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"According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue."
2 Peter 1:3
One of the great truths surrounding redemption has to do with the call of God on our lives. What makes this so significant is the fact that we were not just called out of darkness, but we were called into God's marvelous light. There was a two-fold operation that transpired the moment we became a child of God. We were called out of one family and placed into a new family. This calling is what identifies us as to who we are. We were called darkness, but now we are called children of the day or children of the light (1 Thess. 5:5; Eph. 5:8). Everything within us that associated us with Adam was extinguished, and all that we inherited in Christ was now set into motion.
The Bible describes it this way: "Giving thanks unto the Father...who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son" (Col 1:12, 13). The very word used to define the church is EKKLESIA. It literally means "the called out ones." By the power of the Holy Spirit, we were snatched out of obscurity.
When Paul wrote to the church of Ephesus, he said,
"And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins..." (Eph 2:1). The word "dead" means destitute of life or to be inactive and inoperative. I like to think of it like a company plant being shut down. All the buildings are in tack. Everything needed to operate this plant is on site, but the entire facility is vacated. There is no activity going on.It is dead.
When we talk about being spiritually dead that does not mean our spirits are dead, from the standpoint that they do not exist. Every human spirit (saved or unsaved) is alive. Spirits are eternal, and therefore, will never die but will live on forever. You cannot kill a spirit. However, being dead implies something much different, it means that there is no force, no power, no activity that enables the human spirit to function like God intended for it to function. It not only became completely inactive, but it was plunged into a life of darkness - held in captivity to obscurity, insignificancy and inactivity.
That is why Paul expressed his thanks to the Father for calling us out of that place of futility. Everything about our lives was inconsequential. But thanks be unto God he quickened us and called us to a life of spiritual activity and significance. In other words, he re-opened our spirit for business - kingdom business!
When Peter said we are "called to glory and virtue," the word he used was KALEO. It has to do with an affixation, something that is attached to you. When a person enters into a specific occupation, oftentimes they are called by a certain title. It identifies them whether it is to be a doctor, an officer, a governor, the president, or a pastor. A title is affixed to them because of their position. When identifying us as the called out ones, we need to also identify ourselves as those called into the light of God. We have affixed to us a place, a position to now be identified with the glory and virtue of Jesus Christ. If you were to walk up to the President of the United States it would be customary for you to address him as "Mr. President." He is still Mr. Obama, but because of the affixation he holds to his office he is identified as "Mr. President." You and I have been called to glory and virtue. That is what has been affixed to us. When we identify with our calling then we are able to step into a life of significance, a life of honor, and be known for who we are in Christ.
It may sound a little strange to your natural mind, but in the spirit that is you...you are glory, you are virtue just as surely as you are Christian!
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