[Papercut Press Publishing]1999-02-16 - C: Calling

The Holy Alphabet Series

2 Thessalonians 2:14 Whereunto He called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
"Calling effectuall is the work of Gods spirit, whereby convincing us of our sin and misery, inlightning our minds in the nowledge of Christ, and renewing our wils, he doth perswade and enable us to embrace Jesus Christ freely offered to us in the Gospel, 2 Tim. 1:9,2 Thes. 2:13,14, Acts 2:37, 26:18, Ezek. 36:26, 7, Job 6:44,45, Psal. 2:13." --Robert Port

So here we come in the alphabet to the first of three topics under the letter "C"; Calling (effectual). This is better known as our coming to faith in the atonement and saving work of Jesus Christ for our benefit.

Who has the authority to offer such an effectual call of salvation to us? We must say God has this authority. None else can change a heart but God. "The heart is more deceitful than all else, and is desperately sick; who can understand it?" Jeremiah 17:9 Our hearts must be changed by God and only He has the power to change them.

Sometimes I don't think I know much, but from experience and from the Bible, I do know this...that when it comes to my relationship with Christ, my walk with Him, and my coming to faith in His free offer of salvation...I know this: that everything I have has been given to me by God. I know it by experience, because I was an unholy wretch before God called me, and I know it because the Bible tells me so, "According as his divine power has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who has called us to glory and virtue." 2 Peter 1:3

All things that pertain to life and godliness have been given to us from God as a Father who tenderly cares for His children. God has done this according to His divine power. Many will agree with me that it is a work of infinite power to give grace to graceless souls, to make those who are sensual and worldly, spiritual and heavenly. It is a work of God, "who calls the things that are not as though they were." Romans 4:17

The authority to call us to grace rests in God. And we ought to ascribe to Him the glory He is due. "For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, has shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ" 2 Corinthians 4:6, or see Ephesians 2:10. Without the gracious light of God shining in our hearts we cannot think spiritually, we cannot grasp and comprehend spiritual and heavenly things. Therefore we ought to give glory to God for calling us, effectually, into His family as his beloved children.

Soli Deo Gloria,
T-

brutefact@hotmail.com
http://www.cfdevotionals.org

If you would like a copy of the Holy Alphabet by Port printed with another of his works on Walking with God daily, send an email to godrulestb@aol.com and get on the list of those who will be notified first when this work is republished.