God's Gospel call initially gives us spiritual life and makes us babes in Christ (Galatians 1:15; Hebrews 3:1). We are also called to maturity. In our Scripture reading, Peter tells us not to give up our appetite for God's spiritual / mental food (His Word). Just as babies crave milk, we must continue in His Word, so that we can grow (Ephesians 4:11-15; Colossians 2:6-8; 3:16; II Peter 3:18). We must continually taste the goodness and graciousness of the Lord (Psalm 34:8; 104:34).

Our Scripture reading also compares us to living stones of a spiritual house, with Christ as the chief cornerstone. We are also a chosen generation, a holy / royal priesthood - offering spiritual sacrifices. We are a holy nation, a peculiar people / God's unique, purchased possession. We were purchased by the blood of Christ - "called out of darkness into His marvelous light." The people, belonging to Jesus Christ were not originally some natural group of people / earthly nation. They were called, out of all the families of the earth, to receive mercy, and to praise Him who called them. See Genesis 12:1-3; Galatians 3:6-9, 13-14, 16, 28-29; Ephesians 1:12-14; 2:11-22; Revelation 5:9-10 (Romans 10:16-21 - quoting Isaiah 53:1; Deuteronomy 32:21; Isaiah 65:1-2).

God calls us to salvation / deliverance (II Thessalonians 2:14 cp. Acts 26:13-18).

• From the penalty of our sins


• From the power of sin


• From the deadness / weakness of our flesh (Ephesians 2:1 / Romans 8:3-4)


• From the world's influence and the Devil's influence

God calls us to be transformed (I Peter 2:9-12 cp. Acts 3:19, 25-26; Revelation 22:17).

• to become like His son (See summary below)


• to be holy people (I Peter 1:15-16; Titus 2:11-14)


• to be a force, in this world, to glorify Him and to serve Him in the work of the Gospel

God calls us to a glorious future (I Peter 5:1, 10 cp. II Peter 1:3-11; 3:13).

A new body, a new heaven, and a new earth (Romans 8:19; Philippians 3:20-21; Revelation 21:1-7).

Summary: Grasping the purpose of our calling

As we first noted from Romans 8:28-30, the true lovers of God are "the called" according to His purpose. God's purpose (God "foreknew / foreordained and predestinated") has called them to justification (delivered from the penalty of their sin), to sanctification (delivered from the power of sin / "predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son"), to glorification (delivered from the presence of sin).