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…

The Lord Jesus Christ tells us that men ought always to pray and not to faint. Actually, there are many things men ought always to do but by nature we cannot and will not do them. For example, we will not give God the honour, praise and love He is due from His creatures. We will not glorify His name. Far from loving the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength we hate Him by nature and despise His claims upon us. A long way down Paul has in this very chapter described our fallen nature as ‘enmity against God’. Enmity is mankind’s governing principle of aversion and hostility towards God in heart and mind. It is the state of all…