Everyone who is called is in the church of God is justified. Being justified means treated as acceptable as if doing the commandments of God. Those who received and believed in His words have been blessed to be called and be justified. “Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.” (Romans 8:30)

Being justified doesn’t mean servants are free from performing their holy duties before God. Being called and justified is only the beginning. Members are called in the church of God to perform holy things, that is, by walking according to God’s standards and doctrines. (1 Corinthians 1: 1-2) “Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:”

Walking in truth and trying to be holy in the sight of God is not that easy. We need to turn away first from our old ways, which is totally opposite of what the Lord’s will is. We throw away all our earthly pleasures like vices; immoralities and all wickedness that we have before we were called. We need to change the ways of our lives by walking according to what God desires on us. Our ways of lives should conform to God’s will and commands, otherwise, we are still living according to our own desires and living according to the principles of this present world. (2 Corinthians 5:17) “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”  (Ephesians 4: 21-24) “If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”

The Bible explains those who repented and baptized were called and added to the church of God. (Acts 2: 38, 41,47) “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” 

God’s desire on His servants is to do good deeds by following His will and commands so that they become worthy and attain perfection. “And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” (2 Timothy 3: 15-17)

But what are the things that the servants of God cannot change?

There are many things that we cannot control and change in this life. All we have to do is to accept them. As servants of God, we need to understand that we were called to embrace all the doctrines and teachings without questions and doubts. We need to totally obey all these rules and instructions given to us because all of them are for our own good. Anyone who disobeys will commit sin against God.

Each one has its own attitude, mind-set or way of thinking. But the Bible explains that there is also a standard “behavior” that must be followed in the church. God set all these standards so that each one can attain perfection, through complete and absolute obedience but with loving relationship with God and to everyone else in the church. (1 Timothy 3: 15) “But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.”

These conducts were not made nor in any way conforms to the standard of this world, because they were all arranged by God so each member will live according to His will. There is not space for conducts and behaviors that were not set by God. This is the reason why we need to be taught first with the basic doctrines and teachings before we perform the baptism. And once we were baptized, we continue to hear the sermons and teachings in the gathering of the congregation. (2 Timothy 3: 14-15) “But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”

These doctrines were not set by man’s standards but of the standards of God which were written in His scriptures. (Galatians 1: 11-12) “But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.” 

Some of the behaviors that we need to maintain is the virtue of “humility.” Christ showed this good quality as an example for us to follow, and all servants of God should observe this. Christ humbled Himself, made Himself of no reputation and took Him the form of a servant and was made in the likeness of men. And being found in the fashion as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. (Philippians 2: 5-8) We should therefore imitate Christ’s paradigm and be humble always in the front of our brothers and sisters.

The story of Diotrephes showed misconduct regarding humility.  (3 Juan 9-11) “I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not. Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church. Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.”

What is the lesson that we need to learn?

Being called in the church of God would mean absolute submission to the perfect will of God. Our own desires and way of thinking should not be followed, thus, any behavior that we turned away from should never be brought back again. (Galatians 2:18) “For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.”

If there is someone who entice us, we should never let it happen or let it triumph over us. Only the will of God should stand in His house. Remember, not all who were called in the church of God stayed. Some of them turned back and were casted away by God. God will never let the evildoers dwell in His house. (Psalms 101: 7-8) “He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house: he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight. I will early destroy all the wicked of the land; that I may cut off all wicked doers from the city of the LORD.” 

We should always take good care of our relationships as brother and sisters, always united by His doctrines and teachings, and always tied up with His Holy Spirit, which gives us the strength to be more loving and peaceful members of the church. (Ephesians 4: 1-3) “I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”  If we show love and respect to one another, then they will say that we are indeed true servants of God.