Effectual Calling and what It looks like.

Premises: 1) God reveals himself to us through his creation 2) God reveals himself to us through his Word 3) God reveals himself to us through his Son Romans 8:28-30 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him,[a] who[b] have been called according to his purpose. 29For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. A. God laid the Architectural Plans for all His works before He created the world
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B.

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And if the Lord had not cut short the days, no human being would be saved. But for(A) the sake of the elect, whom(B) he chose, he shortened the days.

a. God shortened the days of tribulation and struggle for the sake of His sheep (john 1:1-8) C. Effectual Calling: that which effectuates whatever it attempts to do a. Isaiah 55:11 i. 11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. b. Outer calling: hearing the name of Jesus outwardly spoken i. Matthew 25:34, john 6:37 c. The problem here is that dead men cant seek after God: i. Romans 3:11: Man in his fallen condition is so bound by sin and blinded by his iniquities that he desires nothing to do with a Holy God. The problem is mans will which is SET against God and is bound. Those that seek after God will find him. (Jeremiah 29:13, 1 corinthians 2:14) ii. Before the external calling, there needs to be an inward work of the Holy Spirit. Matthew 2:14 : Few in consideration to How many Billion people have existed. (95 billion est. ) iii. John 6:37: The recognition of an inward call and outward call. d. 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14 : e. This Gift of salvation is something Unearned, unmerited, and undeserved. As we look around we see some embrace Jesus and New life while others seem to breeze by without it. 1 Corinthians 4:7

For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not? ii. The situation is: everything we have received comes from God, therefore if the choice to follow God comes from ourselves, we oftentimes(almost always) turn to our brother and say, I am better than you, more religious, more spiritual, more softhearted, less in love with sin and the world, leads us to boast. Luke 18:9-14 iii. Some people suppose man can free himself from his Trespasses and sin: Hence comes religion. But we in Jesus: (John 8:36, job 14:4) B. Man is free to do whatever he WANTS, which is why hes responsible for everything he does. The problem is he doesnt have the power to do what he OUGHT. He ought to love God will all his heart, Strength, Mind, and soul. Mark 12:30 a. Ephesians 1:9-11 b: Lets consider the creation of the Universe and how This world came about: Genesis 1:1-3. Through the word of His Power! John 1:1 c: John 11:43 : The dead come to life. Lazarus d: Was anyone asked What color their eyes should be or where they would be born or What parents would they like to have? E: The holy spirit awakens, guides and takes away the darkened mind, illuminates his understanding, unstops his ears, takes away his heart of stone, gives him a heart of flesh, renews his Dead will, F: What about those who externally hear the word and never really see it penetrate the depths of their heart? 1: . It is always a voluntary act to harden the heart, and a voluntary state when the hardness of heart is continued. 2: Men harden their hearts by indulging prejudice against God 3: . They often harden their hearts by indulging prejudices against the church, against the ministry, against the truth. Press them to repent, and you will find in fact that they immediately betake themselves to finding fault with Christians and ministersThey often harden their hearts by indulging prejudices against the church, against the ministry, against the truth 4: Men harden their hearts through a pride of consistency.

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5: 5: Men harden their hearts because they are ashamed to forsake the ranks of the ungodly, and openly confess Christ 6: Men harden their hearts through an unwillingness to confess and make restitution where they have wronged their neighbors 7: Men harden their hearts by yielding to their temper 8: Men harden their hearts through the "fear of man 9: Sinners still more frequently harden their hearts by yielding to their own censorious tendencies. They have a bitter, sour spirit themselves. They are selfish, and suspect everybody else of being selfish. 10: Men often harden their hearts through fear of being ridiculed, or persecuted, if they become religious..