God calls us to Jesus Christ (Romans 1:6). We are called to Christ through the Gospel. We are called to believe in Christ who died for our sins. We believe that Jesus is our risen Lord. While all people of all nations have a general call to Christ, believers have experienced an effective call. Our call is effective by the Holy Spirit through faith in Jesus Christ our Lord (1 Corinthians 12:3).
God calls us to Christ by grace alone. Through Him we receive grace (Romans 1:5). Grace is the gift of God, and not of our works (Ephesians 2:8-9). We receive grace and peace from God our Father, through the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 1:7). We receive the grace of God by faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit indwells us with the peace of God (Romans 5:1).
God calls us to be saints in Christ (Romans 1:7). Every true believer in our Lord Jesus Christ is a saint, not just a special few. The word saint simply means set apart. We are set apart by the blood of Jesus and the Holy Spirit. The blood of Jesus was shed at the cross to take away all our sins (1 John 1:7). The Holy Spirit seals us (Ephesians 1:13; 4:30).
To be a saint means we are being sanctified. There are three words that describe the call to Jesus Christ. We are justified by faith in Christ. We are being sanctified to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18). We shall be glorified into the likeness of Christ at His return (1 John 3:2).
