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Understanding Your Calling - by John MacArthur

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Frank T:
Understanding Your Calling


"I pray that . . . you may know what is the hope of [God's] calling" (Eph. 1:18).

The hope of your calling is grounded in God’s promises and in Christ’s accomplishments.

In Ephesians 1:3-14 Paul proclaims the blessings of our salvation. In verse 18 he prays that we will comprehend those great truths, which he summarizes in the phrase "the hope of His calling."

"Calling" here refers to God's effectual calling—the calling that redeems the soul. Scripture speaks of two kinds of calling: the gospel or general call and the effectual or specific call. The gospel call is given by men and is a universal call to repent and trust Christ for salvation (e.g., Matt. 28:19; Acts 17:30-31). It goes out to all sinners but not all who hear it respond in faith.

The effectual call is given by God only to the elect. By it He speaks to the soul, grants saving faith, and ushers elect sinners into salvation (John 6:37-44, 65; Acts 2:39). All who receive it respond in faith.

The hope that your effectual calling instills is grounded in God's promises and Christ's accomplishments (1 Pet. 1:3), and is characterized by confidently expecting yet patiently waiting for those promises to be fulfilled. It is your hope of final glorification and of sharing God's glory when Christ returns (Col. 3:4). It is a source of strength and stability amid the trials of life (1 Pet. 3:14-15). Consequently it should fill you with joy (Rom. 5:2) and motivate you to godly living (1 John 3:3).

As you face this new day, do so with the confidence that you are one of God's elect. He called you to Himself and will hold you there no matter what circumstances you face. Nothing can separate you from His love (Rom. 8:38-39)!

Suggestions for Prayer

Thank God for the security of your salvation.
Ask Him to impress on your heart the blessings and responsibilities of your calling.
Live today in anticipation of Christ's imminent return.
For Further Study

Joshua's call to lead Israel was not a call to salvation, but it illustrates some important principles for spiritual leadership. You might not see yourself as a spiritual leader, but you are important to those who look to you as an example of Christian character.

Read Joshua 1:1-9 then answer these questions:

What were the circumstances of Joshua's call (vv. 1-2)?
What promises did God make to him (vv. 3-6)?
What did God require of him (vv. 7-9)?

From Drawing Near by John MacArthur

Moss:
Paul in Eph. 1:18 was addressing the Gentiles, not the Jews. I think everybody would agree that the Jews were God's chosen people, nation of the elect. Many times in the Old Testament the Jews strayed from the law and were called back by a form that could be considered effectual calling, usually accomplished by harsh discipline. However the nation of Israel always seem to stray away from God causing Him to again call his people back into obeying His given law.

The Gentile church seems to go through the same scenario as a nation of Israel. And I would say even the individual Christian lives a similar life of vacillating in and out of God's will. I don't think though that the Christians ever really lose their faith even when they were in disobedience.

Iconoclast:
=Moss


--- Quote ---Paul in Eph. 1:18 was addressing the Gentiles, not the Jews. I think everybody would agree that the Jews were God's chosen people, nation of the elect.
--- End quote ---

All believers are elect...not just Jews...



--- Quote ---Many times in the Old Testament the Jews strayed from the law and were called back by a form that could be considered effectual calling
--- End quote ---
,
This is not how the term effectual calling is used...see here from the 1689 confession of faith;

Chapter 10: Of Effectual Calling
1._____   Those whom God hath predestinated unto life, he is pleased in his appointed, and accepted time, effectually to call, by his Word and Spirit, out of that state of sin and death in which they are by nature, to grace and salvation by Jesus Christ; enlightening their minds spiritually and savingly to understand the things of God; taking away their heart of stone, and giving unto them a heart of flesh; renewing their wills, and by his almighty power determining them to that which is good, and effectually drawing them to Jesus Christ; yet so as they come most freely, being made willing by his grace.
( Romans 8:30; Romans 11:7; Ephesians 1:10, 11; 2 Thessalonians 2:13, 14; Ephesians 2:1-6; Acts 26:18; Ephesians 1:17, 18; Ezekiel 36:26; Deuteronomy 30:6; Ezekiel 36:27; Ephesians 1:19; Psalm 110:3; Song of Solomon 1:4 )
2._____   This effectual call is of God's free and special grace alone, not from anything at all foreseen in man, nor from any power or agency in the creature, being wholly passive therein, being dead in sins and trespasses, until being quickened and renewed by the Holy Spirit; he is thereby enabled to answer this call, and to embrace the grace offered and conveyed in it, and that by no less power than that which raised up Christ from the dead.
( 2 Timothy 1:9; Ephesians 2:8; 1 Corinthians 2:14; Ephesians 2:5; John 5:25; Ephesians 1:19, 20 )

3._____   Elect infants dying in infancy are regenerated and saved by Christ through the Spirit; who worketh when, and where, and how he pleases; so also are all elect persons, who are incapable of being outwardly called by the ministry of the Word.
( John 3:3, 5, 6; John 3:8 )

4._____   Others not elected, although they may be called by the ministry of the Word, and may have some common operations of the Spirit, yet not being effectually drawn by the Father, they neither will nor can truly come to Christ, and therefore cannot be saved: much less can men that receive not the Christian religion be saved; be they never so diligent to frame their lives according to the light of nature and the law of that religion they do profess.
( Matthew 22:14; Matthew 13:20, 21; Hebrews 6:4, 5; John 6:44, 45, 65; 1 John 2:24, 25; Acts 4:12; John 4:22; John 17:3 )

usually accomplished by harsh discipline. However the nation of Israel always seem to stray away from God causing Him to again call his people back into obeying His given law.

The Gentile church seems to go through the same scenario as a nation of Israel. And I would say even the individual Christian lives a similar life of vacillating in and out of God's will. I don't think though that the Christians ever really lose their faith even when they were in disobedience.
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