Since the Christian life responds to a “call,” we first learn to listen. Listen to God’s call. Listen with open ears. Listen carefully. Listen honestly. Each book of The Ephesian Collection emphasizes listening.
The Gospel of John often uses key words like “testify” and “witness.” 12 Some people close their hearts to the testimony. Others listen and believe, and so receive eternal life.13 When Jesus calls, they come to Him, their Savior and Shepherd.
To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice… My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me (John 10:3-4,27).
Jesus gave His words to His apostles,14 and they in turn spread His message. Peter set the tone on Pentecost Day by declaring the Gospel.
- Peter cried out, “…give ear to my words.” (Acts 2:14).
- When the people heard Peter’s speech, they were “cut to the heart” (Acts 2:37).
- After Peter told how to receive forgiveness, those who “received his word15 were baptized” (Acts 2:41).
- Afterwards they continued to listen, devoting themselves to “the apostles’ teaching” (Acts 2:42).
Conversions throughout Acts follow a similar pattern.16 Recall, for example, how Christianity reached Ephesus.17
- Jews heard Paul preach the Gospel in the synagogue (Acts 18:18; 19:8).
- Apollos learned more accurately from Priscilla and Aquila (Acts 18:24-26).
- Twelve disciples, who had been partially taught, learned the full message about Jesus. “On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus” (Acts 19:5).
- Paul taught in the school of Tyrannus for two years, “so that all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks” (Acts 19:10).
- Later Paul wrote to the Gentile Christians, and reminded them, “In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit” (Ephesians 1:13).18
Truly, “faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17). This is the enduring “seed” that gives life to open-hearted people.19
…since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God… (1 Peter 1:23).20 M
12. Research Subject – “Testify” and “witness” in John: 1:7-8,19,32; 2:25; 3:11,26,28,32; 4:39; 5:31-39; 8:13-18; 10:25; 13:21; 15:26-27; 18:37; 19:35; (20:29-31) 21:24
13. John 5:24; 20:30-31 cf. 1 John 5:13; Revelation 2:7; 22:17
15. Lit. those welcoming his word
16. Research Subject – Examples of conversion: Acts 2:1-47; 4:4; 5:14; 6:7; 8:4-39; 9:1-18; 9:35,42; 10:1-48; 13:48-49; 14:1; 16:14-15,19-34; 17:4,11-12,34; 18:8; 19:1-20
19. Research Subject – The word as the seed: Matthew 13:18-23; Luke 8:11; 1 Peter 1:22-25 cf. 1 Corinthians 3:6; 9:11; 1 John 3:9
Picture: “The Good Shepherd” calls and His sheep come.