1. As God is working all things together for our good and His glory, there is a goal he has in mind… a single purpose.
• Nothing is wasted by God as He uses it all to grow & mature us.
• The Bible says we are being conformed into the image of Jesus.
2 Corinthians 3:18 (NKJV) 18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
God’s plan of salvation is wonderful, it’s awe-inspiring.
• IN verses 29-30 there are 5 doctrines we are looking at.
• #1 - God’s foreknowledge.
• Since God is omniscient and knows all things, we can trust Him in difficult times because nothing takes Him by surprise!
• We don’t’ have foreknowledge, but God does.
THEN WE LOOKED AT THE DOCTRINE OF PREDESTINATION:
• God has predetermined the destiny of all who’ll believe in Him.
• There is this tension between the free will of man and the sovereignty of God that inspires us to trust Him all the more!
• Today, we look at God’s CALLING
GOD’S CALLING is wonderful… We believe because He called.
• The Lord has chosen us and drawn us to Himself. That’s calling.
• Flip over to John 6.44-45
• Those that are called are those in whose hearts the Holy Spirit works to lead them to saving faith in Jesus.
NOTE: We couldn’t be saved unless the Lord had drawn us to Himself, revealing Himself to us, revealing our sinfulness to us.
THERE IS THAT IDEA OUT THERE that if a person really wanted to know God they could.
• It’s NOT entirely true. You could want to know all your life but unless God chose to reveal Himself to you, U never would know.
• God can only be known if He chooses to reveal Himself.
• Flip back to Romans 1:20-23
YES, there is the revelation of God as Creator… but you can’t know God personally through that.
• Yes, there is the revelation of God through your conscience, as you realize there are things that are good and are bad.
• And yet still, there is NO personal connection.
In order to know God personally, He has to personally reveal himself to you! He has to call.
• Fortunately, God has done that through Jesus Christ!
• God spoke & created the world, but not enough to know Him.
• But the Word became flesh and dwelt among us…
• This is God’s explanation of Himself.
• We have the full revelation of God in Christ!
THE CALLING OF GOD HAPPENS 2 WAYS.
• There is the INTERNAL CALL & the EXTERNAL CALL.
THE INTERNAL CALL OF GOD is the sovereign, convicting and convincing work of God in a person’s heart.
• Flip over to John 16:5-11
• CONVICTION OF SIN. RIGHTEOUSNESS & JUDGMENT.
CONVICTION OF SIN. WHY? Because of the small little things that are done everyday? No.
• Because they DO NOT BELIEVE IN ME!
• The only unforgivable sin is the blasphemy of the HS.
• The Holy Spirit’s ministry is singular and real simple.
• He glorifies Jesus Christ, drawing people to Him.
• The sin that will condemn a person to eternal separation from God is not believing in Jesus.
• So that the blessed gift of eternal life is found by faith!
CONVICTION OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.
• Because I go to my Father.
• That’s after His death… after His resurrection…. And ascension.
WHEN the religious rulers scourged and hung Jesus on that Roman Cross, they were making a statement.
• They were saying for all to hear, this man is UNRIGHTEOUS!
• But Jesus demonstrated that He was indeed RIGHTEOUS!
• AND the HOLY SPIRIT bears that witness every single day!
THE HOLY SPIRIT CONVINCES the world that Jesus lived the perfect life and died in our place.
2 Corinthians 5:21 (NKJV) 21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
NOTE: THE world has its own form of righteousness.
• Do you know what that’s called? YES, SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS!
• As you’re sharing the gospel with a friend, a co-worker, talking to them about their sin & need for Jesus…
• Most if not all respond with something like, “Why are you telling ME this, I’m a good person! You know me.”
• But really, they are just saying they believe they live up to a standard that they have made up.
Romans 10:3-4 (NKJV) For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
And so the Holy Spirit uses you, through His Word to show a person that the standard is not personal… it’s Jesus.
• None of us live up to that standard… we all fall short!
Romans 3:23 (NKJV) for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Romans 6:23 (NKJV) 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 10:9-10 (NKJV) 9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
CONVICTION OF SIN… of RIGHTEOUSNESS…
• Finally of judgment because the ruler of this world is judged!
• Satan was judged at the cross!
• And even though it seems like he has this tremendous amount of unchecked power… it’s not true.
• YES, the Bible says:
1 Peter 5:8 (NKJV) Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
The Bible also reminds us…
Colossians 2:14-15 (NKJV) 14 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.
THE INTERNAL CALL…
John 6:65 (NKJV) 65 And He said, “Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.”
AND with the INTERNAL CALL is the EXTERNAL CALL.
• This today would be known as EVANGELISM, the proclamation of the gospel, the good news, that your sins can be forgiven!
• What a privilege we have to tell others about Jesus!!!!
Mark 16:15 (NKJV) 15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.
NOTE: Although salvation happens through God’s initiative & power, it’s never accomplished apart from faith!
• No one is ever saved apart from a conscious and willful and personal repentance from sins and acceptance of Jesus!
Romans 10:8-11 (NKJV) 8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): 9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”
THE BIBLE TEACHES that unless the Lord draws you, you cannot come to know Jesus Christ personally.
• You can’t just decide to do it any time you want.
• That means when He does call you better respond!
• Because if you don’t, you may not have another chance!
• Who’s to say the Lord will knock on the door of your life again?
• Who’s to say the Lord will give you a 2nd chance?
• What proof do you have that you will have a tomorrow?!
Listen…
John 6:37 (NKJV) 37 All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.
DO YOU SEE the cooperation here? God gives, people come.
• The Father has to give you to Christ, but you have to come.
• In other words, the Father draws you, but as the Father draws you, you have to respond.
• When you say YES to Jesus, you will not be cast out.
• Literally, “I will no never cast away forever”
This is so encouraging… the call of God, internally, externally, eternally. Yes, the call is of eternal importance & consequence.
• For those of you that are saved, it’s so comforting & encouraging to be safe and secure in Jesus Christ!
John 10:28-29 (NKJV) 28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand.
THE REASON I’m SECURE IN Jesus is not because I feel good about it or I’m having a good day.
• I mean, have you ever had a bad day?
• Ever wake up bummed out?
• Well Jesus didn’t leave you that day. He didn’t quit!
• OH MAN, ED is in a bad mood. I’m ditching him. NO WAY.
SO THEN WHAT MAKES ME KNOW I’M SAVED?
• Some days with Jesus are harder than others.
• Trials & Heartaches & Disappointments come to us all.
We know we’re secure in Him because God foreknew you and predestined you and called you to Himself!
Ephesians 1:3-4 (NKJV) 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love,
• This is incredible! I’m not saved because I feel like it but because God did it and I’ve accepted His Son!
SO WHY ISN’T EVERYONE SAVED?
• Jesus died for the sins of the world, yes.
• But not all have accepted it or even really cared.
John 8:24 (NKJV) 24 Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”
Jesus says to us today, that an unbeliever avoids dying in his/her sins by believing in, trusting in, relying upon, Jesus Christ!
• That’s the way out. That’s the only way to be saved.
• You have a choice. You have to be willing.
Matthew 23:37 (NKJV) 37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!
BE WILLING TODAY… RECOGNIZE the internal call by RESPONDING to the EXTERNAL call of God today… and find out what a wonderful and powerful plan God is working out in your life!
