Jude’s beautiful threefold description of his readers is “those who are called, sanctified by God the Father and preserved in Christ Jesus” (v. 1). This is the blessed state and glorious standing of all the participants in the common salvation found in Christ. What breathtaking beauty is embedded in each descriptor!
Called. The God of heaven has called/invited every creature to an eternal mansion in heaven. Through the gospel all are invited to enjoy the blessing of salvation—forgiveness of the guilt of past sins, increasing freedom from the practice of besetting sins, and eternal transformation which erases the scars of sin (2 Thessalonians 2:13-14). Those who labor and are heavy laden are invited to come to Jesus for rest (Matthew 11:28). The thirsty need to come to Him and drink (John 7:37).
To accept this gracious invitation, the penitent believer needs to “arise and be baptized, calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16), for “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13). Once the Savior’s invitation has been accepted, it is most fitting for the called to walk worthy of their calling (Ephesians 4:1).
