The Work of Christ in Redemption of Mankind: The Calling of the Sinner.

God is Calling you today!!!!!!!

Questions for Research and Review.

1. What do we mean by calling?
2. How do external and internal calling differ
3. In what sense is it universal?
4. Are we conscious of this calling?
5. To what end is it directed?

For further study

1. Is the calling a work of just One Person of the Trinity or all Three Persons? 1 Cor 1:9; 1 Thess 2:12; Matthew 11:28; Luke 5:32; Matthew 2:10; Acts 5:31-32.
2. Is the word ‘Regeneration’ in the Bible Titus 3:5 What other term is used to express this idea.  Jn 3:3-5,7-8,  2 Cor 5:17; Ephesians 2:5; James 1 :18; 1 Peter 1 :23
3. Does Titus 3:5 prove we are regenerated by baptism? If not, how would you explain it?
   

Passages to Memorize

Mar 16:15  Then He said to them, "Go the whole world over, and proclaim the Good News to all mankind.

Mar 16:16  He who believes and is baptized shall be saved, but he who disbelieves will be condemned.

Mat 22:14  "For there are many called, but few chosen."

Act 13:46  Then, throwing off all reserve, Paul and Barnabas said, "We were bound to proclaim God's Message to you first. But since you spurn it and judge yourselves to be unworthy of the Life of the Ages--well, we turn to the Gentiles.

Act 13:47  For such is the Lord's command to us. "'I HAVE PLACED THEE,' He says of Christ, 'AS A LIGHT TO THE GENTILES, IN ORDER THAT THOU MAYEST BE A SAVIOUR AS FAR AS THE REMOTEST PARTS OF THE EARTH.'"

Note the Seriousness of this Calling

Pro 1:24  Because I called, and you refused; I stretched out my hand, and no one paid attention;

Pro 1:25  but you have despised all my advice, and would have none of my warning.

Pro 1:26  I also will laugh at your trouble; I will mock when your fear comes;

Mat 23:37  "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem! thou who murderest the Prophets and stonest those who have been sent to thee! how often have I desired to gather thy children to me, just as a hen gathers her chickens under her wings, and you would not come!

Joh 3:3  "In most solemn truth I tell you," answered Jesus, "that unless a man is born anew he cannot see the Kingdom of God."

Joh 3:4  "How is it possible," Nicodemus asked, "for a man to be born when he is old? Can he a second time enter his mother's womb and be born?"

Joh 3:5  "In most solemn truth I tell you," replied Jesus, "that unless a man is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God.

Joh 3:6  Whatever has been born of the flesh is flesh, and whatever has been born of the Spirit is spirit.

Joh 3:7  Do not be astonished at my telling you, 'You must all be born anew.'

The Definition of Divine Calling by Berkhof:

It is that gracious act of God whereby He invites sinners to accept His Salvation that is is offered in Christ Jesus.

It consists in the presentation and offering of Salvation in Christ to sinners, together with an earnest exhortation to accept Christ by faith in order to obtain forgiveness of sins and eternal life.

Three essential elements: 1) A Presentation of the Gospel facts 1 Cor 15:1-4

1Co 15:1  But let me recall to you, brethren, the Good News which I brought you, which you accepted, and on which you are standing,

1Co 15:2  through which also you are obtaining salvation, if you bear in mind the words in which I proclaimed it--unless indeed your faith has been unreal from the very first.

1Co 15:3  For I repeated to you the all-important fact which also I had been taught, that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures;

1Co 15:4  that He was buried; that He rose to life again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,

2)  An Invitation to Repent and believe the Gospel.

Act 2:37  Stung to the heart by these words, they said to Peter and the rest of the Apostles, "Brethren, what are we to do?"

Act 2:38  "Repent," replied Peter, "and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, with a view to the remission of your sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Act 2:39  For to you belongs the promise, and to your children, and to all who are far off, whoever the Lord our God may call."

Repent: μετανοέω metanoeō Thayer Definition:

1) to change one’s mind, i.e. to repent

2) to change one’s mind for better, heartily to amend with abhorrence of one’s past sins

Act 16:30  and, bringing them out of the prison, he exclaimed, "O sirs, what must I do to be saved?"

Act 16:31  "Believe on the Lord Jesus," they replied, "and both you and your household will be saved."

Believe:G4100 πιστεύω pisteuō Thayer Definition:

1) to think to be true, to be persuaded of, to credit, place confidence in 1a) of the thing believed 1a1) to credit, have confidence

1b) in a moral or religious reference 1b1) used in the NT of the conviction and trust to which a man is impelled by a certain inner and higher prerogative and law of soul 1b2) to trust in Jesus or God as able to aid either in obtaining or in doing something: saving faith

2) to entrust a thing to one, i.e. his fidelity

2a) to be intrusted with a thing

Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. He was a heathen. Faith was the first essential step. To Jews, on the day of Pentecost, already believing Peter's proposition, he said, in answer to the same question, "Repent and be baptized;" but the heathen jailer was not ready for this. Faith must first be wrought, and then that faith, leading to the acceptance of Christ, would save. His faith would save, because it would be the power that would lead him to follow Christ.

And thy house. We learn from the next verse that "his house" could listen the word of the Lord, hence were not infants. It was needful to preach the word, for this heathen knew almost nothing of the gospel. In preaching it, Paul preached baptism, for that follows in Act_16:33. PNT

3) A Promise of Forgiveness and Salvation

Col 2:13  And to you--dead as you once were in your transgressions and in the uncircumcision of your natural state--He has nevertheless given Life with Himself, having forgiven us all our transgressions.

Col 3:13  bearing with one another and readily forgiving each other, if any one has a grievance against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, you also must forgive.

Whoever Calls upon the Name of the Lord will be SAVED!!

APPLICATION

Repent and Believe the Good News today. Christ has paid the penalty for our sin on the Cross. Change your mind concerning the wickedness of your past. Turn away from all wrong living and believe that The Sacrifice of Christ on the Cross is sufficient to calm the anger of God and your eternal judgment.