-26 Chapter 26. Of Calling.

1-26 Chapter 26. Of Calling.

Up to here, Application. The parts of Application follow.

1. The parts of Application are two. Union with Christ, and Communion of the benefits that flow from that Union. Php_3:9, That I may be found him, having the righteousness that is by the Faith of Christ.
2. This Union is that spiritual relation of men to Christ by which they obtain the right to all those blessings which are prepared in him. 1 John 5:12, He that has the Son has life; and 1 John 3:24, he dwells in God, and God in him.
3. This Union is wrought by calling.
4. For CALLING is a gathering of men together to Christ, that they may be united with him. 1 Peter 2:4-5, Coming to Him, [a spiritual house]; Ephesians 4:12, For the gathering together of the Saints for the edifying of the Body of Christ. From this union with Christ follows Union with God the Father. 1 Thessalonians 1:1 and 1 Thessalonians 2:12.408 To the Church, which is in God the Father, and in our Lord Jesus Christ.
5. This therefore is that first thing which pertains to the application of redemption. Ephesians 1:7-9, In whom we have redemption, etc. After he made known to us the mystery of his will. And it is that first thing which makes a man actually elected in himself; that is the first act of election, which is shown forth and exercised in man himself. This is why Calling and Election sometimes have the same sense in the Scriptures. 1 Corinthians 1:26-28, You see your Calling: God has chosen foolish things and weak things, etc.
6. Hence the Calling of men does not in any way depend upon the dignity, honesty, industry, or any endeavour of the called, but upon the election and predestination of God only. Acts 2:47, The Lord added to the Church those who would be saved. Acts 13:48, As many as were ordained to life believed. Romans 8:30, Those whom he predestined, he also called. Titus 3:5, Not by works of righteousness, but of his own mercy. James 1:18, Of his own will he begat us by the word of truth.
7. The parts of Calling are two: the offer of Christ, and receiving him. John 1:11-12, He came to his own, and his own received him not. But to as many as received him, he gave them, etc.
8. The OFFER is an objective propounding of Christ, as a sufficient and necessary means to salvation. 1 Corinthians 1:23-24, We preach Christ, the Power of God and the Wisdom of God. Hebrews 7:25, He is able to perfectly save those who come to God by him. Acts 4:12, Nor is there any other name under heaven, which is given among men, by which we must be saved.
9. In the calling of men, there is nothing propounded nor should be propounded about Christ, that is to be believed as true, which is not plainly and absolutely true. For that would be against both the nature of testimony — as it is an object of that Faith which is in the understanding, the formal reason of which is truth — and also against the nature of the Gospel itself, which by excellence is called the word of truth, Ephesians 1:13.409
10. The Offer of Christ is outward, or inward.
11. The OUTWARD offer is a propounding or preaching of the Gospel, or of any of the promises of Christ. Acts 9:15, That he may bear my name in the sight of the Gentiles.
12. Yet, so that man may be prepared to receive the promises, the application of the Law ordinarily goes beforehand to reveal sin, and the inexcusableness and humiliation of the sinner. Romans 7:7, I would not have known sin, except by the Law.
13. Those promises, as touching the outward promulgation [of the Gospel], are propounded to all without difference, together with a command to believe them; but as touching the propriety of the things promised,410 which depend upon the intention of the one who promises, they belong only to the elect, who are therefore called the sons and heirs of the promise, Romans 9:8.
14. The INWARD offer is a spiritual enlightening, whereby those promises are propounded to the hearts of men, as it were by an inward word. John 6:45, Whoever has heard from the Father and has learned, comes to me. Ephesians 1:17, That he might give to you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, that the eyes of your mind being enlightened, you may know what is the hope of your calling.
15. This is also sometimes, and in a certain [limited] manner, granted to those who are not elected. Hebrews 6:4; Hebrews 10:29; Matthew 13:20.411
16. Anyone who opposes himself to this illumination, out of malice, commits a sin against the Holy Spirit, which is called unpardonable, or unto death, Hebrews 6:6; Hebrews 10:29; 1 John 5:16; Matthew 12:32.412
17. The RECEIVING of Christ is that by which Christ, being offered, is joined to man and man to Christ [by faith]. John 6:56, He abides in me, and I in him.
18. In respect to this conjunction, we say that we are in Christ, 2 Corinthians 5:17; and we put on Christ, Galatians 3:27; are dwelled in by Christ, Ephesians 3:17; are the house of Christ, Hebrews 3:6; the Temple of Christ, 2 Corinthians 6:16; to be espoused to Christ, Ephesians 5:23; Branches of Christ, John 15:5; Members of Christ, 1 Corinthians 12:12; and the name of Christ is in a certain manner communicated to us, 1 Corinthians 12:27.413 So also is Christ.
19. Because of this receiving, Calling is called conversion, Acts 26:20,414 because all those who obey the call of God, are wholly converted from sin to grace — from the world to follow God in Christ. It is also called regeneration by such words as new birth of life, new Creation, new Creature, as often set forth in the Scriptures: John 1:13; John 3:6; 1 John 3:9; 1 Peter 1:3, 1 Peter 1:23.415
20. Receiving, in respect to man, is either passive, or active. Php_3:12, That I may apprehend, I was apprehended.
21. PASSIVE receiving of Christ is that by which a spiritual principle of grace is begotten in the will of man. Ephesians 2:5, He has quickened us [i.e. made us alive].
22. For this grace is the foundation of that revelation whereby a man is united with Christ. John 3:3 Unless a man is born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.
23. But the Will is the most proper and prime subject of this grace, because the conversion of the Will is an effectual principle of the conversion of the whole man. Php_2:17, It is God that works in you both to will and to do, of his own good pleasure.
24. The enlightening of the mind is not sufficient to produce this effect, because it does not take away that corruption which is in the will; nor does [enlightening] communicate to [the will] any new supernatural principle by virtue of which it may convert itself.
25. Yet the Will, in respect to this first receiving, does not have the consideration either of a free agent, or of a natural patient, but only of obedient subjection. 2 Corinthians 4:6, Because God who said that light should shine out of darkness, is the one who has shined in our hearts.
26. ACTIVE receiving is Actus elicitus,416 an act of Faith drawn forth, whereby the one called now wholly leans upon Christ as his Saviour, and by Christ upon God. John 3:15-16, Whoever believes in him;417 1 Peter 1:21, Through him, believing in God.418
27. This act of Faith depends partly upon a principle or habit of grace that is ingenerated, and partly upon the operation of God moving before and stirring it up. John 6:44, None can come to me, unless the Father draws him.
28. This act of Faith is indeed drawn out and exercised by man freely, but also certainly, unavoidably, and unchangeably. John 6:37, Whatever my Father gives me, shall come to me.
29. With this Faith, by which the will is turned to having the true good, there is always joined repentance, by which the same will is also turned to doing the true good — with an averseness and hatred of the contrary evil or sin. Acts 19:4; Mark 1:15, Repent and believe the Gospel.
30. REPENTANCE has the same causes and principles as Faith, for they are both the free gifts of God. Ephesians 2:8, Faith is the gift of God. 2 Timothy 2:25, Whether God will at any time give them repentance. They have the same subject, because both have their seat in the heart or will of man. Romans 10:9, With the heart, man believes. 1 Kings 8:48, They shall return with all their heart. They are also begotten at the same time. But First, they have different objects: for Faith is properly carried to Christ, and by Christ to God — but repentance is carried to God himself who was previously offended by sin. Acts 20:21, Repentance toward God, and Faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. Secondly, they have different ends, for Faith properly seeks reconciliation with God; but Repentance seeks to be suitable to the will of God. Romans 3:25, A reconciliation through Faith in his blood. Acts 26:20, That they should turn to God, doing works befitting repentance.
31. Repentance in respect to that carefulness, anxiety, and terror arising from the Law with which it has joined, goes before Faith in order of nature, as a preparing and disposing cause of faith; but in respect to that effectual and kindly419 turning away from sin (because God is offended by it), it follows Faith, and it depends upon Faith, as the effect depends upon its cause. And in this, repentance is proper to the faithful.
32. Although repentance is always accompanied by grief for sins past and present, it does not properly or essentially consist in grief — as it consists in turning from and hating sin, and in a firm purpose to follow after good. Amos 5:14-15, Hate the evil; Love the good.420
33. Repentance is not true and sound if it does not turn a man from all known sin, to every known good; nor is repentance that which does not virtually421 continue, and is actually renewed as often as needed, from the time of conversion to the end of life.
34. Repentance is usually perceived before Faith, because a sinner cannot easily persuade himself that he is reconciled to God in Christ, before he feels himself to have forsaken those sins which separated him from God.