The Call of Christ

Matthew 9:9 — What does it mean to be called by the Lord Jesus Christ? In this sermon on Matthew 9:9 titled “The Call of Christ,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones looks to the example of Matthew, a tax collector whom Jesus called one day. Matthew responds to this call by leaving his old sinful life behind and committing himself to Christ. This demonstrates that the call to be a Christian is a call to leave behind the old way of living and to seek Christ Jesus and His kingdom. It is an uncompromising commitment to love God and follow His commandments, not out of self-preservation, but out of a new love for God and neighbor. To be a Christian is to follow Jesus and to obey His commandments. This is done first and foremost by believing in His gospel and the fact that He is the Savior sent from God. How does this apply today? Being a Christian in modern times is fundamentally the same as it has always been because it is about following Christ and believing in His gospel. It is about trusting in Jesus in the midst of suffering and persecution, and pursuing God in all aspects of life. The call to be a Christian is one that all must accept because it is the only way to eternal life.