Yes. Psalm 50:5 (NKJV), “Gather My saints together to Me, Those who have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice.”
At Jesus’s first advent, He opened up a “new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh,” Hebrews 10:20 (NKJV) This new way is the heavenly calling (Hebrews 3:1) to follow Jesus’s example of self-denial. “Then He (Jesus) said to them all, ‘If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.’ ” Luke 9:23 (NKJV) Jesus always obeyed God’s will and not His own will. Even in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus prayed, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.” Luke 22:42 (NKJV)
To become a Christian, we first recognize we are sinners, then accept Jesus as our Redeemer, and finally, make a covenant with God to lay down our lives in sacrifice to serve God. Day by day, we study and apply the scriptures to our lives, and day by day we are transformed into Christ’s likeness. Romans 12:1-2 (NKJV), “…present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” This is the covenant with God by sacrifice spoken of in Psalm 50:5.
If we are faithful, we will be God’s saints and the Bride of Christ. Our reward will be “a crown of life (immortality),” Revelation 2:10. John wrote, “…now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him (Jesus), for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.” 1 John 3:2-3 (NKJV).
What exactly are Christians and what is their calling? Is Christianity self-centered or Christ-centered? These questions are explored as the Christian’s future kingdom work is discussed.