The Difficult Calling

Aim: To be faithful to Jesus in and through our difficult callings.

Doctrine: Every true believer in Christ has a difficult calling. This is because we reprove the world's idols and false religions, which is met with stern opposition.

Exegesis: The remarkable transformation that results in our difficult callings: we start out as determined enemies of Christ and His grace (vv. 17-20); as regenerate churchmen, we are then given ''impossible'' missions (v. 21); the end result is that we face inevitable conflict (v. 22).

Further application: How gospel Christians are to think about their difficult callings: that Jesus Christ is worth our all-in-all, and that He sets His church against every fallen force in the whole universe.

Key verse: v. 22 ''Up to this word they listened to [Paul]. Then they raised their voices and said, 'Away with such a fellow from the earth! For he should not be allowed to live.' ''