6. The end of our effective appeal
The end of our effective calling is the honor of God. “To be in praise of his glory? (Ephesians 1. 12). He who is in his natural state is no more capable of honoring God than a barbarian is capable of rational acts. A man, before conversion, continually reflects his dishonor against God. Just as the black smoke, emerging from the swamps and marshes, covers and darkens the sun, so from the heart of the natural man emerges the black smoke of sin, which like a cloud covers the glory of God. The sinner is mired in betrayal and does not understand loyalty to the King of Heaven. But there are some on whom the lot of free grace falls, and these will be taken as a jewel among the scum and really called, so that they raise the name of God in the world. The Lord will have some in all ages who will oppose the corruption of the ages, testify of its truths, and convert sinners from the errors of their ways. He must have his notables, just like King David. Those who have been erected as monuments of God’s mercy will be trumpets of his praise.
- These considerations show us the need for an effective appeal.
- Without it.
- There is no way to go to heaven.
- Should we be prepared to participate in inheritance? (Colossians 1:12.
- ARC).
- Just as God makes heaven suitable for us.
- He also makes us suitable for heaven; And what makes that meeting possible but effective appeal? A man who remains in the dirt and scum of his nature is no more fit for heaven than a dead man to inherit property.
- The call from above is not an arbitrary or indifferent thing; on the contrary.
- It is as indispensable as salvation; but sadly how neglected this indispensable thing is! Most men.
- Like the people of Israel.
- Wander to and fro to gather straw.
- But they are not concerned with the proof of their royal calling.
- Notice the tremendous power that God uses to call sinners! By calling.
- God brings the sinner (John 6:44).
- Conversion is known as resurrection: “Blessed and holy is he who participates in the first resurrection? (Revelation 20.
- 6); that is.
- A resurrection of sin to grace.
- A man cannot be converted any more than a dead person can resurrect.
- Conversion is also called creation (Colossians 3:10).
- Creating is above the power of nature.
Objection: However, some say that the will is not dead, but simply asleep, and God, out of moral persuasion, only awakens us, and then the will can obey God’s call and move from itself to his.
I answer to this: every man is bound by chained sin: “I see that you are in a field of bitterness and a bond of wickedness?(Acts 8. 23). Is it enough for a chained man to use arguments and convince him?there must be a rupture in the chains and a release before I can walk. The same is true for every natural man: he is in jail for corruption; only the Lord, by the grace he converts, can open his chains, yes, and still give him legs to run; otherwise, you will never get salvation.
? Are you seeking with increasing diligence to confirm your vocation? (2 Peter 1. 10). This is the greatest business of our life: to obtain reliable proof of our effective vocation. Don’t rely on outside privileges; do not shout like the Jews: “Temple of the Lord! (Jeremiah 7. 4). Do not rest in baptism: what is the water for, but without the Spirit? He is not happy that Christ has been preached to him. Don’t settle for an empty profession; you can have all these things and be nothing but shooting stars, fiery comets. But endeavor to show your own souls that you are called God. Don’t be like Athenians looking for news. What is the condition and appearance of the times? What changes are likely to occur that year? What good is all this if they don’t actually call you? What if the weather was better? What use is the glory of inhabiting our land, if grace does not remain in our hearts? Oh my brothers, when things are dark outside, let everything be bright inside. Use your due diligence to make sure your appeal is credible and probable. God is not absent from those who seek him. Don’t let this big problem continue another minute. If there were a dispute over his land, he would use any means to prove his ownership; Is your salvation nothing? Don’t you prove your ownership in this case? Consider how sad your situation is if they don’t actually call you.
You are strangers to God. The prodigal son has gone to a distant land (Luke 15:13), implying that every sinner, before conversion, is far from God. “At that moment, were you without Christ, [?] promise pacts?(Ephesians 2. 12). Men who die in their sins have no more right to promises than foreigners to the privileges of indigenous citizens. If you are foreigners, you cannot expect another language of God, other than this: “I do not know you!”.
If they don’t really call you, you’re an enemy, strangers and enemies?(Colossses 1:21). There’s nothing in the Bible you can call yours, except threats. You are the heirs to all wounds written in the book of God. While they can resist the commandments of the law, they cannot escape. The curses of the law. May these enemies of God read their condemnation: “How many, however, to my enemies, who did not want me to rule them, bring them here, and execute them in my presence?”(Luke 19:27). How miserable and condemnable their condition will be, if death calls them before the Spirit!
Authorizations: You are authorized and encouraged to reproduce and distribute this material in any format, provided that the author, his ministry and translator are no longer no longer modified and not used for commercial purposes.