(1) To duties. Being our Creator, He is our owner; and being our owner, He is our sovereign and lawgiver, and may enact what laws He pleases (Jam_4:12).
(2) To privileges. His blessings are so great that none else can give us a right to them; and the soul can have no security that it does not intrude upon the possession of things till we have His warrant. None came to the wedding feast till bidden (Mat_22:1-46), or went into the vineyard till hired (Mat_20:1-34).
2. None else can have the power; for to calling there is not only the invitations of the word, but the effectual operations of the Spirit. None else can change the heart (2Pe_1:8; Rom_4:17; 2Co_4:6; Eph_2:10).
II. The outward means.
1. The means itself: the Gospel. This God uses--
(1) Because, if God will invite the creature by his duty to His happiness, it is necessary that the call should be evident by some visible sign. The natural duty of man is much seen by the Creation (Rom_1:19; Psa_19:1-2). But this call made to fallen man as a remedy for his lapsed estate can only be known by revelation.
(2) To convince and stop their mouths who refuse this calling, for the gospel brings grace home to us and leaves it to our choice (Act_13:26; Act_3:26). Great is the misery of those who refuse (Luk_14:24; Pro_1:24-26).
(3) Because He will preserve the liberty of His own workmanship, and therefore will not compel us, but will, at the same time teach and draw us (Joh_6:44-45; Act_11:21; Act_16:14; Rom_1:16).
2. The interest the apostle challenges in it--“our gospel.” Elsewhere it is called God’s gospel (1Ti_1:11). He is the Author. It is also called Christ’s gospel (2 Thessalonians1:8), as the principal sub-revealer. And then the apostles’ gospel, because they were the instruments chosen by Christ to declare it (1Ti_1:11). This expression is--
(1) A word of fidelity (1Co_9:17).
(2) A word of esteem and love; what we love we call ours (Rom_16:25; Eph_1:13).
(3) A word importing diligence (Act_20:24). Paul was willing to suffer or do anything for the sake of it.
(4) A word of mutual consent (2Co_4:8).
III. The ends.
1. Subordinate. “Whereunto”--
(1) God calls us to the faith of the gospel (Rom_10:14).
(a) There must be a belief in it in general.
(b) A particular affiance in Christ according to the terms of the New Covenant, i.e., the assent must be fiducial or accompanied with a trust in Christ (Eph_1:15; 2Ti_1:12), and obediential, not a devout sloth or carelessness (Psa_119:10; Jud_1:20-21; Psa_32:2; Rom_8:1.).
(2) God calls us to holiness (1Th_4:7) on several grounds.
(a) That there may be a likeness between the Person calling and the persons called (1Pe_1:15).
(b) Because the nature of the calling enforces sanctification (Heb_3:1; 2Ti_1:9; Rom_1:7).
(c) Because the grace shown in our calling obliges us to be holy in point of gratitude (1Th_2:12).
(d) Because the calling enables us to be holy, giving us all things necessary to holiness of heart and life (2Pe_1:3).
2. The ultimate end. “To obtain the glory,” etc. (1Pe_5:10).
(1) It is glory for body and soul (1Pe_1:9; 1Co_15:42-43).
(2) It is the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
(a) It is purchased by Him (Eph_1:7).
(b) Promised by Him (Joh_10:28; 1Jn_2:25).
(c) Prayed for by Him (Joh_17:14).
(d) Bestowed by Him; at death (Act_7:59; Php_1:23; 2Co_5:8); at judgment (Joh_14:3).
(e) With Him (Rom_8:17; Rev_3:21). (T. Manton, D. D.)
Effectual calling and Divine glory
I. The gospel call. What is that? It is the invitation of Divine mercy to accept the blessings of salvation.
1. The call is one of sovereign mercy. Mercy for mercy’s sake. God was under no obligation to show mercy. The act is of His rich grace, and of that only.
2. It is most free and open. Not clogged by difficulties. “Ho everyone,” etc. “Come unto Me,” etc. “If any man thirst, let him come,” etc. The message is to the world--to every creature.
3. It is most earnest and pressing. The ministers who bring it are to invite, persuade, beseech, compel men to be reconciled to God. There is not the shadow of a doubt respecting God’s sincerity.
II. The way in which the call is to be made sure.
1. It must be heard. “How can they believe in Him of whom they have not heard?” “O earth! earth I hear the Word of the Lord.” “If any man hath ears, let him hear.” “Hear, and your soul shall live.”
2. It must be understood. The truth as it is in Jesus must be comprehended.
3. It must be believed. Truth only realizes the call. Matthew believed; Saul believed; the Samaritans believed. Thus the pardon of sin, the acceptance of the person, and every blessing for time is obtained.
4. It must be retained. The profession of faith must be held fast. “Abide in Me,” says Christ. So we must continue Christ’s disciples to the end.
III. The provision made to render the call sure.
1. The Holy Spirit attends Divine truth. “My speech and my preaching,” said St. Paul to the Corinthians, “was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power; that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.”
2. The Holy Spirit is specially given when the call is accepted. So it came to pass on the Day of Pentecost. When the three thousand, pricked in their heart by the simple truth declared unto them by the burning earnestness of Peter, cried to him and the rest of the apostles, “What shall we do?” he said unto them, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of the Lord Jesus for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” They did as they were told, and received the Divine gift of the Divine Spirit. And so it comes to pass now in the experience of all penitent believers.
3. All the blessings and privileges of the gospel follow its acceptance. Such, for example, as justification (Rom_5:1); sonship (Joh_1:12); sanctification (1Th_5:23); everlasting life (Joh_3:16); heaven, or “the obtaining of the glory, of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Joh_17:22; Joh_17:24). Application:
(1) To us the gracious call has come;
(2) it may be accepted now;
(3) All who receive it will be made happy and safe forever;
(4) and all who reject it by their unbelief and disobedience will be condemned by it forever. (J. Burns, D. D.)
