The Apostle Paul’s defense of his calling in [[Galatians Chapter 1]] offers an opportunity to look a little more deeply into this topic. We followed a simple [[Topical Bible Study]] as we looked further into this. Some key words that are associated with this topic include: * call or calling * vocation * invitation * summoning (brought forth) The following are some additional key verses that are related to this topic: - [[Isaiah 55.5]] - [[Isaiah 49.1]], [[Isaiah 49.5]] - [[Jeremiah 1.5]] - [[Acts 9.15]] - [[Romans 1.1]] Beginning with Galatians 1.15, we will look at these verses individually: >![[Galatians 1.15]] **From this verse, what was the timing of Paul’s call?** His mother’s womb. In other words, Paul was called by God *before he was born*. This same idea is also seen applied to the prophet Jeremiah in [[Jeremiah 1.5]], as well as to the Messiah (Jesus) in [[Isaiah 49.1]], and [[Isaiah 49.5]]. **From this verse, how did Paul’s calling come?** It came by grace. In other words, Paul didn’t earn his calling. We do not receive our calling on the basis of works but on the basis of God’s grace to us. We discover our calling through the grace of God. **From this verse, who determines our calling?** It is God who determines our calling, not us. **If God determines our calling, who determines if we walk in that calling?** We do. Our response to Christ determines whether or not we receive our calling and walk in it. This idea is reflected in [[1 Corinthians 12.18]] and the surrounding text–it is God who chooses where we are to be in the body and we choose to operate in that function or gift. **What was the function we were called to do?** Paul reveals it in [[Galatians 1.24]] and we can see it also in [[Ephesians 2.10]]…we are created in Christ for *good works* that ultimately cause people to *glorify God* in us. **Did he always live according to his calling?** Paul did not always live according to his calling because he was not always following Jesus and doing His will. He did what he thought was God’s will but it wasn’t until he surrendered to Jesus and followed him that God’s will began to become truly known to him. The follow-up question is this: **do Christians always live according to God’s calling on their lives?** And the answer is no. Many people are called, but few are chosen ([[Matthew 22.14]]) because they do not respond to the call of God in faith and obedience, like Paul did. **One of the important questions that this topic provokes is what impact does that have on things like abortion?** With abortion, you don’t only take a life you also deny purpose. Paul’s impact extended beyond his life. If he had not been born and lived according to his calling, what impact would that have had on the way that the church expanded in the first century? It is important to remember that Paul began his argument for His calling being on the basis of the *authority* of God’s word (see [[Galatians Chapter 1]] study). **Why is that important?** This is important because if people do not recognize the authority of the word of God then babies are just flesh and have little purpose beyond advancing the species. But if we recognize the authority of God’s word and use that to define our perspective we recognize that each child is connected to a calling and purpose. **What does this perspective reveal about us?** This perspective speaks to the value of a person. A child’s value is pretermined before they do anything. They *begin* with inherent value and worth to God. This is the opposite of the world’s view where value is established by what we do or contribute. We begin to *reveal our value* when we respond to God’s grace. When we start living in our calling we begin to display the goodness and glory of God to the world around us. **Does this topic of calling apply to race, gender, nationality, or social status?** According to [[Acts 17.26]] God chose where and when we would be born. And even Jesus declares that when God made man, He made them both male and female ([[Matthew 19.4]]). Understanding the calling of God helps understand why we were born like we were born and where we were born. We were given what we needed to impact the people and places we were appointed so that our good works would glorify God. Additionally, the Apostle Paul speaks about having a *sphere* in which we operate in our calling and exercise the authority God has given us in that area ([[2 Corinthians 10.13-18]]). **Is there a process of grace where we develop our call?** In the Apostle Paul’s life we can see a process. He encountered Jesus at Damascus ([[Acts 9.1-6]]), received a prophetic word from Ananias to encourage him in his call ([[Acts 9.10-19]]), submitted to Barnabas for discipleship in the Way of Jesus ([[Acts 9.27]]), and served in the local church ([[Acts 9.29]]) all before having hands laid on him and being sent out to walk fully in his call ([[Acts 13.1-3]]). One of the things that we can say to summarize is that we are called to *someone* (God) and called to *something* (good works) for the purpose of accomplishing something (causing others to recoginze and praise God). This calling comes from grace and when we receive it leads to works. **For further thought:** 1. If God calls you, how important do you think it is to go to Him to discover your call? 2. When God begins to speak to you about your calling, what steps do you need to do to begin to walk in it? 3. Are you in the process of receiving the grace of God for your calling and taking steps to develop your call?