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The unsearchable riches of Christ #7

Effectual Calling Pt 2.

Scripture : Ephesians 1:8-9.

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II. GOD ALSO IMPARTS THE KNOWLEDGE OF HIS WILL TO THE ONE HE WOULD SAVE.
1. God’s will is a mystery to sinful men. It is a hidden things, shut away from his sight. Hence the religious ignorance of men. Acts 17:22-23. He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given, Matthew 13:11. Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory, Colossians 1:26,27.
2. His will is revealed through the Holy Scriptures. Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, but now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith, Romans 16:25-26.  2 Tim 3:15-6.
3. The work of teaching and convincing is that of the Holy Spirit. Shorter Cat. Q. 31. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you, John 16:14. 1 Cor 2:7-11.

III. IN CALLING HIS ELECT, GOD SUPPLIES ALL WISDOM AND PRUDENCE.
Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence. The enlightened sinner is made wise. 2 Tim 3:15-16.
1. The sinner is made to understand. But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light, 1 Peter 2:9.
2. The sinner is made to act wisely and prudently. No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him, John 6:44. This the first wise act of the sinner’s life.
3. Thus God accomplishes His will in us. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure, Philippians 2:13.

The Unsearchable Riches of Christ #6

Effectual Calling

Scripture: Ephesians 1:8-9.

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Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself, Ephesians 1:8-9.

These opening verses in this epistle contain gospel truths, strung together by the apostle like precious pearls in a necklace. He strings together one truth after another in these verses — predestination and election, redemption through the blood, and now effectual calling through the gospel.
All those that God the Father elected unto salvation, God the Son redeemed by His blood and the Holy Spirit effectually calls into a knowledge and experience of the benefits salvation.

The verses that we will look at today, set forth the doctrine of God’s effectual calling of His elect into the knowledge of Christ.

I. GOD MUST IMPART TO THE SINNER A KNOWLEDGE OF HIMSELF  BEFORE HE WILL BE SAVED.
The elect will never benefit from the Father’s loving plan or the Son’s loving sacrifice if the inherent ignorance of the human mind is not effectively dealt with. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned, 1 Cor 2:14. Isaiah 53:1. Romans 8:5-7. 1 Cor 1:17-31.

1. There is a need of a knowledge of his own sinful state. He needs convincing of his sin. A picture of an example of this taking place is given in Zech 12:10 and Acts 2:37. How long the Jewish people have been in ignorance of their sin! But what happened at Pentecost for 3000 will happen for the whole nation when Christ returns.

2. With such knowledge there comes a sense of misery. The eyes are opened to their sinfulness and the misery that it brings. Hence the brokenness of heart that accompanies such an awakening, Luke 18:13. Hell opens up at the very feet of the sinner. Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? Acts 16:29-30.

3. Such is the measure of convincing of sin that a public acknowledgement of guilt is readily forthcoming. One of the most public confessions is that of the repentant  thief, Luke 23:40-41.

4. The awful holiness of God is also glimpsed. I say glimpsed for none could stand a sight of the full majesty of God’s glorious holiness. David owned God’s holiness, Ps 51:4-5.

Bright and shining lights in the Bible #11

Scripture: “By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him,” Hebrews 11:5-6.

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As we were saying at the end of our study last week, true faith is always accompanied by a life of holiness that is pleasing to God. Notice that it is emphasised here: “Without faith it is impossible to please him.” How important it is to understand this! Those that believe God are termed ‘friends’. “Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God,” James 2:23.
We seek to conclude our study of Enoch today.
1. One of the good works of Enoch was his testifying of the second coming. Such witnessing pleases God for it showed his faith in God’s word. Jude 14-15. The dates of Enoch’s translation — Adam died at 930 years of age, just 57 years before Enoch’s translation in 987. So from the earliest days there was a preaching against the devil’s ‘infiltrators’, verse 4, and their judgment.
The word ‘ordained’ in Jude, verse 4, means ‘written about’! The wicked rebellion of men against God has ever been a subject of faithful preaching and indeed, writings!
2. Those that please God will experience Heaven. Indeed, what Enoch enjoyed and is presently enjoying, all Christians will enjoy one day! 1 Corinthians 15:50-57.
3. We have ‘true faith’ explained to us here. “He that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”
1. Believe that He exists.
2. Believe that He is Who He claims to be. (Creator, Redeemer, Defender, Friend)
3. Above all. He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. This is the only place ‘rewarder’ this word appears! It means ‘One who pays wages’.