An Authentic Calling: Representing Christ and His Kingdom through the Church

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An Authent i c Ca l l i ng: Represent i ng Chr i s t and Hi s Ki ngdom through the Chur ch

A. Definition of the call to service in the Exodus story

Phil. 2.4-8 (ESV) Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. which is yours in Christ Jesus, [6] who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, [7] but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, [8] he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. [5] Have this mind among yourselves,

1. The Lord called his people in order that, first of all, they might be his special possession above all the peoples of the earth.

a. Deut. 4.20 (ESV) – But the Lord has taken you and brought you out of the iron furnace, out of Egypt, to be a people of his own inheritance, as you are this day.

b. Deut. 7.6 (ESV) – For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.

c. Deut. 14.2 (ESV) – For you are a people holy to the Lord your God, and the Lord has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.

d. 1 Kings 8.53 (ESV) – For you separated them from among all the peoples of the earth to be your heritage, as you declared through Moses your servant, when you brought our fathers out of Egypt, O Lord GOD.

e. Ps. 135.4 (ESV) – For the Lord has chosen Jacob for himself, Israel as his own possession.

2. God’s call on Israel after the Exodus was for them to embody and demonstrate his holiness in their relation ships and actions in a unique way , Deut. 4.7-8 (ESV) – For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as the Lord our God is to us, whenever we call upon him? [8] And what great nation is there, that has statutes