Effectual Call of God’s Grace

Introduction

Paul testifies that on his way to Damascus to persecute Christians, God called him to faith in Jesus and into the ministry.

Thesis: God graciously calls people to faith in Jesus.

Paul’s testimony reveals three reasons God calls people to faith.

We Are Called by God’s Grace to Accomplish God’s Purpose

A. Exegesis

1. God calls people effectually.
2. God’s call changes the direction of a person’s life.
3. God call people for a specific purpose. Each Christian has a specific assignment or ministry that God calls us to do.

B. Illustration–Jesus describes this call in John 10

C. Argumentation–Romans 8:28-30 and 9:14-16

We Are Called by God’s Grace to Know God’s Son, v. 14

A. Exegesis

1. God has called and chosen us “to know His will.”
2. God has called and chosen us “to see the Righteous One.”
3. God has called and chosen us “to hear words from His mouth.”

B. Illustration

Some sailors became lost at sea because of a sudden storm. After the storm ceased, they argued among themselves about their location and how to set their sails to reach land.

One young sailor had become involved in the science of navigating by the stars. He argued: “They are fixed. We can navigate in the darkness based on their location in the heavens.” Other sailors ridiculed the idea.

The group decided to light a lantern and hang it from the ship’s bow, thinking, “The lantern will light our way.”

How foolish! The lantern could only offer meager light on the path which they chose to travel. The stars, forever fixed, were God’s points of light pointing to safety. The lantern represents our limited understanding. The stars symbolize God’s eternal Word.

Centuries ago Solomon advised: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6).

C. Application

1. Jesus sent Ananias to Paul to teach Paul doctrine.
2. We can know God’s will because we belong to God.
3. Each Christian learns from Jesus through Bible study, prayer, Christian fellowship, and personal interaction.

We Are Called by God’s Grace to Witness God’s Grace, vv. 15-16

A. Exegesis

1. God appoints us to witness “to all men.”
2. God calls us to an active faith, not a passive faith.
   • “Get up”
   • “Be baptized”
   • “Wash your sins away, calling on His name.”
     • This is not baptismal regeneration.
     • Regeneration is effected only by “calling on His name,” Romans 10:13.
3. Those whom God calls respond with faith.

B. Illustration

Williams Fisher, in his book Don’t Park Here, likens many Christians to a piano player. Their testimonies never change. Instead of drawing on the full range of their blessings in Christ, they concentrate on just one or two notes. They play middle “C” again and again. In a testimony meeting or during a sharing time, they say the same old thing–“I was saved 40 years ago, and I know I’m going to heaven.” You get the feeling they’ve made little progress in all that time. Yet there’s so much to the Christian life. Fisher commented, “Why, with all the rich, wide range of the keyboard of spiritual insight and truth, do so many Christians play on only one note? Why should anyone be content to be a dull monotone when God intends his life to be a rich, harmonious symphony?” Ananias here states, “God has chosen you to know His will and to see the Righteous One and to hear words from His mouth. You will be His witness to all men of what you have seen and heard” (Acts 22:14-15).

C. Application

1. Because we are called to salvation by God’s grace, we can be witnesses.
2. Because we are chosen by God, we have something to witness about–we will see God working and hear God speaking.
3. Because we are called by God, we can respond actively in faith.

Conclusion

If God is calling you, “get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, by calling on His name.”

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