1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:07,320 Our theme of the certainty of God's purpose. 2 00:00:07,320 --> 00:00:12,760 The Christian life is one of knowing, not guessing. 3 00:00:12,760 --> 00:00:17,100 One of the most interesting Bible studies that one can undertake is to get a concordance 4 00:00:17,100 --> 00:00:23,600 and to follow the word know, K-N-O-W, through the New Testament, and to write down those 5 00:00:23,600 --> 00:00:30,240 things that we as Christians are privileged to know. 6 00:00:30,240 --> 00:00:33,840 We have one of those texts before us. 7 00:00:33,840 --> 00:00:43,000 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, 8 00:00:43,000 --> 00:00:47,680 to those who are called according to his purpose. 9 00:00:47,680 --> 00:00:54,880 For whom he foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that 10 00:00:54,880 --> 00:00:58,680 he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 11 00:00:58,680 --> 00:01:02,120 And whom he predestined, these he also called. 12 00:01:02,120 --> 00:01:06,560 Whom he called, these he also justified. 13 00:01:06,560 --> 00:01:13,120 And whom he justified, these he also glorified. 14 00:01:13,120 --> 00:01:16,620 Now having read that scripture, perhaps we can lower the lights again just a little bit. 15 00:01:16,620 --> 00:01:20,120 We want to keep it as comfortable as possible in here. 16 00:01:20,120 --> 00:01:23,840 And that's one way we can do that. 17 00:01:23,840 --> 00:01:30,120 Among the things that we may know is that God is working out all things for the good 18 00:01:30,120 --> 00:01:34,040 of his people. 19 00:01:34,040 --> 00:01:37,640 God can do that because he is sovereign. 20 00:01:37,640 --> 00:01:46,920 We need not live in fear of the future or in anxiety of circumstances. 21 00:01:46,920 --> 00:01:54,160 God's purpose will be realized without fail and on time. 22 00:01:54,160 --> 00:01:59,440 We can trust God even during the dark times of life. 23 00:01:59,440 --> 00:02:02,720 Two Christians were once speaking of their experiences. 24 00:02:02,720 --> 00:02:11,480 One said, it's terribly hard to trust God and realize his hand in the dark passages 25 00:02:11,480 --> 00:02:12,960 of life. 26 00:02:12,960 --> 00:02:21,440 Well, brother, said the other, if you cannot trust a man out of your sight, you cannot 27 00:02:21,440 --> 00:02:24,560 trust him at all. 28 00:02:24,560 --> 00:02:33,240 And if you cannot trust God in the dark, it shows you do not trust him at all. 29 00:02:33,240 --> 00:02:40,640 We can trust God in the dark because we know that God is working in all of our circumstances 30 00:02:40,640 --> 00:02:43,040 for our good. 31 00:02:43,040 --> 00:02:48,800 And he is doing that according to his sovereign purpose for us. 32 00:02:48,800 --> 00:02:55,520 The certainty of his purpose is guaranteed by five actions which he has taken. 33 00:02:55,520 --> 00:03:07,400 These five actions are that he foreknew, he predestined, he called, he justified, he glorified. 34 00:03:07,400 --> 00:03:13,900 These five verbs survey for us salvation from God's perspective. 35 00:03:13,900 --> 00:03:18,840 The human element does not enter into Paul's thinking in this place. 36 00:03:18,840 --> 00:03:24,640 Rather here he is thinking of God's perspective of salvation. 37 00:03:24,640 --> 00:03:31,080 We have here a bridge from eternity to eternity. 38 00:03:31,080 --> 00:03:35,760 We begin with the fact that God foreknew. 39 00:03:35,760 --> 00:03:37,920 I will not take time today to review that. 40 00:03:37,920 --> 00:03:45,600 I left the essence of the outline for you on your outline in today's worship folder. 41 00:03:45,600 --> 00:03:48,320 We talked about that last week. 42 00:03:48,320 --> 00:03:52,760 So without further comment about the first action of God that he foreknew, let us talk 43 00:03:52,760 --> 00:03:57,560 about the second, that he predestined. 44 00:03:57,560 --> 00:04:01,160 Notice that it is in the same tense. 45 00:04:01,160 --> 00:04:10,800 As certainly as God once and for all foreknew, he also predestined. 46 00:04:10,800 --> 00:04:16,040 Please notice that it involves the same group of people. 47 00:04:16,040 --> 00:04:24,320 Those same ones that God foreknew, he also predestined to something. 48 00:04:24,320 --> 00:04:29,360 Let's talk about a definition of predestined. 49 00:04:29,360 --> 00:04:37,600 To predestined means to mark out with a boundary beforehand. 50 00:04:37,600 --> 00:04:45,480 From this Greek word in part comes our word horizon because the horizon serves as the 51 00:04:45,480 --> 00:04:49,660 boundary for what we can see. 52 00:04:49,660 --> 00:04:56,000 We have this word illustrated though not used at all back in the book of Genesis in an interesting 53 00:04:56,000 --> 00:04:58,120 thing that happens with Abram. 54 00:04:58,120 --> 00:05:07,920 In Genesis 13, verse 14, it says, And the LORD said to Abram, after Lot had separated 55 00:05:07,920 --> 00:05:14,320 from him, Now lift up your eyes, and look from the place where you are, northward and 56 00:05:14,320 --> 00:05:22,780 southward and eastward and westward, For all the land which you see I will give it to you 57 00:05:22,780 --> 00:05:27,000 and to your descendants forever. 58 00:05:27,000 --> 00:05:31,720 God says to Abram, Look and mark out on the boundary in every direction, all that you 59 00:05:31,720 --> 00:05:39,200 can see, because I purpose to give that to you. 60 00:05:39,200 --> 00:05:44,720 Now we take that thought, that picture of marking out a boundary and we apply it to 61 00:05:44,720 --> 00:05:46,840 the believer. 62 00:05:46,840 --> 00:05:57,560 What it means is that God has purposed, God has chosen, and He has marked out with a boundary 63 00:05:57,560 --> 00:06:05,280 each one that He has foreknown, He has chosen, so that His purpose will be fulfilled in the 64 00:06:05,280 --> 00:06:08,660 life of each one. 65 00:06:08,660 --> 00:06:17,240 We have illustrated for us predestination in the work of the Lord Jesus Christ at the 66 00:06:17,240 --> 00:06:19,240 cross. 67 00:06:19,240 --> 00:06:36,480 In the book of Acts chapter 4, in verse 27, we have a prayer offered up by the apostles 68 00:06:36,480 --> 00:06:40,960 during one of the early persecutions. 69 00:06:40,960 --> 00:06:50,040 In the midst of that prayer, in verse 27 it says, For truly in this city, they were gathered 70 00:06:50,040 --> 00:06:58,200 together against thy holy servant Jesus, whom thou didst anoint, both Herod and Pontius 71 00:06:58,200 --> 00:07:07,240 Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever thy hand and thy 72 00:07:07,240 --> 00:07:13,680 purpose predestined to occur. 73 00:07:13,680 --> 00:07:17,760 The word predestined is used here. 74 00:07:17,760 --> 00:07:25,040 And we saw last week that the word foreknow is also used of the Lord Jesus Christ. 75 00:07:25,040 --> 00:07:30,320 In other words, God chose before the creation of the world that Jesus Christ would be the 76 00:07:30,320 --> 00:07:35,120 one who would be the sin bearer. 77 00:07:35,120 --> 00:07:41,160 And as an outflow of that choice of His, He predestined what would occur in the life of 78 00:07:41,160 --> 00:07:43,160 the Lord Jesus. 79 00:07:43,160 --> 00:07:50,240 He marked out with a boundary exactly what had to occur in His lifetime, and here specifically 80 00:07:50,240 --> 00:07:54,960 it mentions His suffering and His death. 81 00:07:54,960 --> 00:08:04,000 What is said here does not at all diminish the human responsibility in what occurred 82 00:08:04,000 --> 00:08:06,680 on that day. 83 00:08:06,680 --> 00:08:12,400 But it does indicate to us that God determined ahead of time what would happen to the Lord 84 00:08:12,400 --> 00:08:14,920 Jesus. 85 00:08:14,920 --> 00:08:21,760 The same thing is said in 1 Corinthians chapter 2 and verse 7. 86 00:08:21,760 --> 00:08:27,480 Here the apostle says, we speak God's wisdom in a mystery. 87 00:08:27,480 --> 00:08:38,240 And the context here, that wisdom of God in a mystery, is Christ the Messiah crucified. 88 00:08:38,240 --> 00:08:47,360 He says it's the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory. 89 00:08:47,360 --> 00:08:55,240 So God again says, marked out before the ages, before time began, what was to happen to the 90 00:08:55,240 --> 00:08:59,360 Lord Jesus at the cross. 91 00:08:59,360 --> 00:09:05,360 And as we have seen in Romans chapter 8, the same word is used of the Christian, that we 92 00:09:05,360 --> 00:09:06,680 are predestined. 93 00:09:06,680 --> 00:09:12,360 He says those whom He foreknew, He also predestined. 94 00:09:12,360 --> 00:09:19,000 And He says it is to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn 95 00:09:19,000 --> 00:09:22,040 among many brethren. 96 00:09:22,040 --> 00:09:25,880 I'd like for you to turn to a parallel passage though to look at it further in Ephesians 97 00:09:25,880 --> 00:09:30,760 chapter 1. 98 00:09:30,760 --> 00:09:39,440 Again we see the word predestined used of the believer. 99 00:09:39,440 --> 00:09:44,840 In marking out the heavenly blessings, the spiritual blessings that are ours, He says 100 00:09:44,840 --> 00:09:53,400 in verse 4, He chose us in Christ, in Him, before the foundation of the world, that we 101 00:09:53,400 --> 00:09:57,120 should be holy and blameless before Him. 102 00:09:57,120 --> 00:09:58,300 Should be a period there. 103 00:09:58,300 --> 00:10:02,240 The next two words actually belong with the next verse. 104 00:10:02,240 --> 00:10:12,040 In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself according 105 00:10:12,040 --> 00:10:19,200 to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace. 106 00:10:19,200 --> 00:10:21,200 What does He say here? 107 00:10:21,200 --> 00:10:29,960 Well He says that just as God chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world, 108 00:10:29,960 --> 00:10:37,520 He also predestined us at that same time. 109 00:10:37,520 --> 00:10:39,400 Notice the motive that God had. 110 00:10:39,400 --> 00:10:44,040 It was in love that He did it. 111 00:10:44,040 --> 00:10:50,520 Some people think of predestination as a harsh, calculating, mechanical, cold thing. 112 00:10:50,520 --> 00:10:53,040 It is not that at all. 113 00:10:53,040 --> 00:11:00,560 It simply means that those that God has elected to save, in love He has also, in love for 114 00:11:00,560 --> 00:11:08,240 them, desiring their highest good, He has also predestined them. 115 00:11:08,240 --> 00:11:13,120 It says here to adoption as sons. 116 00:11:13,120 --> 00:11:21,880 We have seen before in Romans that that phrase adoption as sons is a peculiar Roman phrase 117 00:11:21,880 --> 00:11:28,800 used in that day to describe what happened when a child became of age. 118 00:11:28,800 --> 00:11:37,320 The parent would legally place that child as a son, as an adult in his family. 119 00:11:37,320 --> 00:11:40,480 Up to that point he was known as a child in training. 120 00:11:40,480 --> 00:11:42,960 He was under a tutor. 121 00:11:42,960 --> 00:11:47,840 But at whatever age was specified he was adopted. 122 00:11:47,840 --> 00:11:53,840 Even though he was a naturally born son, he was adopted, placed as an adult in the family. 123 00:11:53,840 --> 00:12:01,000 From that point on he had the responsibility and the privileges and the inheritance of 124 00:12:01,000 --> 00:12:02,000 an adult. 125 00:12:02,000 --> 00:12:04,120 That is the point here. 126 00:12:04,120 --> 00:12:10,400 When it says that we have been predestined to adoption as sons, it means that God has 127 00:12:10,400 --> 00:12:18,980 appointed you and me to know a full inheritance as His children. 128 00:12:18,980 --> 00:12:24,540 God has been pleased to call us more than servants, though we are that. 129 00:12:24,540 --> 00:12:29,960 He has been pleased to make us more than friends, though He calls us that too. 130 00:12:29,960 --> 00:12:44,080 That God has been pleased to make us members of His own family and to be full heirs of 131 00:12:44,080 --> 00:12:47,480 everything that He has. 132 00:12:47,480 --> 00:12:52,600 The way that He puts it back in Romans is that He has predestined us to be conformed 133 00:12:52,600 --> 00:12:56,480 to the image of His Son. 134 00:12:56,480 --> 00:12:58,680 Basically the same thought is in view there. 135 00:12:58,680 --> 00:13:05,080 When He says that we are going to be conformed to Christ, He does not mean outwardly, though 136 00:13:05,080 --> 00:13:07,920 that is involved. 137 00:13:07,920 --> 00:13:11,500 More than a superficial conformation is involved. 138 00:13:11,500 --> 00:13:21,120 It means the deepest, most inward kind of transformation. 139 00:13:21,120 --> 00:13:31,000 It says that we are going to be deeply conformed to the very image of Jesus Christ. 140 00:13:31,000 --> 00:13:34,740 That word image is the Greek word icon. 141 00:13:34,740 --> 00:13:39,960 We have brought that into the English language too, as you may be aware. 142 00:13:39,960 --> 00:13:47,460 This word does not mean that we will simply resemble Jesus Christ, that we will look like 143 00:13:47,460 --> 00:13:58,040 Him, but it means that we will in the fullest sense represent Him in every way. 144 00:13:58,040 --> 00:14:03,220 This same word is used of Jesus Himself when it says that He is the image of the invisible 145 00:14:03,220 --> 00:14:06,800 God. 146 00:14:06,800 --> 00:14:12,640 It means that He is the fullest possible representation of all that God is. 147 00:14:12,640 --> 00:14:19,760 It says here that you and I are redeemed by the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. 148 00:14:19,760 --> 00:14:29,000 We are predestined to be conformed to that same image. 149 00:14:29,000 --> 00:14:38,200 Not that we shall be God or deified, but we shall in every respect represent exactly what 150 00:14:38,200 --> 00:14:41,100 God is. 151 00:14:41,100 --> 00:14:46,120 We don't at this point, but it is coming. 152 00:14:46,120 --> 00:14:51,640 God has already started the work on the inside. 153 00:14:51,640 --> 00:14:56,820 The reason that God has predestined us to that is that Christ might be the firstborn 154 00:14:56,820 --> 00:15:00,700 among many brethren. 155 00:15:00,700 --> 00:15:05,120 Firstborn means the preeminent one, the one who has priority. 156 00:15:05,120 --> 00:15:10,180 It has nothing to do with being created. 157 00:15:10,180 --> 00:15:20,760 The firstborn was the one who was before all others and above all others. 158 00:15:20,760 --> 00:15:22,800 It tells us of the preeminence of Christ. 159 00:15:22,800 --> 00:15:29,160 It says that He might be the preeminent one among many brethren. 160 00:15:29,160 --> 00:15:37,600 What a tremendous privilege we have to be called the brothers of Christ, His brethren. 161 00:15:37,600 --> 00:15:42,760 I like what it says there that He is the firstborn among many brethren. 162 00:15:42,760 --> 00:15:45,600 I don't have a scripture text to prove this. 163 00:15:45,600 --> 00:15:48,680 This is only an opinion. 164 00:15:48,680 --> 00:15:56,360 My opinion is that there are going to be more people by far in heaven than there will be 165 00:15:56,360 --> 00:16:00,920 in hell. 166 00:16:00,920 --> 00:16:07,960 I believe that because for centuries, until just recent years, it can be said that there 167 00:16:07,960 --> 00:16:16,160 were more children who died than lived at the age of accountability. 168 00:16:16,160 --> 00:16:26,340 In addition to that, think of those who were incapable because of mental handicap, etc., 169 00:16:26,340 --> 00:16:33,880 to be able to comprehend the fact that they were sinners. 170 00:16:33,880 --> 00:16:39,720 And tragic though it be, you think of the millions of babies that have been plucked 171 00:16:39,720 --> 00:16:47,680 from the wombs of their mothers in these recent decades. 172 00:16:47,680 --> 00:16:52,520 I believe that there are going to be many more people who will populate heaven than 173 00:16:52,520 --> 00:16:54,600 will be in hell. 174 00:16:54,600 --> 00:17:01,560 And Jesus Christ will be the firstborn among all of us, the preeminent one. 175 00:17:01,560 --> 00:17:06,280 Now, my friend, that is God's destiny for you. 176 00:17:06,280 --> 00:17:12,320 Beforehand, He has marked out a boundary for you, and that boundary is that you should 177 00:17:12,320 --> 00:17:21,440 be in every respect like the Lord Jesus Christ, and that you should receive as He will the 178 00:17:21,440 --> 00:17:26,120 inheritance of His Father. 179 00:17:26,120 --> 00:17:32,400 But there is a human aspect to this that I want to interject for a personal application. 180 00:17:32,400 --> 00:17:37,680 That is that although that is your destiny and there is nothing in heaven or in hell 181 00:17:37,680 --> 00:17:48,400 that can keep you from it, God desires that that work progress right now in your life. 182 00:17:48,400 --> 00:17:52,720 And you and I have a part to play in that. 183 00:17:52,720 --> 00:18:00,240 For though He has predestined us to that end, we right now by our submission to His will, 184 00:18:00,240 --> 00:18:07,960 by our obedience, cooperate with the Holy Spirit as He seeks to form Jesus Christ in 185 00:18:07,960 --> 00:18:14,080 us right now in our character, in the inner man. 186 00:18:14,080 --> 00:18:22,120 Here's an example of this, what God has purposed and what we must do over in 1 Thessalonians. 187 00:18:22,120 --> 00:18:24,560 Just turn there, let me show you what I mean. 188 00:18:24,560 --> 00:18:30,720 To illustrate that although God has already purposed to do something, you and I play a 189 00:18:30,720 --> 00:18:33,400 part in His purpose. 190 00:18:33,400 --> 00:18:37,560 It's not that we're robots. 191 00:18:37,560 --> 00:18:50,400 In chapter 5 verse 23, the apostle says as he closes, now may the God of peace Himself 192 00:18:50,400 --> 00:18:54,660 sanctify you entirely. 193 00:18:54,660 --> 00:18:59,280 Here he makes it clear that God is going to do it, right? 194 00:18:59,280 --> 00:19:08,080 May God sanctify you, set you apart, make you like His Son, make you holy and do that 195 00:19:08,080 --> 00:19:11,520 in every aspect of your being, spirit, soul and body. 196 00:19:11,520 --> 00:19:18,280 Now turn back a page or two to chapter 4, look at verse 3. 197 00:19:18,280 --> 00:19:21,600 This is the will of God, your sanctification. 198 00:19:21,600 --> 00:19:24,240 Here's the noun of the verb we just saw. 199 00:19:24,240 --> 00:19:31,620 But then it goes on to say that is that you abstain from sexual immorality, that each 200 00:19:31,620 --> 00:19:36,980 of you know how to possess his own vessel and sanctification and honor and so on. 201 00:19:36,980 --> 00:19:39,240 You see the point I'm making? 202 00:19:39,240 --> 00:19:44,320 The point is that the work of sanctification is God's work. 203 00:19:44,320 --> 00:19:50,360 And that one day when the Lord Jesus Christ appears, you are going to be like Him. 204 00:19:50,360 --> 00:19:51,720 That is your destiny. 205 00:19:51,720 --> 00:19:56,320 God has already said it is, there's nothing that can keep that from coming to pass. 206 00:19:56,320 --> 00:20:02,320 But right now God wants that work to be taking place in our lives and therefore we need to 207 00:20:02,320 --> 00:20:04,040 obey Him. 208 00:20:04,040 --> 00:20:07,800 Here He speaks about sexual purity. 209 00:20:07,800 --> 00:20:12,720 And there are many other areas of our life we need to surrender to His Lordship, be obedient 210 00:20:12,720 --> 00:20:13,720 to His will. 211 00:20:13,720 --> 00:20:16,900 Is that the way you're living? 212 00:20:16,900 --> 00:20:23,360 Is God on schedule in your life? 213 00:20:23,360 --> 00:20:30,080 Is your heavenly destiny even now being realized as you walk with God? 214 00:20:30,080 --> 00:20:31,080 I hope it is. 215 00:20:31,080 --> 00:20:34,320 My friend, that's the will of God. 216 00:20:34,320 --> 00:20:39,640 That's what God wants for you. 217 00:20:39,640 --> 00:20:45,160 I want to go on to talk about the third of the actions that God has taken in Romans chapter 218 00:20:45,160 --> 00:20:46,160 8. 219 00:20:46,160 --> 00:21:02,120 We have seen already that before time began, God foreknew and God predestined those whom 220 00:21:02,120 --> 00:21:06,480 He foreknew. 221 00:21:06,480 --> 00:21:14,120 Beginning in verse 28, we come now to some actions that take place in our lifetime as 222 00:21:14,120 --> 00:21:17,960 we see it. 223 00:21:17,960 --> 00:21:25,120 This is the first step in our own personal experience in life, which God has purposed 224 00:21:25,120 --> 00:21:29,440 and predestined before creation. 225 00:21:29,440 --> 00:21:37,640 Verse 30, He says, and whom He predestined, these He also called. 226 00:21:37,640 --> 00:21:43,600 That is the third action that God has undertaken that makes certain His purpose for us. 227 00:21:43,600 --> 00:21:45,920 God called us. 228 00:21:45,920 --> 00:21:53,440 This word called means more than to invite, as you would invite someone to dinner or to 229 00:21:53,440 --> 00:21:56,500 accompany you somewhere. 230 00:21:56,500 --> 00:22:02,160 This word called means to summon. 231 00:22:02,160 --> 00:22:10,540 It implies the power or the enablement to do exactly what you're asked to do, to obey. 232 00:22:10,540 --> 00:22:11,540 There are two aspects. 233 00:22:11,540 --> 00:22:21,520 Now get this, please, there are two aspects to the call of God to the sinner. 234 00:22:21,520 --> 00:22:26,760 The first aspect is the general call of God. 235 00:22:26,760 --> 00:22:28,560 This is the call of God. 236 00:22:28,560 --> 00:22:30,340 This is the summons of God. 237 00:22:30,340 --> 00:22:38,420 This is the invitation of God, which is extended whenever the gospel is preached or whenever 238 00:22:38,420 --> 00:22:43,680 the gospel is shared in a personal witness. 239 00:22:43,680 --> 00:22:51,800 This general call of God is present in God's providential kindness to men and in the conviction 240 00:22:51,800 --> 00:22:56,920 of the conscience when He stimulates it. 241 00:22:56,920 --> 00:23:06,040 This is the general call, and all men have to some degree experienced this general call 242 00:23:06,040 --> 00:23:13,760 of God, and they are responsible for their response to it. 243 00:23:13,760 --> 00:23:18,700 But beloved, there is a second aspect to the call of God, and that is what Paul has in 244 00:23:18,700 --> 00:23:21,440 mind here. 245 00:23:21,440 --> 00:23:30,240 And it's what we call the effectual call of God, E-F-F-E-C-T-U-A-L. 246 00:23:30,240 --> 00:23:34,160 You can see the word effect. 247 00:23:34,160 --> 00:23:40,720 It has to do with the actual production of the desired effect in the life. 248 00:23:40,720 --> 00:23:47,040 In other words, God calls and there is a response to it. 249 00:23:47,040 --> 00:23:51,120 In his book, Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God, J.I. 250 00:23:51,120 --> 00:24:02,240 Packer said, it is the operation whereby God causes the sinner to understand and respond 251 00:24:02,240 --> 00:24:06,960 to the gospel invitation. 252 00:24:06,960 --> 00:24:18,520 The effectual call of God that Paul has in mind here is extended only to those who are 253 00:24:18,520 --> 00:24:22,760 predestined and foreknown. 254 00:24:22,760 --> 00:24:26,040 That's exactly what it says here. 255 00:24:26,040 --> 00:24:32,440 For whom he foreknew, he predestined, and whom he predestined, he called. 256 00:24:32,440 --> 00:24:39,220 Do you see that? 257 00:24:39,220 --> 00:24:47,120 The whole world does not receive the effectual call of God, only those that by his grace 258 00:24:47,120 --> 00:24:50,680 God has chosen. 259 00:24:50,680 --> 00:24:58,280 This is illustrated for us in the Gospel of John. 260 00:24:58,280 --> 00:25:07,460 Turn to John 3, 16 if you need to. 261 00:25:07,460 --> 00:25:13,320 We have here the general call of God. 262 00:25:13,320 --> 00:25:16,560 And this is a sincere call of God. 263 00:25:16,560 --> 00:25:21,700 God is not playing games. 264 00:25:21,700 --> 00:25:29,040 For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son. 265 00:25:29,040 --> 00:25:37,720 Does not say that God so loved the elect, but it says that God so loved the world. 266 00:25:37,720 --> 00:25:42,000 So much so that he gave his only begotten son. 267 00:25:42,000 --> 00:25:53,200 That whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 268 00:25:53,200 --> 00:25:55,520 And God means that. 269 00:25:55,520 --> 00:26:00,100 That whoever will believe in the Lord Jesus Christ will have eternal life. 270 00:26:00,100 --> 00:26:03,760 He will not perish. 271 00:26:03,760 --> 00:26:07,360 But there is a problem, my friend. 272 00:26:07,360 --> 00:26:10,800 And that problem is not with God's offer. 273 00:26:10,800 --> 00:26:13,580 It is not with God's sincerity. 274 00:26:13,580 --> 00:26:18,240 The problem is with the human heart. 275 00:26:18,240 --> 00:26:29,640 The heart is so darkened it will not respond to this invitation by itself. 276 00:26:29,640 --> 00:26:36,800 The will is so stubborn, the mind of the sinner is so blinded that he will not of himself 277 00:26:36,800 --> 00:26:45,120 respond positively to this invitation of God. 278 00:26:45,120 --> 00:26:57,720 If we had only this general call of God, no one would ever be saved. 279 00:26:57,720 --> 00:27:04,520 Because the human heart is in such a state of hostility and rebellion against the God 280 00:27:04,520 --> 00:27:07,640 of love who gave his son to the world. 281 00:27:07,640 --> 00:27:15,080 Now turn over to John chapter 6 for a minute. 282 00:27:15,080 --> 00:27:18,640 And here we see the Lord Jesus speaking. 283 00:27:18,640 --> 00:27:31,000 Specifically it is the effectual call that is illustrated here in verse 44, John 6. 284 00:27:31,000 --> 00:27:44,080 He says, No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him and I will raise 285 00:27:44,080 --> 00:27:48,300 him up on the last day. 286 00:27:48,300 --> 00:27:54,420 No one can come to me except the Father draws him. 287 00:27:54,420 --> 00:28:03,880 This word draw comes from an ancient pagan background. 288 00:28:03,880 --> 00:28:11,220 It was used of those people of an irresistible force. 289 00:28:11,220 --> 00:28:21,920 Like a man who is starving is drawn irresistibly to food that is set before him. 290 00:28:21,920 --> 00:28:28,320 The Lord Jesus takes that word and applies it here and he says that is the kind of drawing 291 00:28:28,320 --> 00:28:31,480 the Father does. 292 00:28:31,480 --> 00:28:36,840 He says, No one can come to me except the Father draw him. 293 00:28:36,840 --> 00:28:46,640 We can perhaps illustrate this with the electromagnet in a salvage yard. 294 00:28:46,640 --> 00:28:54,800 Because that magnet is brought over the pile of junk and switched on, immediately the metal 295 00:28:54,800 --> 00:28:58,120 leaps to it, doesn't it? 296 00:28:58,120 --> 00:29:04,120 The glass and the other items that are not salvageable are left below. 297 00:29:04,120 --> 00:29:12,360 But the metal jumps, it leaps, it responds, it's drawn with the electromagnet. 298 00:29:12,360 --> 00:29:17,520 My friend, that's the way the effectual call of God is. 299 00:29:17,520 --> 00:29:21,920 God extends it to the heart of the one he's chosen. 300 00:29:21,920 --> 00:29:29,960 And there is a response in that heart because God effects the response. 301 00:29:29,960 --> 00:29:36,400 Charles Wesley of all people wrote about this in the verse you sang this morning, the third 302 00:29:36,400 --> 00:29:40,960 verse of, And can it be that I should gain? 303 00:29:40,960 --> 00:29:43,240 Did you notice what you sang? 304 00:29:43,240 --> 00:29:57,920 Long my imprisoned spirit lay, fast bound in sin and nature's night. 305 00:29:57,920 --> 00:30:01,360 Thine eye diffused a quickening ray. 306 00:30:01,360 --> 00:30:03,880 I woke. 307 00:30:03,880 --> 00:30:07,780 The dungeon flamed with light. 308 00:30:07,780 --> 00:30:09,700 My chains fell off. 309 00:30:09,700 --> 00:30:12,120 My heart was free. 310 00:30:12,120 --> 00:30:17,360 I rose, went forth, and followed thee. 311 00:30:17,360 --> 00:30:24,680 You see how dramatically he has pictured exactly what we're talking about? 312 00:30:24,680 --> 00:30:31,420 Except God sends that quickening ray to the heart, the soul will remain fast bound in 313 00:30:31,420 --> 00:30:34,160 sin and nature's night. 314 00:30:34,160 --> 00:30:41,520 But my friend, when God gives that quickening, there is an immediate response, an awakening 315 00:30:41,520 --> 00:30:48,840 of the heart, and the chains fall off, and the person follows the Lord Jesus Christ. 316 00:30:48,840 --> 00:30:50,920 What's the implication of this? 317 00:30:50,920 --> 00:31:01,420 Well, one implication is that it gives great confidence in evangelism, that God will do 318 00:31:01,420 --> 00:31:06,600 his work as we share our faith. 319 00:31:06,600 --> 00:31:12,360 You and I are not left alone to try to wake up a sinner. 320 00:31:12,360 --> 00:31:17,060 We do not have to grab someone by the lapel and drag him into the kingdom of heaven. 321 00:31:17,060 --> 00:31:19,720 We cannot do that. 322 00:31:19,720 --> 00:31:23,720 That is God's work alone, and what we're talking about gives great confidence that God 323 00:31:23,720 --> 00:31:25,720 will do that. 324 00:31:25,720 --> 00:31:29,360 That's illustrated for us in Acts chapter 18. 325 00:31:29,360 --> 00:31:31,800 Please look over there a minute. 326 00:31:31,800 --> 00:31:37,480 I think we have here a low point in the life of the Apostle Paul, humanly speaking. 327 00:31:37,480 --> 00:31:44,400 He's in the city of Corinth. 328 00:31:44,400 --> 00:31:47,480 Great things are happening, but there are problems too. 329 00:31:47,480 --> 00:31:59,600 It says in verse 9, and the Lord said to Paul, Acts 18.9, in the night by a vision, do not 330 00:31:59,600 --> 00:32:02,040 be afraid any longer. 331 00:32:02,040 --> 00:32:05,920 Paul was scared because of what was taking place. 332 00:32:05,920 --> 00:32:12,920 Do not be afraid any longer, but go on speaking and do not be silent, for I am with you and 333 00:32:12,920 --> 00:32:22,880 no man will attack you in order to harm you, for I have many people in this city. 334 00:32:22,880 --> 00:32:28,320 He settled there a year and six months teaching the word of God among them. 335 00:32:28,320 --> 00:32:33,960 What was it that gave Paul confidence and courage as he looked at the problems in Corinth 336 00:32:33,960 --> 00:32:36,200 and the threats? 337 00:32:36,200 --> 00:32:38,840 Was it just that the Lord Jesus promised to be with him? 338 00:32:38,840 --> 00:32:43,680 Well certainly that was part of it, but it was also that the Lord Jesus said, go on and 339 00:32:43,680 --> 00:32:45,880 speak, I have many people in this city. 340 00:32:45,880 --> 00:32:50,520 In other words, God says you're going to have a harvest. 341 00:32:50,520 --> 00:32:53,920 You're going to have a harvest, and as you proclaim the word, I'm going to call out my 342 00:32:53,920 --> 00:32:56,200 people in this city. 343 00:32:56,200 --> 00:33:02,320 He's talking about people primarily who have not been saved yet in time as we think of 344 00:33:02,320 --> 00:33:05,000 it. 345 00:33:05,000 --> 00:33:08,240 How does God call a person? 346 00:33:08,240 --> 00:33:09,800 Does it just happen out of the blue? 347 00:33:09,800 --> 00:33:12,800 Is there a lightning bolt, a zap? 348 00:33:12,800 --> 00:33:15,920 How does God call a person? 349 00:33:15,920 --> 00:33:23,120 The answer is he calls a person by this book, by the word of God. 350 00:33:23,120 --> 00:33:34,240 This is the instrument of the Holy Spirit to effect a call in the heart of the believer, 351 00:33:34,240 --> 00:33:40,880 in the heart of the sinner, so that he will believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. 352 00:33:40,880 --> 00:33:44,520 Turn with me to 1 Thessalonians chapter 2. 353 00:33:44,520 --> 00:33:47,520 This is stated. 354 00:33:47,520 --> 00:33:56,760 1 Thessalonians chapter 2 verse 13. 355 00:33:56,760 --> 00:34:05,600 For this reason, we also constantly thank God that when you received from us the word 356 00:34:05,600 --> 00:34:14,600 of God's message, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, 357 00:34:14,600 --> 00:34:25,920 the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe. 358 00:34:25,920 --> 00:34:30,800 The Holy Spirit is the living Spirit of God. 359 00:34:30,800 --> 00:34:34,880 This book is the living word of God. 360 00:34:34,880 --> 00:34:44,480 The Holy Spirit uses it to effect results in the life of those who trust the Lord Jesus 361 00:34:44,480 --> 00:34:45,480 Christ. 362 00:34:45,480 --> 00:34:54,740 Turn over to 2 Thessalonians chapter 2 verse 13. 363 00:34:54,740 --> 00:35:02,120 We should always give thanks to God for you, brethren, beloved by the Lord, because God 364 00:35:02,120 --> 00:35:09,000 has chosen you from the beginning for salvation. 365 00:35:09,000 --> 00:35:11,600 We've talked about that, haven't we? 366 00:35:11,600 --> 00:35:15,120 How is God going to bring that to pass? 367 00:35:15,120 --> 00:35:17,280 Here's the means. 368 00:35:17,280 --> 00:35:24,160 He says it's through sanctification by the Spirit. 369 00:35:24,160 --> 00:35:31,320 This is the Holy Spirit wooing the believer, setting him apart. 370 00:35:31,320 --> 00:35:39,800 Then it says, and by faith in the truth. 371 00:35:39,800 --> 00:35:42,800 That's the human part. 372 00:35:42,800 --> 00:35:48,800 So we have God's part by his Spirit, and we have man's part, faith. 373 00:35:48,800 --> 00:35:51,160 What does that faith rest upon? 374 00:35:51,160 --> 00:35:53,760 The truth. 375 00:35:53,760 --> 00:36:01,480 It was for this that he called you through our gospel, that you may gain the glory of 376 00:36:01,480 --> 00:36:05,160 our Lord Jesus Christ. 377 00:36:05,160 --> 00:36:13,120 So how is it that God effects this call in our hearts when we believe in the Savior? 378 00:36:13,120 --> 00:36:15,960 It is through his word. 379 00:36:15,960 --> 00:36:23,760 I'd like for us to close by turning to 2 Peter and looking at a practical application 380 00:36:23,760 --> 00:36:26,920 of this. 381 00:36:26,920 --> 00:36:40,000 After what I've said, some may wonder at verse 10 of chapter 1 in 2 Peter. 382 00:36:40,000 --> 00:36:45,900 He says, Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about his calling 383 00:36:45,900 --> 00:36:49,880 and choosing you. 384 00:36:49,880 --> 00:36:55,000 As long as you practice these things, you will never stumble, for in this way the entrance 385 00:36:55,000 --> 00:37:00,000 into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to 386 00:37:00,000 --> 00:37:01,000 you. 387 00:37:01,000 --> 00:37:10,680 Is he saying here that we somehow have to do our part to make God's election and his 388 00:37:10,680 --> 00:37:13,480 calling real in our lives? 389 00:37:13,480 --> 00:37:16,240 That is not what he's saying. 390 00:37:16,240 --> 00:37:20,840 What he is saying is, brethren, you profess that God has chosen you, that God has called 391 00:37:20,840 --> 00:37:21,840 you. 392 00:37:21,840 --> 00:37:28,540 Now he is saying, you make that profession of yours certain. 393 00:37:28,540 --> 00:37:34,920 You make it real in your life by adding these spiritual qualities I've mentioned in the 394 00:37:34,920 --> 00:37:38,280 earlier verses in the chapter. 395 00:37:38,280 --> 00:37:46,080 That is faith and moral excellence and knowledge and self-control and perseverance and godliness, 396 00:37:46,080 --> 00:37:49,560 brotherly kindness and love. 397 00:37:49,560 --> 00:37:55,480 Add these things to your life so that the profession that you make, that you're one 398 00:37:55,480 --> 00:38:03,320 of God's chosen ones, will have substance to it and not seem to be empty and vain and 399 00:38:03,320 --> 00:38:06,120 foolish. 400 00:38:06,120 --> 00:38:13,120 So you say you're one of God's called and prove it by the way that you live. 401 00:38:13,120 --> 00:38:19,960 By obeying the Lord Jesus Christ and adding these spiritual qualities to your life. 402 00:38:19,960 --> 00:38:26,040 By a godly lifestyle, make your election sure. 403 00:38:26,040 --> 00:38:34,840 That is, let others be sure that you are saved by the godly way that you live. 404 00:38:34,840 --> 00:38:39,360 This calling of God is such a marvelous thing, such a marvelous truth. 405 00:38:39,360 --> 00:38:49,640 And it's illustrated by a testimony of Charles Coulson. 406 00:38:49,640 --> 00:38:52,360 He writes in a recent newsletter, 407 00:38:52,360 --> 00:38:57,840 It was ten years ago next month that I went during the throes of Watergate to talk with 408 00:38:57,840 --> 00:39:00,440 my friend Tom Phillips. 409 00:39:00,440 --> 00:39:05,800 I was curious, maybe even a little envious, about the changes in his life. 410 00:39:05,800 --> 00:39:10,360 His explanation that he had accepted Jesus Christ baffled me. 411 00:39:10,360 --> 00:39:16,080 I was tired, empty inside, sick of scandal and accusations. 412 00:39:16,080 --> 00:39:20,640 And not once did I see myself as having really sinned. 413 00:39:20,640 --> 00:39:24,720 Politics was a dirty business and I was good at it. 414 00:39:24,720 --> 00:39:30,800 And what I had done, I rationalized, was no different than the usual political maneuvering. 415 00:39:30,800 --> 00:39:37,320 What's more, right and wrong were relative and my motives were for the good of the country, 416 00:39:37,320 --> 00:39:39,400 or so I believed. 417 00:39:39,400 --> 00:39:48,960 But that night when I left Tom's home and sat alone at my car, my own sin, not just 418 00:39:48,960 --> 00:39:57,840 dirty politics, but the hatred and pride and evil so deep within me was thrust before my 419 00:39:57,840 --> 00:40:01,920 eyes forcefully and painfully. 420 00:40:01,920 --> 00:40:08,000 Then he says, for the first time in my life I felt unclean. 421 00:40:08,000 --> 00:40:10,760 And worst of all, I could not escape. 422 00:40:10,760 --> 00:40:17,040 In those moments of clarity, I found myself driven irresistibly into the arms of the living 423 00:40:17,040 --> 00:40:19,760 God. 424 00:40:19,760 --> 00:40:26,040 Charles Colson is simply relating to us in his personal testimony the effectual call 425 00:40:26,040 --> 00:40:27,520 of God. 426 00:40:27,520 --> 00:40:34,000 If you sit here saved today, it's because that call was extended to you when you were 427 00:40:34,000 --> 00:40:38,880 in sin and evil was in your heart. 428 00:40:38,880 --> 00:40:44,520 Our response to this must be to fall on our knees before God and cry out what a wonderful 429 00:40:44,520 --> 00:40:47,200 salvation. 430 00:40:47,200 --> 00:40:55,800 You should call me and predestine me to receive a full inheritance as one of your own family 431 00:40:55,800 --> 00:40:58,880 members. 432 00:40:58,880 --> 00:41:03,200 You may sit here today and you're not sure about that in your own life. 433 00:41:03,200 --> 00:41:06,640 Perhaps you've never trusted Jesus Christ as your Savior. 434 00:41:06,640 --> 00:41:09,600 And you say, well I wonder if God's calling me. 435 00:41:09,600 --> 00:41:12,920 My friend, God is calling you. 436 00:41:12,920 --> 00:41:13,920 God is calling you. 437 00:41:13,920 --> 00:41:18,320 He calls every sinner. 438 00:41:18,320 --> 00:41:23,160 Will you respond to that call today? 439 00:41:23,160 --> 00:41:27,600 Will you open your heart and believe in the truth? 440 00:41:27,600 --> 00:41:33,680 If you will, then you may be sure that God is effectually calling you to be one of his 441 00:41:33,680 --> 00:41:36,400 own. 442 00:41:36,400 --> 00:41:40,600 You may see yourself as a dirty rotten sinner. 443 00:41:40,600 --> 00:41:44,360 One cannot be saved before he sees himself in that position. 444 00:41:44,360 --> 00:41:50,600 But will you take the next step and trust the Savior right now, this morning? 445 00:41:50,600 --> 00:41:57,720 Heavenly Father, thank you for the truths that we have seen, the doctrines of salvation 446 00:41:57,720 --> 00:42:04,440 from your perspective that are so marvelous for us to behold and to wonder at. 447 00:42:04,440 --> 00:42:12,200 May those of us who are yours live a life worthy of this kind of calling. 448 00:42:12,200 --> 00:42:19,180 May those who are here without Christ in this congregation this morning trust the Savior. 449 00:42:19,180 --> 00:42:25,200 Let them know that the invitation, indeed the command to obey the gospel, is theirs. 450 00:42:25,200 --> 00:42:33,840 May they be given hearts repentant and faith to trust in the Lord Jesus in a saving way. 451 00:42:33,840 --> 00:42:50,280 We pray this in Jesus' name, amen.