Still taking a break once a week to join in with the Challies reading group.
Required reading
Redemption Accomplished and Applied by John Murray (available from - Part 2, Chapter 2, 'Effectual calling'.
Today Murray looks at effectual calling. After distinguishing the effectual call from the universal call, Murray examines the following aspects of the effectual call:
(i) The Author (It comes from God the Father);
(ii) The Nature (It is effective, immutable, high, holy and heavenly);
(iii) The Pattern (It is a determined purpose of God, it is eternal, it is in Christ);
(iv) The Priority (It is before regeneration).
What grabbed me
I liked how Murray made the important point that although we can understand the calling as a 'summons', it is not an ordinary 'summons': 'We do not ordinarily associate the word "summons" the efficacy that is requisite for compliance with that summons. A summons issued by a court does not of itself empower us to appear in court. It gives us warrant to appear and it requires us to appear but it does not actually bring us into court. That depends on our strength and will. Or, perchance, it depends on the force applied by the executive officers if we are apprehended and compelled to appear. It is wholly otherwise with God's summons. The summons is invested with the efficacy by which we are delivered to the destination intended-we are effectively ushered into the fellowship of Christ. There is something determinate about God's call; by his sovereign power and grace it cannot fail of accomplishment.' The call of God is a powerful call that cannot be ignored or resisted!
Now it's your turn
Go over to http://www.challies.com/ and post your thoughts.
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