Called Out, Called To

To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints . . .

1 Corinthians 1:2

The word church in the original Greek language was ekklesia—a compound word from kaleo (“to call”) and ek (“out”). So ekklesia meant “called out ones,” both concepts appearing in 1 Corinthians 1:2: the “church of God” is made up of those who are “called [out] to be saints.”

But called out of where, and called to where? The idea of calling has its roots in the great redemptive event in Jewish history, the calling of the Hebrews out of bondage in Egypt. Israel was called out of Egypt and to a personal relationship with God. They were God’s chosen people. Likewise, Peter says the church has been called to be “a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people” (1 Peter 2:9). We have not been called out of slavery in Egypt but out of slavery to sin in the world (John 8:34; Romans 6:16). It would have been a long walk for the Israelites to return to Egypt, but the sin of this world is always around us—just a decision away.

If you are being tempted by the world out of which God has saved you, ask Him for grace and strength today to “walk worthy of the calling with which you were called” (Ephesians 4:1).

We are called to an everlasting preoccupation with God.

A. W. TOZER