When the topic of salvation comes up it is often spoken of as a gift, and it is, but did you know that salvation is also a calling?

In 1 Thessalonians Paul expresses his desire for the Thessalonians to understand this by saying, As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children, That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory. ~ 1 Thessalonians 2:11-12

Being called to God’s kingdom and glory is no other than the call of our salvation, and Paul strongly urges and encourages the Thessalonians to walk worthy of God as a result. Now, I want you to consider Paul’s words in his second epistle to the Thessalonians. Paul writes the following:

…the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day. Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power: That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. ~ 2 Thessalonians 1:7-12

I want you to notice that even though Paul acknowledges that the Thessalonians had believed the gospel, his continual prayer for them was that they would be counted worthy of the calling of Christ being glorified in his saints at his coming. It wasn’t enough that they had believed the gospel on that day as Paul puts it, they also needed to walk worthy of God, thus Paul prays and admonishes them to walk worthy of the Lord.

With this in mind consider Paul’s words to the Ephesians.

I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. ~ Ephesians 4:1-6

Now, in this reference I want you to notice that Paul mentions walking worthy of the vocation wherewith we are called. In this text, Paul is not referring to calls such as missionary, pastor, teacher, worship leader, etc. He is referring to the new life in Christ that we are called to walk in.

The Amplified Bible says,  So I, the prisoner for the Lord, appeal to you to live a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called [that is, to live a life that exhibits godly character, moral courage, personal integrity, and mature behavior—a life that expresses gratitude to God for your salvation]

As we continue reading we see that Paul refers to this calling as being called in one hope of our calling. This is said within the context of one body, one Spirit, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and One God and Father of all. I am persuaded that Paul’s understanding of this call is what he is referring to as the high calling in Christ Jesus in his letter to the Philippians.

Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. ~ Philippians 3:8-14

The call of our salvation is a high calling, and the prize is conformity to the image and likeness of Jesus. This is what the salvation we have received in Christ works in us from day one until we see our Lord face to face.

The apostle Peter also chimes in, telling us to give diligence to make your calling and election sure. He says this within the context of godly and holy living so that an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

The Bible has much to say about the calling of our salvation. For instance, we are called to holiness according to 1 Thessalonians 4:7 and we are called to share in the glory of Christ according to 2 Thessalonians 2:14. In his first letter to Timothy, Paul tells Timothy to Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called… ~ 1 Timothy 6:12.

The Bible speaks often of the importance of holding firm to what we have in Christ and standing firm in the grace that we have received in Christ. In the reference above, Paul tells Timothy to fight the good fight of faith. That is how we lay hold of the eternal life to which we are called. Notice the use of the word “called”. We are called to eternal life and we must hold to the faith (fight the good fight of faith) so that we obtain the promise. This is what continuously shows up in Paul’s writings.

I could go on, but I hope this teaching has given you something to think about and something to encourage you to search within the scriptures for yourself as you work out your own salvation with fear in trembling, knowing that it is God who works in you both to will and to do his good pleasure.

Salvation is much more than a one time gift. It is a call to follow Jesus, to live by faith, and to sojourn through this life in the fear of God, who has called us to be holy, even as He is Holy!