reaching out to humanity and setting them apart for His purposes. This call is not merely an invitation but a summons to a life of holiness, reflecting God's own nature and character.

Biblical Foundation

The holiness of God's call is evident throughout Scripture, beginning with the Old Testament. In Leviticus 19:2, God commands Moses to speak to the entire assembly of Israel, saying, "Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy." This foundational call to holiness is reiterated in the New Testament, where believers are urged to live lives that reflect God's holiness. In 1 Peter 1:15-16, the apostle Peter exhorts, "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.'"

The Nature of the Call

The call of God is inherently holy because it originates from a holy God. It is a call to be set apart, to live in a manner that is distinct from the world. This call is not based on human merit but on God's sovereign choice and grace. In 2 Timothy 1:9, Paul writes, "He has saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but by His own purpose and by the grace He granted us in Christ Jesus before time began."

Response to the Call

Responding to God's holy call involves a transformation of life and character. It requires a commitment to pursue righteousness and to abstain from sin. Romans 12:1-2 urges believers to present their bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, and to be transformed by the renewing of their minds. This transformation is a work of the Holy Spirit, who empowers believers to live according to God's standards.

The Purpose of the Call

The purpose of God's holy call is to conform believers to the image of Christ and to prepare them for His service. Ephesians 4:1-3 encourages believers to "walk in a manner worthy of the calling you have received," highlighting the call to unity, humility, and love. This call is not only personal but also communal, as believers are called to be a holy people, a royal priesthood, and a holy nation (1 Peter 2:9).

The Call and the Covenant

God's call to holiness is closely linked to His covenant with His people. In the Old Testament, the call to be a holy nation was part of the covenant relationship between God and Israel. In the New Testament, this covenant is fulfilled in Christ, who establishes a new covenant through His blood. Hebrews 9:15 states, "For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance."

Conclusion

The call of God to man is a profound and sacred invitation to partake in His holiness. It is a call that demands a response of faith, obedience, and a life set apart for His glory. Through this call, believers are drawn into a deeper relationship with God, reflecting His holiness in a world that desperately needs to see His light.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

1 Timothy 1:9
Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for murderers,
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Greek

4102. pistis -- faith, faithfulness
... count it done,’ but is the deep consciousness divinely imparted to the heart of
man that it ... what a mistake to take our belief in God and call of faith ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4102.htm - 18k

Library

A Call to Holy Living
... privilege and the honor of a child of God is great ... that vaunting of valor which leaves
a man afraid of ... blush for the conduct of those who call themselves their ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 18 1872/a call to holy living.htm

A Treatise of Novatian Concerning the Trinity
... Scripture Sets Forth that Not Only Was Christ God, But Man Also. ... Their Error from
Consideration of What is Written: Although We Call Christ God, and the ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/novatian/a treatise of novatian concerning the trinity/

Expositions of Holy Scripture
... THE BUSH THAT BURNED, AND DID NOT BURN OUT. THE CALL OF MOSES. ... MARAH. THE BREAD OF
GOD. JEHOVAH NISSI. ... THE DECALOGUE: I--MAN AND GOD. THE DECALOGUE: II.--MAN AND ...
//christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/

The Corruption of Man, his Conversion to God, and the Manner ...
... who are called by the gospel obey the call and are ... and discern the things of the
Spirit of God; but by ... Spirit He pervades the inmost recesses of man; He opens ...
//christianbookshelf.org/anonymous/synod of dort/the corruption of man his.htm

The Call of Moses
... It is a stupid thing for a man to try to be eloquent. Make. YOUR MESSAGE, AND NOT
YOURSELF,. ... If we listen for God's voice, we shall hear the call; and if He ...
//christianbookshelf.org/moody/men of the bible/ii the call of moses.htm

Prayer --Fills Man's Poverty with God's Riches
... revelation of Himself, which is the first call to prayer ... mightiest work, the divinest
work which man can do ... nearer Heaven, nearer God, never more God-like, never ...
/.../bounds/the reality of prayer/ii prayerfills mans poverty with.htm

Holiness
... The people of God are holy ... And they shall call them, The ... We are called unto holiness.=
"Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see ...
//christianbookshelf.org/byers/sanctification/chapter ix holiness.htm

Life of a Christian Man. Scriptural Arguments Exhorting to It.
... me it will be sufficient to point out the method by which a pious man may be ... end
to which we ought ever to have respect, if we would answer the call of God. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/sergieff/on the christian life/chapter i life of a.htm

The Beloved Pastor's Plea for Unity
... Here is a man who says he is a child of God, and yet he is guilty of lewdness.
Call him a saint, when even common morality is absent? ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 39 1893/the beloved pastors plea for.htm

The Preacher as a Man of God.
... in Holy Writ more unique and sublime than the call of Isaiah ... is an account of how
a young man of three thousand years ago became a public servant of God. ...
/.../stalker/the preacher and his models/lecture ii the preacher as.htm