Understanding Your Calling

Grace to You.org ^ | 1993 | John MacArthur, Grace Community Church

[metmom]

"I pray that . . . you may know what is the hope of [God's] calling" (Eph. 1:18).

The hope of your calling is grounded in God's promises and in Christ's accomplishments.

In Ephesians 1:3-14 Paul proclaims the blessings of our salvation. In verse 18 he prays that we will comprehend those great truths, which he summarizes in the phrase "the hope of His calling."

"Calling" here refers to God's effectual calling-the calling that redeems the soul. Scripture speaks of two kinds of calling: the gospel or general call and the effectual or specific call. The gospel call is given by men and is a universal call to repent and trust Christ for salvation (e.g., Matt. 28:19; Acts 17:30-31). It goes out to all sinners but not all who hear it respond in faith.

The effectual call is given by God only to the elect. By it He speaks to the soul, grants saving faith, and ushers elect sinners into salvation (John 6:37-44, 65; Acts 2:39). All who receive it respond in faith.

The hope that your effectual calling instills is grounded in God's promises and Christ's accomplishments (1 Pet. 1:3), and is characterized by confidently expecting yet patiently waiting for those promises to be fulfilled. It is your hope of final glorification and of sharing God's glory when Christ returns (Col. 3:4). It is a source of strength and stability amid the trials of life (1 Pet. 3:14-15). Consequently it should fill you with joy (Rom. 5:2) and motivate you to godly living (1 John 3:3).

As you face this new day, do so with the confidence that you are one of God's elect. He called you to Himself and will hold you there no matter what circumstances you face. Nothing can separate you from His love (Rom. 8:38-39)!

Suggestions for Prayer

Thank God for the security of your salvation. Ask Him to impress on your heart the blessings and responsibilities of your calling. Live today in anticipation of Christ's imminent return.

For Further Study

Joshua's call to lead Israel was not a call to salvation, but it illustrates some important principles for spiritual leadership. You might not see yourself as a spiritual leader, but you are important to those who look to you as an example of Christian character.

Read Joshua 1:1-9 then answer these questions:

What were the circumstances of Joshua's call (vv. 1-2)? What promises did God make to him (vv. 3-6)? What did God require of him (vv. 7-9)?

[metmom]

Studying God’s Word ping

[JoeFromSidney]

I'm 84 years old, and sometimes I still wonder what my calling is. I'm just trying to put one foot in front of the other.

[Mark17]

After we respond to the salvation CALL, then we are called to a lifetime of service, including preaching to the lost, and there are millions of them. I think the hardest ones to reach, are the ones who are religious but lost.

This is hard MM. I am in a van, Headed for the remote mountains, using my wife's data plan. The roads are so bad, it is hard to type. It's her birthday today, so we are going to see family. They belong to a WBR, so we preach to them.

:-)

[SeargentPrestonoftheYukon]

I see that John McArthur's teaching has been called into question on two important subjects:

John MacArthur's Position on the Extent of the Atonement
http://www.middletownbiblechurch.org/reformed/macatone.htm

John MacArthur's One Nature Teaching
http://www.middletownbiblechurch.org/doctrine/1natjm00.htm

[metmom]

I’ll have to look into them.