It is a common thing among religious folks today to make statements like, “God spoke to me…God called me…God told me…God showed me…” While I do not question the sincerity of the hearts of those who make such statements, it is difficult to rectify such claims next to Scripture. If God does speak directly to individuals today, then what is the purpose of the Bible, which was “once for all delivered” (Jude 3) and gives us “all things that pertain to life and godliness” (2 Pet. 1:3; cf. 2 Tim. 3:17)? And if God does not speak to everyone in the very same way, is He not showing partiality (Acts 10:34; Rom. 2:11)?
Look at one of the New Testament passages that speaks of being called by God and allow the context of the passage to teach what that means. Paul urged the Thessalonian brethren to “walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory” (1 Thess. 2:12). How did God “call” these brethren? You might mark this in your Bible, so that you see the simplicity of it.
Paul stated they “were bold in our God to speak to you THE GOSPEL OF GOD” (2:2). He went on to say that “we have been approved by GOD to be entrusted with THE GOSPEL, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but GOD” (2:4). “We were well pleased to impart to you…THE GOSPEL OF GOD” (2:8). “For you remember, brethren, our labor and toil…we preached to you THE GOSPEL OF GOD” (2:9).
Did you catch that? In verse 12, Paul referenced the calling of God of these brethren. What did he mean by that? FOUR times in the verses leading up to verse 12, Paul emphasized how THE GOSPEL OF GOD had been preached to them. Is “the calling of God” to be connected with “the gospel of God”? Keep reading. In the very next verse, Paul states, “For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively WORKS IN you who believe” (2:13). It was THE WORD OF GOD through the preaching of THE GOSPEL OF GOD that had called these people TO GOD. That is how God calls!
Are we really sure that is the only way that God calls us? In his next letter to the Thessalonians, Paul confirms that truth again. “GOD from the beginning CHOSE you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, to which He CALLED you by our GOSPEL” (2 Thess. 2:13-14). If someone says that God “called them” or “talked to them,” the Bible teaches that such only happens through the WORD, the GOSPEL, which is given to all men, so that all men have equal access to the calling of God.