THE GOSPEL CALL The Golden Chain of Salvation Romans 8:29-30 28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. 29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; 30 and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified. 1
The Golden Chain of Salvation Romans 8:29-30 For those whom He foreknew He also predestined He also called He also justified He also glorified. Foreknew Predestined Called Romans 8:29-30 Justified Glorified 2
CALLING Calling is that work of God by which He, through the Spirit, invites all men to Christ and actually brings sinners to salvation. Rolland McCune, A Systematic Theology of Biblical Christianity: The Doctrines of Salvation, the Church, and Last Things, vol. 3 (Allen Park, MI: Detroit Baptist Theological Seminary, 2010), 37. General Call vs. Effectual Call Universal vs Effective Resistible vs Irresistable Grace GENERAL CALL A GENERAL INVITATION TO ALL TO BE SAVED 3
GENERAL CALL This is the aspect of the call of God in which He urgently invites all who hear the Gospel to come and be saved Rolland McCune, A Systematic Theology of Biblical Christianity: The Doctrines of Salvation, the Church, and Last Things, vol. 3 (Allen Park, MI: Detroit Baptist Theological Seminary, 2010), 38. Matthew 22:14, For many are called, but few are chosen GENERAL CALL Isaiah 45:22, Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God and there is no other. Matthew 11:28, Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. 4
GENERAL CALL RESISTED Isaiah 65:12, Because I called, but you did not answer; I spoke but you did not hear Hebrews 4:7b, Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts. EFFECTUAL CALL (IRRESISTABLE GRACE) THE CALL OF GOD IN WHICH HE CAUSES HIS PEOPLE TO RESPOND 5
EFFECTUAL CALL Effective calling is an act of God the Father, speaking through the human proclamation of the gospel, in which he summons people to himself in such a way that they respond in saving faith. Wayne A. Grudem, Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine (Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, MI: Inter-Varsity Press; Zondervan Pub. House, 2004), 693. EFFECTUAL CALL Psalm 65:4, How blessed is the one whom You choose and bring near to You to dwell in Your courts. John 5:25, An hour is coming and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. John 10:27, My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 6
CALLING While the general call of God is to all who hear and can be resisted, the effectual call of God is irresistible and results in salvation. The ORDER of SALVATION 1. Election (God s choice of people to be saved) 2. The Gospel Call (proclaiming the message of the gospel) 3. Regeneration (being born again) 4. Conversion (faith and repentance) 5. Justification (right legal standing) 6. Adoption (membership in God s family) 7. Sanctification (right conduct of life) 8. Perseverance 9. Death (going to be with the Lord) 10. Glorification (receiving a resurrection body) Wayne A. Grudem, Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine (Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, MI: Inter-Varsity Press; Zondervan Pub. House, 2004), 670. 7
REGENERATION REGENERATION DEFINED Regeneration is the instantaneous, supernatural impartation of spiritual life to the spiritually dead. Rolland McCune, A Systematic Theology of Biblical Christianity: The Doctrines of Salvation, the Church, and Last Things, vol. 3 (Allen Park, MI: Detroit Baptist Theological Seminary, 2010), 49. 8
REGENERATION DEFINED Regeneration is a secret act of God in which he imparts new spiritual life to us. This is sometimes called being born again Wayne A. Grudem, Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine (Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, MI: Inter-Varsity Press; Zondervan Pub. House, 2004), 699. REGENERATION: THE WORK OF GOD 1 Peter 1:3, 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead 9
REGENERATION: THE WORK OF GOD John 1:12-13, 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. REGENERATION: INSTANTANEOUS [Regeneration] is an instantaneous change, in a region of the soul below consciousness, and is therefore known only in its results. Regeneration is not a gradual work. 6 No one, therefore, is in the process of becoming a Christian any more than they are becoming born. 6 Strong, Systematic Theology, p. 826. Rolland McCune, A Systematic Theology of Biblical Christianity: The Doctrines of Salvation, the Church, and Last Things, vol. 3 (Allen Park, MI: Detroit Baptist Theological Seminary, 2010), 53. 10
What is the Relationship Between the Effective Call & Regeneration? EFFECTIVE CALL & REGENERATION At least two passages suggest that God regenerates us at the same time as he speaks to us in effective calling: Peter says, You have been born anew not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God That word is the good news which was preached to you (1 Peter 1:23, 25). And James says, He chose to give us birth through the word of truth (James 1:18 NIV). Wayne A. Grudem, Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine (Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, MI: Inter-Varsity Press; Zondervan Pub. House, 2004), 700. 11
WHAT ARE THE RESULTS OF A REGENERATE HEART? CHANGE IN HEART Regeneration is a complete change in the governing disposition of the individual Rolland McCune, A Systematic Theology of Biblical Christianity: The Doctrines of Salvation, the Church, and Last Things, vol. 3 (Allen Park, MI: Detroit Baptist Theological Seminary, 2010), 52. Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. 2 Corinthians 5:17 12
CHANGE IN HEART Therefore, the governing disposition must be addressed first in the subjective application of the ordo salutis to the sinner. His dominant motives must be transformed from darkness to light and from death to life so that he is enabled to make a positive response to the promptings of the Holy Spirit through the gospel. This transformation is accomplished by the moral miracle of regeneration and accordingly precedes all the other acts of human participation in the overall event and process of salvation. Rolland McCune, A Systematic Theology of Biblical Christianity: The Doctrines of Salvation, the Church, and Last Things, vol. 3 (Allen Park, MI: Detroit Baptist Theological Seminary, 2010), 52. CHANGE IN HEART Jeremiah 31:33 33 But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD, I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 13
CHANGE IN HEART Matthew 12:33-35 33 Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit. 34 You brood of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak what is good? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart. 35 The good man brings out of his good treasure what is good; and the evil man brings out of his evil treasure what is evil. 14