Whom He Did Predestinate, Them He Also Called (Romans 8:30)
When the apostle Paul found the twelve “disciples” in Ephesus in Acts chapter 19, he found them to have only been baptized “unto John’s (the Baptist’s) baptism”. Paul then proceeds to preach to them that John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance and that “they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.” (Acts 19:4)
What is the baptism of repentance? And what does the phrase, “believe on him which should come after” mean to us?
Repentance can only be said to occur when a person acknowledges and renounces his/her sin; only then do they become fit vessels for God’s Kingdom work. Repentance is an unmistakable change of direction toward God, whether in the form of personal holiness or public policy. This is the work of grace — but still only the first step.
The elect but unregenerate sinner can do nothing, and the work that is to be done in him/her must be done by another. This is the first grace. But after this is accomplished he/she is no longer passive, for something was brought into him/her which in the second work of grace will cooperate with God. However, we need to remember that by this it is not implied that the elect and regenerate sinner is now able to do anything without God; or that if God should cease working in him, conversion and sanctification would follow of themselves. No; all spiritual good is of grace to the end — grace not only in regeneration, but at every step of the way of life. From the beginning to the end and throughout eternity the Holy Spirit is the Worker, of regeneration and conversion, of justification and every part of sanctification, of glorification, and of all the bliss of the redeemed. Nothing may be subtracted from this.
After the elect sinner is born again, that is, quickened, endowed with the faculty of faith, and united with Jesus, the next work of grace in him is calling, of which Scripture speaks with such emphasis and so often. “But as He which has called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation” (1 Pet 1:15); “Who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Pet 2:9); “The God of all grace who hath called us unto His eternal glory”; “Whereunto He called you by our Gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Pet 5:10); “Who hath called you unto His Kingdom and Glory” (1 Thess 2:12); “that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called” (Eph 4:1); and not to mention more: “Give diligence to make your calling and election sure; for if ye do these things ye shall never fall” (2 Pet 1:10)
To respond to this calling, we need humbly to submit to the Holy Spirit and let Him work in us — this is the only way to “bear much fruit”. This is the way to prove that we are indeed Jesus’ disciples and to glorify God (John 15:8).
In His Vineyard,
Rev. Robert Chew
What is the baptism of repentance? And what does the phrase, “believe on him which should come after” mean to us?
Repentance can only be said to occur when a person acknowledges and renounces his/her sin; only then do they become fit vessels for God’s Kingdom work. Repentance is an unmistakable change of direction toward God, whether in the form of personal holiness or public policy. This is the work of grace — but still only the first step.
The elect but unregenerate sinner can do nothing, and the work that is to be done in him/her must be done by another. This is the first grace. But after this is accomplished he/she is no longer passive, for something was brought into him/her which in the second work of grace will cooperate with God. However, we need to remember that by this it is not implied that the elect and regenerate sinner is now able to do anything without God; or that if God should cease working in him, conversion and sanctification would follow of themselves. No; all spiritual good is of grace to the end — grace not only in regeneration, but at every step of the way of life. From the beginning to the end and throughout eternity the Holy Spirit is the Worker, of regeneration and conversion, of justification and every part of sanctification, of glorification, and of all the bliss of the redeemed. Nothing may be subtracted from this.
After the elect sinner is born again, that is, quickened, endowed with the faculty of faith, and united with Jesus, the next work of grace in him is calling, of which Scripture speaks with such emphasis and so often. “But as He which has called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation” (1 Pet 1:15); “Who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Pet 2:9); “The God of all grace who hath called us unto His eternal glory”; “Whereunto He called you by our Gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Pet 5:10); “Who hath called you unto His Kingdom and Glory” (1 Thess 2:12); “that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called” (Eph 4:1); and not to mention more: “Give diligence to make your calling and election sure; for if ye do these things ye shall never fall” (2 Pet 1:10)
To respond to this calling, we need humbly to submit to the Holy Spirit and let Him work in us — this is the only way to “bear much fruit”. This is the way to prove that we are indeed Jesus’ disciples and to glorify God (John 15:8).
In His Vineyard,
Rev. Robert Chew
Labels: Articles
posted by Moriah Bible-Presbyterian Church @ 16:56
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