Effectual Calling
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"Moreover, whom he did predestine—those he also called" Romans 8:30
Justice and grace are essentially different.
JUSTICE is every man's due, and at the hand of God—no man will ever have less than perfect justice. God will deal justly with all, and at last every man will see that he has had his due.
GRACE no one can merit or claim. It is the highest form of goodness, and manifests itself in showing kindness to, and conferring favours upon, the unworthy. It is God saying, "I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious;" and, "I will be gracious because I will be gracious."
Justice flows naturally from God to all—but grace is given or manifested in the exercise of his sovereignty. Predestination is of grace; yet it is strictly just, for no one is the worse because God has predestined others to everlasting life. In the act of predestination, God intervenes for the salvation of millions, in strict accordance with the holiness, justice, and infinite goodness of his nature. It is part of a grand scheme to people heaven, frustrate the designs of Satan, and manifest and display all the glorious perfections of his nature. It breathes love, prevents eternal death, and confers everlasting life. It undertakes to make all the objects of God's choice—exactly like his beloved Son. It laid a foundation in eternity for all God's glorious acts of grace in time, and when time shall be no more. It is one of God's grandest acts, and stands at the head of many others; therefore the apostle adds, "Moreover, whom he did predestine—those he also called" (Romans 8:30). Notice—
The Nature and Properties of this Calling.
It is not that general and external call which by the gospel is addressed to all. That is sent to men as men: "Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is unto the sons of men." It is sent to sinners as sinners, who need all God has provided: "As many as you find, bid to the marriage." It leaves multitudes where they were: "Many are called—but few are chosen."
This is the call of the Spirit, which is effectual, and is the commencement of salvation in the soul.
It is a call into the grace of Christ—to know, enjoy, and live in his favour; to be saved by his grace; to be the subject of his grace; to be the means of glorifying his grace.
It is a call into the fellowship of Christ—to participate with him and his people in the love of his Father; to share in all the privileges of his house; and to live in the prospect of being forever with him, and forever like him.
It is a call to suffer with Christ. We must take part in all that is Christ's, the painful and the pleasant. Therefore, under all the unkind treatment we receive, under all the grief we suffer, and under all the wrong that is done us, we should remember what Peter says, "Even hereunto were you called; because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow in his steps."
It is a call into liberty:
from the bondage of the law,
from the vassalage of the world,
from the service of sin, and
from the tyranny of Satan—
we are called into the freedom of the gospel, into the fellowship of the Church, into the service of God, and to wear the yoke of Christ. This is real liberty—liberty which will last forever.
It is a call into God's kingdom and glory. Therefore the apostle exhorts, "That you would walk worthy of God, who has called you unto his kingdom and glory,"—into the kingdom of his grace now, as introductory to his kingdom of glory in the end. This led Peter to say, "But the God of all grace, who has called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, make you perfect, establish, strengthen, settle you."
This calling is of grace, as Paul testified of his own case: "But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace, to reveal his son in me." No one deserves to be called; no one naturally desires to be called. In every instance it is a favour—an act of free and sovereign grace.
It is a SPECIAL call. It comes direct to the individual, as if no other person were present or addressed. As in the case of Lydia, "whose heart the Lord opened," so in every case, a power attends the word, the attention is arrested, the mind is impressed, the conscience is awakened, and the heart opens to admit the Saviour. If ten thousand are present, it comes to the party intended—as if he were alone!
It is a HOLY call. Coming from a holy God, through the medium of a holy gospel, it produces holiness in the heart. Holy desires spring up, holy enjoyments are felt, and holy employments are undertaken. Thus the Lord saves us, and calls us with a 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.
It is a HEAVENLY call. Not like the call of Abraham out of Ur of the Chaldees, or of Israel out of Egypt, which was earthy. This is a heavenly calling; for we are called into a heavenly state, to enjoy heavenly privileges, and be thereby prepared for heavenly glory. Our eye and our heart, therefore, should be set on heavenly things; and our pleasures and enjoyments should be of a heavenly nature. The object of our faith, hope, and love, should be Jesus—Jesus always, and Jesus ever: "Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus."
It is an INVINCIBLE call. Where the word of a king is, there is power. Resisted it may be, conquered it can never be. Therefore we read, "Your people shall be willing in the day of your power." The dead hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear live. At the voice of Jesus, diseases fled, devils trembled, and the dead were raised to life; so all whom he calls by his grace obey his voice and follow him.
The Means and Agency Employed.
The means are various: though none are absolutely necessary—yet he who can work without them is pleased to employ them. The word of the truth of the gospel, either heard, or read, or brought to the mind—is usually employed. Sometimes a solemn warning arouses the mind; sometimes a gracious invitation attracts the soul; and sometimes a representation of the nature, claims, and goodness of God, affects the heart. But by what portion of the word he pleases, employed in whatever way he thinks proper—God calls the soul out of darkness into his marvellous light.
Sometimes the Lord will work by a dream or a vision of the night, alarming the slumbering sinner, or exciting and drawing forth attention to divine things; at other times by afflictions, by the loss of property or friends, by disease and pain, by privations and distresses. Many a one has lain down on a bed of affliction a hardened sinner—but has been raised up a new creature in Christ Jesus. By a variety of providential dispensations, the Lord works in bringing sinners to himself. Providence is always the handmaid of grace; sometimes going before and preparing the way, and sometimes accompanying it.
But whatever means may be employed, the agent in every instance is the same—even the holy and ever blessed Spirit of God. It is his part in the economy of the covenant to quicken and enlighten, to teach and lead, to dispose and dedicate, to convert and consecrate the soul to God. All whom the Father predestined, the Spirit calls—and Jesus receives.
Mark, then, the privilege of the saints.
Before time, they were chosen in Christ, loved with an everlasting love, and predestined to eternal life.
In time, they are called from death to life, from darkness to light, from sin to holiness, from Satan to God, and from earth to heaven.
After time, they will be all glorified with Christ, to the praise of God's glorious grace.
Spiritual blessings form a chain. They are connected, and gracefully and orderly follow each other.
If we are chosen, we shall be called;
if called, we shall be justified; and
if justified, we shall be glorified.
God's order can never be broken; his plan can never be disturbed; his purposes can never fail of their accomplishment. Those whom God calls—always call upon God. If God speaks to us in grace—we shall speak to him in prayer. Grace from God—always leads us to God. I may, therefore, prove my calling—by my praying. When God called Saul of Tarsus, it was soon said of him, "Behold, he prays." So will it be said of us. Prayer will become a necessity. Breathing is not more necessary for the life of the body—than prayer is for the life of the quickened soul.
Beloved, are you called of God? Do you call upon God? If called of God: you leave the world; you love to be alone with God; you prize the society of the saints, and you go to the Lord's people as to your own company. If you can prove your calling, your election is sure.
Gracious Lord, show me clearly that you have called me with a holy calling. Give me a heavenly mind; enable me to set my affection on things above; and draw me more and more from the world, setting my affection on heavenly things.
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