Hebrews 3:1 "Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus."
In the opening words of our text the Holy Spirit tells us three things about all true believers, all who trust the Lord Jesus Christ.
There are some people in this world described by the Holy Spirit as "The Called" (Rom. 1:6; 8:28). Those who are the called of Jesus Christ are God's elect, those sinners redeemed by the precious blood of Christ, who have been saved by his almighty, irresistible grace. All the rest of the elect shall be called, but those who are saved are "the called", called from death to life, from unbelief to faith in Christ.
All who are privileged to hear the gospel preached are called externally, by the preaching of the gospel. But those who are saved, "the called" have been called internally, effectually, and irresistibly by God the Holy Spirit. "The called" are like the Thessalonian saints. Their election, redemption, and calling is made manifest by the fact that the Word of God has come to them, not in word only, but in the power of the Holy Ghost.
I remind you once more, THERE IS NO EFFECTUAL CALL OF GRACE APART FROM THE PREACHING OF THE GOSPEL. YET, THE PREACHING OF THE GOSPEL WILL NEVER PRODUCE LIFE AND FAITH IN CHRIST WITHOUT THE EFFECTUAL CALL OF GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT.
Proposition: Salvation comes to chosen, redeemed sinners in the experience of grace by the almighty, irresistible, effectual call of God the Holy Spirit.
It is this call of which David sang, when he said, "Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee." This is the call the Apostle Paul was talking about when he said, "God separated me from my mother's womb, called me by his grace, and revealed his Son in me." Paul was talking about this internal, effectual call when he wrote to Timothy, in 2 Timothy 1:9-11.
9 "Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, 10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: 11 Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles."
Notice how the Apostle Paul describes this call of God. When he speaks of it, he seems to be so overwhelmed by it, in such awe of it that he cannot find words sufficient to describe it. He calls it…
What is this call of God by which we are saved? What is this heavenly calling of which we have been made partakers by the grace of God? It is described in many ways in doctrinal and theological works: The Internal Call – The Effectual Call – The Irresistible Call – The Call of Grace. All those terms are good and accurate. But I want us to see how this call is described and explained in Holy Scripture. So, tonight, I want us to simply read seven texts of Scripture. These seven texts will be my outline and my message.
I. 1 Peter 2:9 "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath CALLED YOU OUT OF DARKNESS INTO HIS MARVELLOUS LIGHT."
This internal, effectual, saving call of grace is a call out of gross darkness into God's marvelous light.
As in the creation of the world, God commanded the light to shine out of darkness, so in the new creation of grace God the Holy spirit shines in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 4:6).
"When the apostle Paul was called by grace, a light surrounded him, as an emblem of that internal light which was sprung in him. After that, there fell from his eyes, as it had been scales, as a token of the removal of his former darkness and ignorance." John Gill
A. Before God saved us, we were like all other men, engulfed in the gross darkness of our own depraved hearts and spiritual ignorance.
God's elect, in their state of nature, before they are converted, are just like all other men, totally ignorant of all things spiritual.
B. Now, by the effectual call of the Holy Spirit, the eyes of our understanding have been opened, we are now made to see light and walk in light, as the children of light.
God's people are children of light. They no longer grope about in darkness. They have the unction of the Spirit, causing them to know all things. Believers have the mind of Christ, enabling them to understand all things.
Proverbs 28:5 "Evil men understand not judgment: but they that seek the LORD understand all things."
1 John 2:20 "But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things."
1 Corinthians 2:15-16 "But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. 16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ."
Believers understand the truth, believe the truth, and receive the love of the truth.
Being taught of God, regenerate, enlightened, saved sinners have the ability to distinguish things that differ. They no the difference between grace and works. They know the difference between free grace and free will. We have been called out of darkness into God's marvelous light.
II. Galatians 5:13 "For, brethren, YE HAVE BEEN CALLED UNTO LIBERTY; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another."
A. We were by nature children of wrath, even as others; but now, in Christ we are freed from all the curse and condemnation of God's holy law.
B. We lived all the days of our lives as home born slaves, under the dominion of sin; but now, in Christ we have become the servants of righteousness.
C. We spent all our days under the power and influence of Satan; but we are now Christ's free men.
How I thank God for the blessed liberation of grace! Satan, like a strong man armed, held me in a bondage worse than that of Egypt. Grace has set me free!
Deuteronomy 6:20-23 "And when thy son asketh thee in time to come, saying, What mean the testimonies, and the statutes, and the judgments, which the LORD our God hath commanded you? 21 Then thou shalt say unto thy son, We were Pharaoh's bondmen in Egypt; and the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand: 22 And the LORD showed signs and wonders, great and sore, upon Egypt, upon Pharaoh, and upon all his household, before our eyes: 23 And he brought us out from thence, that he might bring us in, to give us the land which he sware unto our fathers."
Deuteronomy 4:31-39 "For the LORD thy God is a merciful God; he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he sware unto them. 32 For ASK NOW OF THE DAYS THAT ARE PAST, which were before thee, since the day that God created man upon the earth, and ask from the one side of heaven unto the other, whether there hath been any such thing as this great thing is, or hath been heard like it? 33 Did ever people hear the voice of God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as thou hast heard, and live? 34 Or hath God assayed to go and take him a nation from the midst of another nation, by temptations, by signs, and by wonders, and by war, and by a mighty hand, and by a stretched out arm, and by great terrors, according to all that the LORD your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes? 35 Unto thee it was showed, that thou mightest know that the LORD he is God; there is none else beside him. 36 Out of heaven he made thee to hear his voice, that he might instruct thee: and upon earth he showed thee his great fire; and thou heardest his words out of the midst of the fire. 37 And because he loved thy fathers, therefore he chose their seed after them, and brought thee out in his sight with his mighty power out of Egypt; 38 To drive out nations from before thee greater and mightier than thou art, to bring thee in, to give thee their land for an inheritance, as it is this day. 39 KNOW THEREFORE THIS DAY, AND CONSIDER IT IN THINE HEART, THAT THE LORD HE IS GOD IN HEAVEN ABOVE, AND UPON THE EARTH BENEATH: THERE IS NONE ELSE."
We have been called unto liberty, even "the glorious liberty of the sons of God"!
III. 1 Corinthians 1:9 "God is faithful, by whom YE WERE CALLED UNTO THE FELLOWSHIP OF HIS SON JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD."
Not only have we been called out of bondage and into liberty, we have been called into the blessed liberty of intimate, sweet fellowship with the Triune God in our all glorious Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ!
A. God calls his people to abandon the world for Christ.Listen to me. Those who are called of God are called to forsake family and friend, like Abram, and follow Christ. We have been, and are continually called by our God, to "love not the world, neither the things that are in the world".
Deuteronomy 7:2-6, 25-26 "And when the LORD thy God shall deliver them before thee; thou shalt smite them, and utterly destroy them; thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor show mercy unto them: 3 Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son. 4 For they will turn away thy son from following me, that they may serve other gods: so will the anger of the LORD be kindled against you, and destroy thee suddenly. 5 But thus shall ye deal with them; ye shall destroy their altars, and break down their images, and cut down their groves, and burn their graven images with fire. 6 For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth………. 25 The graven images of their gods shall ye burn with fire: thou shalt not desire the silver or gold that is on them, nor take it unto thee, lest thou be snared therein: for it is an abomination to the LORD thy God. 26 Neither shalt thou bring an abomination into thine house, lest thou be a cursed thing like it: but thou shalt utterly detest it, and thou shalt utterly abhor it; for it is a cursed thing."
2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1 "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. 7:1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God."
Revelation 18:4 "And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues."
Having said all that, let me hasten to say, all this is no great sacrifice.
B. "The heavenly calling" of which we are now partakers brings us into far better company than we ever knew before.
We now have access to and communion with God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit and blessed fellowship with his saints on earth, and even with his saints in heaven (Heb. 12:22-23).
IV. 1 Corinthians 7:15 "But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but GOD HATH CALLED US TO PEACE."
The call of God is a call to internal peace, peace of mind and peace of conscience; to which all men are utter strangers by nature. There is no peace to the wicked: but God has called us to peace. He has blessed us it; with a peace which passes all understanding; with peace in the midst of the tribulations of the world; with a peace which the world can neither give nor take away. Our peace is a peace which arises from the blood and righteousness of Christ, and is part of that kingdom of God which is within us, into which we are brought by our heavenly calling.
We have also been called to peace among ourselves, and with all men. "Let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body" (Col. 3:15).
We have been called unto peace.V. 1 Thessalonians 4:7 "GOD HATH NOT CALLED US UNTO UNCLEANNESS, BUT UNTO HOLINESS."
The call of God is a holy calling.A. It is a call arising from upon A HOLY PURPOSE – The Purpose Of God!
B. It is a call based upon A HOLY PRINCIPLE – Justice satisfied!
C. It is a call which has brought us into A HOLY POSITION – Justified and Sanctified in Christ!
D. It is a call which makes us A HOLY PEOPLE *#159; "An Holy Nation!" – "A Peculiar People!" – "A Royal Priesthood!"
John Gill said, with regard to this call of God's elect, "They are called out of a state of unholiness and sinfulness, into a state of holiness and righteousness; for being created anew in righteousness and true holiness, and created in Christ Jesus to good works, they are called to the exercise of them; to live holily, soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present evil world; 'God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness', (1 Thess. 4:7) and 'hath called us to glory and virtue' (2 Pet. 1:3), to glorious acts of virtue and goodness, becoming the nature of their call, and of him that has called them; 'As he which hath called you is holy' (1Pe 1:15)."
We have been called unto holiness. VI. Galatians 1:6 "I marvel that ye are so soon removed from HIM THAT CALLED YOU INTO THE GRACE OF CHRIST unto another gospel." A. We have been call by the grace of Christ.We have been called (1.) out of darkness into light, (2.) out of bondage into liberty, (3.) out of the world into fellowship with God, (4.) out of turmoil into peace, (5.) out of uncleanness into holiness, (6.) out from under the curse of God's law into the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and (7.) out of the kingdoms of this world into God's kingdom and glory in Christ.
VII. 1 Thessalonians 2:12 "That ye would walk worthy of GOD, WHO HATH CALLED YOU UNTO HIS KINGDOM AND GLORY."
Children of God, God has called you to a glory which is a kingdom. He has called you into the possession of the kingdom of grace here, a kingdom which can never be taken away from you. And he has called you to inherit a kingdom of glory hereafter. "The LORD will give grace and glory!" This kingdom and glory to which he has called you is an everlasting kingdom.
Can you get hold of this? We have been called by the grace of God "To the obtaining of the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Thess. 2:14).
Colossians 3:4 "When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory."
A. All who are called are "called in one hope of their calling" (Eph. 4:4). B. All who are called have the same "promise of eternal inheritance" (Heb. 9:15).1 Peter 1:3-4 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,"
C. All who are called are called to and have been given the same glory for their eternal inheritance (John 17:22)
Application:Turn to one more text of Scripture (Matt. 11:28-30). Here is a call which falls from the lips of the Son of God himself. I pray that God the Holy Spirit will make it irresistibly effectual to everyone one of you by his almighty grace. This is indeed "THE HEAVENLY CALLING". May God make you a partaker of it, for Christ's sake.
Matthew 11:28-30 "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
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