Called is used for the name of a person or a description by which a person is defined. Summons is an aspect of “called” in which a person is called to a meeting, event, place, or state of existence for the purpose of participating.
In Matthew 2:7 Herod summons the Magi, but not in a public way, so he can gain information about this King of the Jews they speak of. During the tribulation period, while the Jews are in the wilderness, those who are peace makers are described (called) as sons (mature ones) of God (Matthew 5:9).
God calls those things that do not exist as though they do, for when He says He will do something, even when we cannot see it, He is able to make it come true (Romans 4:17). Within the decree of God, He made specific plans according to His purpose. One of the things He determined was that a group of the saved would be marked off to conform to the image of His Son (Romans 8:29). Now is the time for all who believe to be placed as sons in Christ so we can mature unto a full experiential knowledge, so today God calls us. Our calling is not because we are righteous, for those whom He calls He also justifies (Romans 8:30). God showed that his calling is not based upon the desire or the work of humans, but rather His own plan when He called Jacob over Esau for the inheritance of promise before they were even born (Romans 9:7). Unlike under law, now both Jew and Gentile are being called (Romans 9:24). Therefore, the fellowship we have with Christ is because God called us, not by our desire or works (1 Corinthians 1:9).
Today we have a call unto salvation, and those who hear and respond are made righteous by God through the resurrection of Christ. However, calling is not equivalent to salvation for many can be called but only a few chosen, just as what happens at the beginning of the Millennial kingdom when all those alive on earth are called to Jerusalem (Matthew 22:11).
God calls us into the grace we have in Christ. Grace is God’s attitude whereby He gives a benefit without consideration of merit. It is important to pay attention to how we live our lives, having been called, for we are not called to live in bondage (law), but freedom (Galatians 5:13) and there are many who will seek to turn us away from the grace of Christ, into which we are called, to a different gospel (Galatians 1:6).
Our calling is to one hope (Ephesians 4:4), one body (Colossians 3:15). Hope is always based upon a promise (Romans 8:24) and faith is the substance that makes hope real in our lives (Hebrews 11:1). We of the Church are all called to be (mature ones) sons (Ephesians 1:5). We have an inheritance in the heavens (Philippians 3:20). We have been summoned to be set apart unto God (1 Thessalonians 4:7). We have a set apart calling, a calling unto a relationship with God that is not based upon works, but according to His purpose (2 Timothy 1:9). Therefore, we are to walk in a worthy manner of our calling (1 Thessalonians 2:12) as ones who are a part of one body (the Christ), for He has called us out of darkness to walk in His marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9).
The Gospel message is the means by which we are called today (2 Thessalonians 2:14; 1 Peter 1:15). God’s calling is not forcing, but an offer of salvation. Many will hear, but few will listen. Our calling today is to a faith in the facts that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again on the third day according to the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). Those who respond, repenting (changing the mind) to believe God, are saved by God.
