“The
Heavenly Calling”
Hebrews 3:1
There are some people in this
world described by the Holy Spirit as “the
called” (Rom. 1:6; 8:28). Those who are the called of Jesus Christ are
God’s elect, those sinners redeemed by the precious blood of Christ, who have
been saved by his almighty, irresistible grace. All the rest of the elect shall
be called, but those who are saved are “the
called”, called from death to life, from unbelief to faith in Christ.
The Means of the
Call
All who are privileged to hear the gospel preached are
called externally, by the preaching of the gospel. But those who are saved, “the called” have been called
internally, effectually, and irresistibly by God the Holy Spirit. “The called” are like the Thessalonian
saints. Their election, redemption, and calling is made manifest by the fact
that the Word of God has come to them, not in word only, “but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance” (!
Thess. 1:5). There is no effectual call of grace apart from the preaching of
the gospel. Yet, the preaching of the gospel will never produce life and faith
in Christ without the effectual call of God the Holy Spirit.
The Result of the
Call
Salvation comes to chosen, redeemed sinners in the
experience of grace by the almighty, irresistible, effectual call of God the
Holy Spirit. It is this call of which David sang, when he said, “Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and
causest to approach unto thee” (Ps. 65:4). This is the call the Apostle Paul was talking about when he said, “God separated me from my mother’s womb,
called me by his grace, and revealed his Son in me” (Gal. 1:15-16) Paul was talking about this internal,
effectual call when he wrote to Timothy, in 2 Timothy 1:9-11, saying, God
"hath saved us, and called us with
an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose
and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, But is
now made manifest by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who hath
abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the
gospel: Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of
the Gentiles."
The Character of the
Call
Whenever the Apostle Paul speaks
of this call, he seems to be so overwhelmed by it. He seems to be in such awe
of it that he cannot find words sufficient to describe it. He calls it…
·
“An Holy Calling” (2 Tim. 1:9).
·
“The High Calling of God” (Phil. 3:14).
·
“The Calling of God” (Rom. 11:29).
·
“Your Calling” (1 Cor. 1:26; Eph. 4:4).
·
“The Heavenly Calling” (Heb. 3:1).