It’s interesting, this word Called. I have heard it used, almost exclusively, in the context of, he was called to be a pastor. In my experience these men who have been called to be a pastor may not have been set free from the good and holy law that came through Moses yet. Whenever Moses is read a veil still lies over their hearts, see 2 Corinthians 3:7-18. They are blind guides. Living under the law. Having a mind set on the flesh, on the law, is death. Every word in scripture becomes a command to obey, a law.
In the new covenant Jesus fulfilled the law and took the law away at the cross. The instructions, and there are a lot of them, are now appeals to a freed conscience. We can relax, and trust that we might do some good to our neighbor, as our spirit and the Spirit leads us to.
Christians are called, by God, to be free from the law. You have died in relation to the law through the body of Christ…to bear fruit for God, Romans 7:4. Now you have been released from the law, Romans 7:6. You are called to be free.
The mind that has to obey the law to please God, is a mind set on the flesh. We tend to turn appeals to a freed conscience into another law to live under.
The way I understand Christianity is that it’s largely about what you believe and where your mind is set. According to the law of Moses we sin all day, everyday. According to the law of faith, our sin does not belong to us, it belongs to Jesus now. We are free from wrath, sin, law, and a mind set on the law, death. See Romans 5-8.
A mind set on the Spirit has been set free from the law. We don’t have to do anything to please God. God is already pleased with us on account of Christ, crucified and resurrected. The law has come to an end in Christ and we are the righteousness of God by faith. The law still rules over this world, but the Jerusalem above is free and she is our mother, Gal 4:26.
The law as the world’s wisdom, I Corinthians 1:20 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the debater of this age? Hasn’t God made the world’s wisdom foolish?
The law empowering sin, 1 Corinthians 15:56, the power of sin is the law.
1 Corinthians 1:26-31 Brothers and sisters, consider your calling: (freedom from the law) Not many were wise from a human perspective, not many powerful, not many of noble birth. Instead, God has chosen what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen what is weak in the world to shame the strong. God has chosen what is insignificant and despised in the world-what is viewed as nothing-to bring to nothing what is viewed as something, so that no one may boast in his presence. It is from him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became wisdom from God for us-our righteousness, sanctification, and redemption- in order that, as it is written: Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.
The law of the Spirit of life in Christ has set us free from the law that came through Moses then we know the love of God. Now we can do what we want to help our neighbor.
Galatians 5:13 For you were called to be free, brothers and sisters; only don’t use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but serve one another through love. (through love means the law is no longer telling you what to do)14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one statement: Love your neighbor as yourself. 15 But if you bite and devour one another, watch out, or you will be consumed by one another.
Love your neighbor as yourself is a summary of the law that came through Moses. Either Paul is going to redefine the meaning, because he doesn’t want us to live under the law that came through Moses. Or Paul is saying that love your neighbor as yourself is impossible, because under that law you bite and devour one another…you will be consumed by one another.
This is something that I see all. the. time. One Christian berating other Christians for not loving their neighbors, the person doing the verbal spanking isn’t able to love your neighbor as yourself either. None of us are capable of loving the neighbor as we love ourselves.
Jesus sets us free from the law to have this open permission to use our unique gifts, abilities, vocation to be of some small benefit to our neighbor, as we are willing and able to do so. Without Moses accusing us of all that we have left undone. The Christian who understands that kind of freedom, that kind of love, are the ones who can love us as they love themselves. These Christians are actually free to love themselves, without being accused of being selfish. They can extend that same freedom to us without biting, devouring, and consuming us.
You are called to be free. Every follower of Jesus has been called to be free from the darkness of the law.
John 8:12 “Jesus spoke to them again: “I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.”
John 12:35-36 “Jesus answered, “The light will be with you only a little longer. Walk while you have the light so that darkness doesn’t overtake you. The one who walks in darkness doesn’t know where he’s going. 36 While you have the light, believe in the light so that you may become children of light.” Jesus said this, then went away and hid from them.
Acts 26:17-18 Jesus says to Saul/Paul at regeneration, at his Spiritual birth, when he received faith in Christ as a gift, 17 I will rescue you from your people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them 18 to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a share among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’
I Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
Colossians 1:13-14 “He has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son he loves. 14 In him we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”
Related:
Pure and Undefiled Religion Before God
Sarah Batdorf 
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