Prayer Service 10-2-24

Some comfort:

Psalm 34:15–19 (ESV)

15 The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry.

16 The face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth.

17 When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.

18 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.

19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.

Those affected by Hurricane Helene:

Rescue/provision for those still stranded/displaced

Safety for rescue workers, aid workers, etc.

Righteous responses from civil governments.

Gospel opportunities for believers on the ground.

Comfort for the bereaved.

Needs from our Bulletin:

Families of Dean Woodworth, Vincent Adams

Leuna Angell: Now on Hospice

Junior Garland (Recovery)

Gideon Daugherty (Digestive Problems)

Sandra Ritz: Heart Problems

Annette Herrington: Cognitive Problems

Case Beasley: Colon Cancer

Expectant Mothers (Madison and Ellie Soon)

Eleea, Jasmine, Caroline, Maggie, others?

Hope, Jason, Grandma Sanders, Iva Lee, Allen, Jim, and Ty.

IV. THE EFFICACIOUS CALL OF THE SPIRIT OR IRRESISTIBLE GRACE

Let’s begin with this...

…clarification and definition:

Grace Unknown: The Heart of Reformed Theology (Resistible Grace)

Irresistible grace is not irresistible in the sense that sinners are incapable of resisting it. Though the sinner is spiritually dead, he remains biologically alive and kicking. As Scripture suggests, the sinner always resists the Holy Spirit. We are so opposed to the grace of God that we do everything in our power to resist it.

Irresistible grace means that the sinner’s resistance to the grace of regeneration cannot thwart the Spirit’s purpose. The grace of regeneration is irresistible in the sense that it is invincible.

This is why the Reformed Ordo Salutis is so pivotal:

Does: (On Screen)

Faith precede Regeneration?

Regeneration precede Faith?

That’s the question...

....at the heart of this “point.”

Problems with Competing Views:

Pelagianism:

Denied Original Sin

Affirms Man’s inherent moral neutrality (at birth)

Denied the need for Grace

Semi-Pelagianism:

Acknowledges Need for Grace

Human initiative precedes grace.

Synergistic Renewal of the Soul (Grace assists them)

Arminianism:

Similar to Semi-Pelagianism, except:

Acknowledge the necessity of divine initiation (some)

Resolve dilemma with “Prevenient Grace”

But:

Still dependent on human cooperation to save.

That “Grace” can be ULTIMATELY ineffective.

(Many varieties of this:)

Catholicism

Orthodoxy

-So we’re clear:

Reformed View:

Man born dead in sin

God must initiate

Always ULTIMATELY effectual

Salvation in Monergistic

The Five Points of Calvinism: Defined, Defended and Documented (IV. The Efficacious Call of the Spirit or Irresistible Grace)

Simply stated, this doctrine asserts that the Holy Spirit never fails to bring to salvation those sinners whom He personally calls to Christ.

He inevitably applies salvation to every sinner whom He intends to save, and it is His intention to save all the elect.

An important qualifier:

The Five Points of Calvinism: Defined, Defended and Documented (IV. The Efficacious Call of the Spirit or Irresistible Grace)

The gospel invitation extends a call to salvation to every one who hears its message. It invites all men without distinction to drink freely of the water of life and live. It promises salvation to all who repent and believe.

But:

...Because men are by nature dead in sin and are under its power. They are of themselves unable and unwilling to forsake their evil ways and to turn to Christ for mercy.

Consequently, the unregenerate will not respond to the gospel call to repentance and faith . . . Such an act of faith and submission is contrary to the lost man’s nature.

Therefore, the Holy Spirit, in order to bring God’s elect to salvation, extends to them a special inward call in addition to the outward call contained in the gospel message.

Through this special call the Holy Spirit performs a work of grace within the sinner which inevitably brings him to faith in Christ.

The inward change wrought in the elect sinner enables him to understand and believe spiritual truth…

The Spirit creates within him a new heart or a new nature.

This is accomplished through regeneration or the new birth by which the sinner is made a child of God and is given spiritual life.

His will is renewed through this process so that the sinner spontaneously comes to Christ of his own free choice.

When properly understood...

…it all harmonizes nicely!

-Alright...

We’re going to study this one categorically as well.

1.) General statements showing that salvation is the work of the Spirit as well as that of the Father and the Son

General Principle:

Romans 8:14 (ESV)

14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.

Romans 8:15 (ESV)

15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”

That’s God’s enabling work.

1 Corinthians 2:7–14 (ESV)

7 But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory.

8 None of the rulers of this age understood this...

10 these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit...

12 Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God.

13 And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.

14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.

1 Corinthians 6:9–11 (ESV)

9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality,

10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.

11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

1 Corinthians 12:3 (ESV)

3 Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit.

2 Corinthians 3:4–6 (ESV)

4 Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God.

5 Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God,

6 who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

2 Corinthians 3:14–18 (ESV)

14 But their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away.

15 Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts.

16 But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed.

Is that not Semi-Pelagianism or Arminianism?

17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

The point being:

Not of works (the Law)

But by Grace (the Spirit)

1 Peter 1:1–2 (ESV)

1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion...

2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you.

The NASB is even clearer:

1 Peter 1:1–2 (NASB95)

1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who reside as aliens . . . who are chosen

2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure.

2: Through regeneration or the new birth sinners are given spiritual life and made God’s children.

The Bible describes this process as a spiritual resurrection, a creation, the giving of a new heart, etc. The inward change, which is thus wrought through the Holy Spirit, results from God’s power and grace, and in no way is He dependent upon man’s help for success in this work.

A: Sinners, through regeneration, are brought into God’s kingdom and are made His children.

The author of this “second” birth is the Holy Spirit; the instrument which He uses is the word of God.

John 1:11–13 (ESV)

11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.

12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,

13 who were born (obviously passive voice), not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. — (Emphasis Mine)

John 3:3–9 (ESV)

3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”

5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’

8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

9 Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?”

Titus 3:5 (ESV)

5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,

1 Peter 1:3 (ESV)

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

1 Peter 1:22–23 (ESV)

22 Having purified your souls (Active Voice) by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart,

23 since you have been born again (Passive Voice), not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; — (Emphasis Mine)

1 John 5:4 (ESV)

4 For everyone who has been born of God (Perfect Passive Participle) overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. — (Emphasis Mine)

Which comes first?

Which produced the other?

B: Through the Spirit’s work the dead sinner is given a new heart (nature) and made to walk in God’s law. In Christ he becomes a new creation.

Deuteronomy 30:6 (ESV)

6 And the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your offspring, so that you will love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live.

Ezekiel 36:24–27 (ESV)

24 I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries and bring you into your own land.

25 I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you.

26 And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.

27 And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.

Ezekiel 11:19–20 (ESV)

19 And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh,

20 that they may walk in my statutes and keep my rules and obey them. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God.

Galatians 6:15 (ESV)

15 For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.

Ephesians 2:8–10 (ESV)

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,

9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

2 Corinthians 5:17–18 (ESV)

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself...

C: The Holy Spirit raises the sinner from his state of spiritual death and makes him alive.

John 5:21 (ESV)

21 For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will.

Ephesians 2:1 (ESV)

1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins...

Ephesians 2:5 (ESV)

5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—

Colossians 2:13 (ESV)

13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him...