Is The Church or Believers Set Apart for God? part1

Rom. 8:29~30 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

The same word for foreknew is found also in 1 Peter 1:20 “He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you.” The Bible says that because He foreknew and predestined from past times that he has chosen or called some to Himself.

This is not the general call you may hear from the pulpit or an evangelist but the effectual call from God. When it says “He also called” all those that God calls without exception; become justified or saved to Himself. Those that are called are set apart by God to be His chosen people and further to do works that he has prepared beforehand; as noted in Eph. 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

The words "prepared beforehand," mean to predestinate, or appoint before. The proper meaning of this passage is, "to which good works God has predestinated us, or appointed us beforehand, that we should walk in them." This word appears nowhere else except in Romans 9:23, where it is rendered " prepared beforehand." It involves the idea of a previous determination, or an arrangement beforehand for securing a certain result. The previous preparation here referred to was, the divine intention; and the meaning is, that God had predetermined that we should lead holy lives.

This is why God gives every Believer at least one or more gifts and the empowering of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit; to equip us for the works He has given us to do. We are set apart when we are chosen by God; then in that sense when were made, we were set apart by God.

2 Cor. 6:14~18 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. as God has said: "I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be my people." Therefore "Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you." "I will be a Father to you, and you shall be my sons and daughters, says the LORD Almighty."

Christians are to become et part for God. We are to come out from among them; essentially saying that we are to be different, not partake in their ways and be set apart. Here in Lev. 20:26 “And you shall be holy to Me, for I the LORD am holy, and have separated you from the peoples, that you should be Mine.” It tells us to be Holy, because the Lord has bought you and separated you from the world and has set you apart.

1 Peter 2:9 “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” Consider further that the Lord is saying here that you are a “chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people”

The word saints in mentioned 93 times in scripture and refers to God’s chosen ones, His believers. See these few verses.

Romans 1:7 To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 8:27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

Matthew 27:52 and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised;

1 Corinthians 1:2 To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:

It is stated that we were first given the name of Christians in Acts 11:26 And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.

Continue to Part 2 Is the Church Set Apart (Part 2)

To answer this first question is that God has set us apart, so in our standing we are justified and set apart.

When we were made we are set apart by God; so the question now arises, is the Church set apart in their walk as believers?

 By godsmercyandgrace.com