The Called
Verse 28 teaches the church of Jesus Christ about effectual calling. Here Paul identifies a people whom He designates, ‘the called’. It is not the first time Paul has employed this title to describe the believers in Rome. In 1:6 he tells them their faith confirms them ‘among the called of Jesus Christ’. The called are saved men and women; boys and girls, who have been regenerated, made spiritually alive and made partakers of the new birth by God the Holy Ghost. They are ‘called’ to salvation internally by efficacious grace and externally by the preaching of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.
A spiritual work
This calling is not an appointment to an office in the church nor a commission to fulfil a specific vocation. It is not a general offer made to all men and women in the external ministry of the word. It is primarily the powerful and spiritual application of grace by which those who are dead in trespasses and sin are given new life in Christ, called from darkness to light, called from bondage to liberty and called to personally experience saving grace. In verse twenty-nine Paul tells us the subjects of the effectual call are those who have been ‘predestinated to be conformed to the image’ of Christ and foreordained to be like Him.
Effectual
We describe this calling as effectual because the call to life and liberty is attended with divine power to effect or accomplish the spiritual objective intended. It is irresistible and irreversible. It quickens dead souls and implants a desire for forgiveness of sin and peace with God. It breaks the chain of evil habits that binds a sinner under Satan’s control. It is a calling performed by the Holy Ghost, founded on particular grace and conferred exclusively on those said by Jude to be ‘sanctified by God the Father, preserved in Jesus Christ, and called’.
Purposeful
This calling by God is ‘according to his purpose’. By this we learn that the persons called are chosen to salvation by God in eternal election, set apart in the covenant of grace and committed into the care of God the Son for the cleansing of sin and redemption from the curse of the law. No one is effectually called except those particular individuals God purposed to save from the beginning. The calling of the elect is the out-working of God’s plan. Having been chosen, redeemed and called to salvation ‘the called’ own no other reason for their spiritual blessedness than the sovereign will and free grace of God.
Consequential
Accordingly, the timing and circumstances of the effectual call fulfil the purpose of God. Ezekiel says, ‘behold, thy time … the time of love’. The called are said to be drawn in lovingkindness and made willing in the day of God’s power to receive the blessings of grace. The internal call is secret. Ordinarily, a sinner’s first felt experience of grace is conviction of sin, repentance, and conversion under the external call of gospel preaching. By such means God gathers His church.
Providential
God sends preachers to minister the word and witnesses to testify to the truth of the message. He prepares the ground, supplies the good seed, sends the sower and brings forth fruit in the lives of those He calls to salvation. In all these elements the sinner is essentially passive. His natural enmity is overcome and conquered, spiritual appetites are stirred up and Christ is made the desire of our souls. God calls His elect to new life in Christ and His gift of faith fixes our hope upon our Saviour.
Amen.
Peter Meney is the Pastor of New Focus Church Online and the Editor of "New Focus Magazine" and publisher of sovereign grace material under the Go Publications imprint. The purpose and aim of the magazine and books is to spread as widely as possible the gospel of Jesus Christ and the message of free, sovereign grace found in the Holy Bible, the Word of God.
Peter Meney on Doctrinal Matters
Peter Meney on Practical Matters
Peter Meney's Sermons
Peter Meney's Scripture Meditations
Peter Meney's Children's Talks
