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The Hope of Our Calling

I pray that the eyes of your heart be enlightened, you know the hope that he called you, (Ephesians 1:18)

Be enlightened, know experientially the hope to which you were called, Paul prays. It has always interested me how Paul puts called to hope in this group of things that are one; one body, one Spirit, (just as also called in one hope of your calling), one Lord, one Faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, (Ephesians 4:4). He could have said one hope, but he doesn't. We are called in one hope of our calling. May God grant you and me to know the one hope of our calling.

for this reason holy brothers, you who share in the heavenly calling, consider that the apostle and high priest of whom our confession speaks, Jesus (Hebrews 3:1).

Holy brethern who share in a heavenly calling. God is in heaven and he is holy. If we have a heavenly calling we are called to holiness. "The one saving us and calling us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time eternal" (2 Timothy 1:9). It is an amazing thing this calling in which we see great hope. "Just as he chose us in him before creating the world to be holy and blameless in his presence, in love, predestining us for adoption as his own through Jesus Christ according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glory, the grace whom he highly favored us in the Beloved" (Ephesians 1:4-5). What is grace? Maybe the question should be who is grace instead of what, it is kind of like trying to explain hope or glory? "The word became flesh and dwelt among us and we gazed upon that his glory, glory like as the only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth" (John 1:14). Either way, because of the one grace we are highly favored in the Beloved. There is great hope for those who stand in grace in which we have access to by faith.

And we know all things work for good, to the ones loved of God, the ones existing called according to purpose because those he foreknew also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son that he exists the firstfruit among many brethren. (Romans 8:28-29).

There is hope to be called to heaven. We have a living hope in Christ before we were withoit God and hope. And we have hope of our calling because God is faithful when we are faithless. He is working out all things for the good of those he has called. The hope of our calling hinges on predestination, "Now, who he predestined, these he called, and who he called these he justifies, now, who he justifies these also glorifies" (Roman 8:30). It is hope, that our glorification, our holiness, being conformed to the image of Christ rests on grace just like our justification, calling, and predestination. It rests on election, being chosen by grace (Romans 11:5). He predestined us through adoption and the Holy Spirit is a Spirit of adoption, crying Abba Father and testifying we are his children (Romans 8:15-16). 

you also in Him having heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, in Him also believing, were sealed of the promised Holy Spirit, the one who is the guarantee of our inheritance to the extent redemption of his possession, to the praise of his glory (Ephesians 1:13-14).

Our inheritance among the saints is another revelation Paul prays we would have (Ephesians 1:17-18). Now, think about how the Spirit is a pledge or guarantee of our inheritance. Until the redemption of his possession, his children, the ones sealed, marked by the Holy Spirit. Think of a seal, a mark, it is binding, it is a pledge, a guarantee. What great hope do we have to have such a seal of the pledge of our inheritance, one that testifies that we are his own? And do not forget the eternal blood of the covenant, that Jesus shed to bring about this new covenant in which we are blessed with so much in him. Paul prays we be enlightened to what are the riches of his glory, that the Father of glory would grant us to see the glory of God that shines in the face of Christ.

...making mention of you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, gives you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in knowing him (Ephesians 1:16-19)

Experientially knowing him, having revelation and wisdom in knowing him. All of the spiritual blessings we have received, that which God purposed in Christ, was before time eternal. And what greater oath, pledge is there than the oath of his word and that of His Holy Spirit? God doesn't change his mind according to that which he has purposed. This is hope for us who are weak. To be predestined according to that purposed in Christ, though we live in an unredeemed body, and we await our salvation the redemption of our bodies, we have great hope in our calling. 

with this in view, we pray for you constantly that our God will count you worthy of his calling and by his power bring to fulfillment every good resolve and work of faith (2 Thessalonians 1:11).

Now, here is another revelation that Paul prays we have enlightenment, that we would know the greatness of his power, the same power that raised Christ from the dead (Ephesians 1:19). Do you see why such enlightenment is needed? "Therefore, brothers, be all the more eager to confirm your calling and election..." (2 Peter 1:10). If God counts us worthy of the calling he will grant us the power to bring it to fulfillment. "So that through two unchangeable facts in which it is impossible for God to lie, having that refugee, having a strong calling, to hold fast to the hope set before us, having like as an anchor of the soul, also sure and steadfast..." (Hebrews 6:18-19). Great is the hope of our calling.



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