The Called
From the Pastor’s Desk
I have been struggling with one of the most powerful and encouraging scriptures in the entire Word of God. This verse tells us that “we know that all things work together for good to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). My message was to be named “are you the called”? Then I realized that only in the King James and the New King James versions does the article “the” appear. Eliminating that article (the) changes the meaning to whom this verse is addressed. Jesus said in Matthew 22:14 that “many are called but few are chosen”. This verse is referring to a general calling for everyone to receive salvation through Jesus Christ. However, in Romans 8:28, the term “the called” changes the adverb (called) to a noun. Just as we would use this term to say, “the man” or “the dog” or the “table”, the placing of the article before the word “called” now becomes an identifying factor of who we are in Christ Jesus. When Paul wrote this passage to the people of Rome he used a Greek word, “Kaleo” which means “the called”. Now my title remains and I am asking the question, “Are you the called”?
Pastor Wayne
