St. Paul on the Call of God
1 Corinthians 1:18-31
18: For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing,
but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
19: For it is written, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
and the cleverness of the clever I will thwart."
20: Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age?
Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
21: For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom,
it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.
22: For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom,
23: but we preach Christ crucified,
a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles,
24: but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks,
Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
25: For the foolishness of God is wiser than men,
and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
26: For consider your call, brethren;
not many of you were wise according to worldly standards,
not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth;
27: but God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise,
God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong,
28: God chose what is low and despised in the world,
even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are,
29: so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.
30: He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus,
whom God made our wisdom,
our righteousness and sanctification and redemption;
31: therefore, as it is written, "Let him who boasts, boast of the Lord."
1 Corinthians 7:15-24
15: But if the unbelieving partner desires to separate, let it be so;
in such a case the brother or sister is not bound.
For God has called us to peace.
16: Wife, how do you know whether you will save your husband?
Husband, how do you know whether you will save your wife?
17: Only, let every one lead the life which the Lord has assigned to him,
and in which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches.
18: Was any one at the time of his call already circumcised?
Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision.
Was any one at the time of his call uncircumcised?
Let him not seek circumcision.
19: For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision,
but keeping the commandments of God.
20: Every one should remain in the state in which he was called.
21: Were you a slave when called? Never mind.
But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity.
22: For he who was called in the Lord as a slave is a freedman of the Lord.
Likewise he who was free when called is a slave of Christ.
23: You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men.
24: So, brethren, in whatever state each was called,
there let him remain with God.
Galatians 1:15-16a
15: But when he who had set me apart before I was born,
and had called me through his grace,
16: was pleased to reveal his Son to me,
in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles...
Galatians 1:6
6: I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him
who called you in the grace of Christ
and turning to a different gospel...
Romans 8:28-30
28: We know that in everything God works for good
with those who love him,
who are called according to his purpose.
29: For those whom he foreknew he also predestined
to be conformed to the image of his Son,
in order that he might be the first-born among many brethren.
30: And those whom he predestined he also called;
and those whom he called he also justified;
and those whom he justified he also glorified.
Ephesians 1:13-20
13: In him you also,
who have heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation,
and have believed in him,
were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,
14: which is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it,
to the praise of his glory.
15: For this reason,
because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints,
16: I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers,
17: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory,
may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him,
18: having the eyes of your hearts enlightened,
that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you,
what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,
19: and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power in us who believe,
according to the working of his great might
20: which he accomplished in Christ ....
Ephesians 4:1-3
1: I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord,
beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called,
2: with all lowliness and meekness,
with patience, forbearing one another in love,
3: eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Colossians 3:12-15...
12: Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved,
compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, and patience,
13: forbearing one another and,
if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other;
as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.
14: And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
15: And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts,
to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful.
