8.27.2015

The Call of God

Part 9 - The Holy Spirit
Chapter 40 - Calling

God applies the work of Christ's redemption to us through the Spirit, Who calls, regenerates, converts, justifies, adopts, sanctifies, preserves, and glorifies us.  This is the traditional ordo salutis, order of salvation.

The Father decrees our salvation (normative perspective - Ephesians 1:4), the Son accomplishes atonement in history (situational perspective - Eph. 1:7), and the Spirit applies it to us personally (existential perspective - Eph. 1:13).

We are justified from our guilt (normative), adopted instead of punished (situational), and regenerated from our corruption (existential).

Effectual call
This is a summons into fellowship with Christ.  It comes at a point in history, so the elect are dead in trespasses and sins until the call takes effect.  When it does, we do not resist it, but respond with faith.  The Father calls us, while the Spirit regenerates us.

Other callings of God are the call to
- church office - Rom 1:1; 1 Cor 1:1
- faith, in the free offer of the gospel - Prov. 8:4-5; Matt.22:14
- vocation - 1 Cor. 7:20-24 is used here, but doesn't directly name our professions or roles in life as callings.

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