Two Everythings

1. Two callings
   1. Effectual calling

1. There is an effectual calling wherein a sinner dead in trespasses and sins is called by the voice of Jesus Christ from spiritual death unto spiritual life.
   1. Joh 5:25 – Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.
2. Notice some things about this calling:
   1. It is by the voice of Jesus Christ, not the word of God (the gospel) — the gospel is in the previous verse – Joh 5:24).
   2. The sinner is completely passive in hearing it, being dead.
   3. All those who hear this call by the voice of Jesus Christ shall live.
   4. The dead in Joh 5:25 are not the physically dead in the graves, but are rather the spiritually dead. This is apparent for two reasons:
      29. firstly, because the resurrection of the physically dead in the graves is covered in Joh 5:28-29.
      30. secondly, because the calling of the dead to life in Joh 5:25 was happening presently as Jesus was speaking (“and now is”), demanding that a spiritual resurrection was being spoken of.

• This effectual calling of a spiritually dead sinner from spiritual death to spiritual life happens by the sovereign power of the voice of Jesus Christ, not by the sinners will.
  1. This is the very same power that Jesus used to call Lazarus to life from the dead.
  2. Joh 11:43 – And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.
  3. Joh 11:44 – And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.
  4. Joh 12:17 – The people therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of his grave, and raised him from the dead, bare record.

1. This effectual calling is the regeneration of the Holy Spirit, which is not according to our works.
   1. 2Ti 1:9 – Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
   2. Tit 3:5 – Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
   3. Joh 6:63 – It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
2. This effectual calling happens to every single one of the elect without exception.
   1. Rom 8:28 – And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
   2. Rom 8:29 – For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
   3. Rom 8:30 – Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

1. 1. Gospel calling

1. There is also a calling which given by preachers and other Christians to the unconverted telling them to repent and believe the gospel.
   1. Mar 1:14 – Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,
   2. Mar 1:15 – And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
2. This call is universal to all men, even to those who are not the elect and who cannot heed it.
   1. Act 17:30 – And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
   2. Mat 22:14 – For many are called, but few are chosen.