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| A Japanese cemetery in Kyoto |
1689.26.1 "The catholic or universal church, which (with respect to the internal work of the Spirit and truth of grace) may be called invisible, consists of the whole number of the elect, that have been, are, or shall be gathered into one, under Christ, the head thereof; and is the spouse, the body, the fulness of him that fills all in all."
While commenting and explaining "the internal work of the Spirit and truth of grace" we touched briefly on what had been covered in 1689.10 on effectual calling and other things related to it.
After the bible study last night, there was a request to distinguish the effectual calling from regeneration.
Below is the outcome.
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#Effectual_Calling
#Effectual_Calling
#Justification_of_life
#Regeneration_n_Adoption
#Spirit_of_Adoption
Here are
some brief thoughts on the distinction between the effectual calling and
regeneration, and some other related issues. May the Lord grant you
understanding. Don't follow the popular theologians blindly, beware of
soundbytes. Be like the Bereans; study and think for yourself, it is ok to do
that!
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Effectual
calling is the free and sovereign activity of the Triune God in calling the
elect:
- OUT OF
that state of sin and death in which they are by nature,
- INTO
that state of grace and salvation by Jesus Christ.
This
divine calling is always effectual, i.e. it always accomplishes its end and
purpose, an elect is always brought out of... and into... Divine omnipotence
guarantees its efficacy each time.
This
divine calling is immutable, i.e. once effectually called, remains immutably
called, forever.
This
divine calling is complete and perfect.
An elect
in his native state is
- in the
state condemnation because of sin
- in the
state of spiritual deadness because of sin, Rom 6:23
- in the
state of alienation, separated from God, because of sin.
To bring
an elect OUT OF his native state, ALL THESE THREE issues must be dealt with,
without which he is NOT OUT of his native state.
Justification
- the application of Christ's righteousness to the elect personally, freely by
God's grace - deals with the issue of condemnation.
Regeneration
- the implanting of the new life, based solely upon the righteousness of Christ
that has been applied - deals with the issue of spiritual deadness.
Adoption
- bringing the regenerated into the number and family of God, and endowing him
with the gift of the Holy Spirit - deals with the issue of alienation; the
alienated is now brought HOME, back into the family of God.
O, bless
the LORD! Home!
All
these divine activities are NECESSARY to bring an elect OUT OF his native state
INTO that state of grace and salvation by Jesus Christ. All these divine
activities are related to the ETERNAL salvation of the elect.
Regeneration
is the free and sovereign activity of the Spirit of God in quickening (make
alive) an elect in his native state of spiritual deadness; this new birth
endows the elect (in his native state of deadness) a new life, which is
spiritual and eternal.
Regeneration
is more specific in scope; it is subsumed under the effectual calling. The
major element in the effectual calling is justification, i.e. the justification
of life.
Rom 5:18
Therefore as by the offence of one, judgment came upon all men to condemnation;
even so by the righteousness of one, the free gift came upon all men unto
justification of life.
It is
the justification of life because, with the application of the righteousness of
Jesus Christ to the elect personally, the basis of life has been given;
regeneration NECESSARILY follows when the righteousness of Christ is applied.
Sins
brought condemnation and death;
Righteousness
secures justification and life; even the righteousness provided by God through
His Son Jesus Christ.
Rom 8:30
"Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he
called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also
glorified."
There is
no mention of both regeneration and adoption in this momentous passage. Without
understanding the above, host of theologians are lost in confusion and
contradictions.
The
justification of life NECESSARILY includes regeneration; they are like the two
sides of the same coin, though distinct but always together. And regeneration
NECESSARILY includes adoption; that which is born of the Spirit of God, based
solely on the righteousness of Christ Jesus, is assured received into the
divine family by God the Father.
Believing
the gospel truth is ONLY POSSIBLE AFTER the effectual call; believing or faith
justifies, demonstrates, certifies, validates/etc that the believing one has
been justified, regenerated and adopted into God's family, and indwelt by the
Spirit of God.
Again,
the host of theologians, being willfully ignorant of the distinct facets of
justification, are lost and confused with their "justification by faith
alone."
One
Baptist theologian, the great DrJohn Gill, said this,
"The reason, why any are justified, IS NOT because they have faith; but the reason why
they have faith IS because they are justified."
The
reformed theologians and their followers insist on the EXACT OPPOSITE! That's
their sacred cow "justification by faith alone." They have swallowed
hook, line, and sinker the devil's lie popularised in the 16th century.
Putting
the cart before the horse is always seen as a sign of stupidity, i.e. lacking
common sense! Common sense is rare today. Soundbyte is common and popular.
May you
be Aquila and Priscilla ready to help the Apollos of our generation. Amen.
