The concept of God's call to humanity is a profound theme woven throughout the Scriptures, emphasizing the divine invitation to partake in His glory and virtue. This call is not merely an abstract idea but a tangible reality that beckons believers to live in a manner worthy of their divine vocation.

Divine Invitation to Glory

The call to glory is rooted in the very nature of God, who desires to share His divine essence with His creation. In 2 Peter 1:3, the apostle Peter writes, "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." This passage highlights that the call to glory is initiated by God's power and is accessible through the knowledge of Him. It is an invitation to partake in the divine nature, as further elaborated in 2 Peter 1:4, where believers are promised to become "partakers of the divine nature."

The call to glory is also a call to transformation. Romans 8:30 states, "And those He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified." This sequence underscores the transformative journey from being called to ultimately being glorified, reflecting the image of Christ.

The Pursuit of Virtue

Alongside the call to glory is the call to virtue, which is an essential aspect of the Christian life. Virtue, in the biblical sense, encompasses moral excellence and righteousness. The call to virtue is a call to live out the character of Christ in everyday life. In Philippians 4:8, believers are exhorted, "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think on these things." This passage encourages the cultivation of virtuous thoughts and actions as a response to God's call.

The apostle Paul further emphasizes the importance of virtue in Ephesians 4:1, urging believers to "walk in a manner worthy of the calling you have received." This call to virtue is not merely about personal morality but is deeply connected to the communal life of the church, as believers are called to exhibit virtues such as humility, gentleness, and patience in their interactions with one another (Ephesians 4:2).

The Interplay of Glory and Virtue

The call to glory and virtue is not two separate calls but rather two facets of the same divine invitation. The glory of God is revealed through the virtuous lives of His people, and the pursuit of virtue is empowered by the hope of sharing in God's glory. In 2 Thessalonians 2:14, Paul writes, "To this He called you through our gospel, so that you may share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ." This sharing in glory is both a present reality and a future hope, motivating believers to live virtuously in anticipation of the fullness of glory to come.

The call to glory and virtue is ultimately a call to reflect the character of God in the world. As believers respond to this call, they become living testimonies of God's transformative power, drawing others to the beauty of His holiness. The call of God to man, therefore, is a call to participate in the divine life, manifesting His glory and virtue in every aspect of existence.2 Peter 1:3
According as his divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that has called us to glory and virtue:
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Man Summoned by God's Glory and Energy
... of my subject at what I may venture to call the magnificent ... God cannot give you any
more than He gave you ... Suppose some man told you that there was a thousand ...
/.../expositions of holy scripture ephesians peter/man summoned by gods glory.htm

Effectual Calling
... (vi.) It is a glorious call. ... to the enjoyment of the ever blessed God: as if a man
were called ... Thus God calls us to glory and virtue (2 Peter 1:3). First to ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watson/a divine cordial/effectual calling.htm

'Seek Ye' --'I Will Seek'
... and what He is as revealed to man; and both ... of their own hearts, but it means,
'God"my soul ... by their incompleteness and their transiency, alike call us to ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture j/seek yei will seek.htm

But If, for the Contest's Sake, God had Appointed Martyrdoms for ...
... with all its life [8256] (which it lays down for God), it makes of man a martyr.
Shall you call these cures, counsels, methods of judging, spectacles ...
/.../tertullian/scorpiace antidote for the scorpions sting/chapter vi but if for.htm

Of the Works which God Works in all in Common and of Five Kinds of ...
... how He through grace flows forth towards all men who are obedient to the call of
God. ... For the grace of God works according to order in every man, after the ...
/.../john/the adornment of the spritual marriage/chapter v of the works.htm

[Shewing] that Common and Saving Grace Differ, not Only in Degree ...
... The dead shall hear the voice," and immediately after the call they are ... degree of
the same kind of qualities and principles, as when God made man of the ...
/.../edwards/treatise on grace/shewing that common and saving.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

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. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/sergieff/on the christian life/chapter i life of a.htm

Sermon.
... God is not mocked; for whatsoever a man sows, that ... and gave himself for me." Then
the call to judgment ... new birth, they cannot enter into the kingdom of God. ...
/.../penn/a sermon preached at the quakers meeting house/sermon.htm

Man Now Deprived of Freedom of Will, and Miserably Enslaved.
... horse; he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man. ... the humble," (James 4:6). Then
let us call to mind ... be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory ...
/.../calvin/the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 2 man now deprived.htm

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Call: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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