THE HOLY SPIRIT CALLS TO CONVERSION-Part 2

When an individual is converted, Regeneration and Conversion seem to coincide;
they do, in his consciousness, but, they are distinct.
They differ in this respect;
Regeneration is wrought in One, without his cooperation;
Calling includes his cooperation.

In Calling, The Will and Understanding begin to act, so that, we hear with both the outward and inward ear;
and with the inclined will, we are willing to go out, to the light.

As there is Time between implanting the seed, in the womb, and bringing forth a child in birth,
so it is, in The Spiritual Realm, with this important difference--no one knows WHEN The Work of
Regeneration takes place.
With John Baptist, it was, BEFORE HIS PHYSICAL BIRTH. He was still in his mother's womb-
Luke 1;41-45-''And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost; And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me/ For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. And blessed is she that believed; for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.''

Jeremiah 1;5-''Before I formed thee in the belly, I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.''

Galatians 1;15-16-[Turn].

God's Calling doesn't have its starting point, in the preacher. He that calls, is God, not the minister.
The Calling is Heavenly-Hebrews 3;1-''Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;''
The Calling is Holy-2 Timothy 1;9-[Turn].
The Calling is High-To Christ, our Lord-Philippians 3;14-[Turn].
The Calling is according to God's Purpose-Romans 8;28-[Quote].
Although The Call doesn't begin with The Preacher, it includes him.

The Call of The Regenerate is two-fold;
1. From Without, by the preaching of the Word-
2. From Within, by exhortation, and Holy Spirit Conviction.

Hence, The Call, by The Holy Spirit, is two-fold;
Number 1-He uses The Word, which is inspired, prepared and committed to writing, and is preserved, and proclaimed by The Spirit-Called Minister.
Number 2-He illuminates The Understanding, to recognize and respond to The Call.

Understanding results in Divine Conviction.
His Calling is without Repentance-Romans 11;29-''For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.''

There is a bridge, which can be crossed, but once;and, once it is crossed, there is no going back.
It is unchangeable, irreversible, and irrevocable.

The Appeal is to The Faithfulness of God. Calling without Repentance does not refer to man, but to God.

Now, Get this truth; God does not change His Purpose. Calling has its foundation in Election, and its end, in Glorification.

It is from God's Purpose, to His Eternal Glory.
Re; God's Purpose-Romans 8;28-[Quote].
Re; His Eternal Glory-I Peter 5;10-''But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.''

Believers are exhorted to make their calling sure--2 Peter 1;10-[Turn]. Through making our election sure-sure to ourselves.

Now, observe the order; [1] Calling, then [2] Election. Only through Calling, can we make
Election sure.

Calling is an evidence, or result, of Election.
Calling is confirmed by a holy life.
You see, there is no firmness in hypocrites.

The Effectual Call is Personal, not General. For example; Zacchaeus made haste, and came down, when he was called by name-
Luke 19;1-5-''And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. 2 And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich. 3 And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature. 4 And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him; for he was to pass that way. 5 And when
Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house.''
God's Grace and Call humbles One.

Christ said, ''I must''. There is no standing against it.
Notice Christ invited Himself;
Zacchaeus didn't invite Him-Luke 19;5].

Next, We find that our Lord, not only invited Himself, but, He said, ''I must abide at thy house.''
And When our Lord says, ''must,'' it must be.
This Call was effectual, because Zacchaeus embraced Christ, and produced good works.

I THESSA. 2;13-[TURN].

Now, get this truth; The Sheep of Christ hear His voice, and follow Him-
John 10;27-28-''My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me; 28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.''
Although we often complain that, it is hard to get people, to listen to The Gospel, let's never forget, that Christ said, ''My sheep hear my voice''.

The Effectual Call gives God, His Rightful Place, as the prime mover, in the work of Grace.
Calling is entirely, on The Divine Side-
Romans 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.''

The effect of God's Call is that Jesus Christ becomes a personal Reality to everyone, who is called.

And the most wonderful preaching in the world, cannot produce that.

Now, there is only one test, which shows if we are right, or wrong. It is our attitude towards
Christ.

God's Call brings about something, in the regenerated soul, that MUST WORK ITS WAY OUT.
No natural hindrance can stand in its way.

God's Call separates a person from all man-made schemes, for putting things right.
Hence, the person, who has been effectually called of God, can't deny that Jesus Christ is in him.

Saints have been called of Jesus Christ-Romans 1;6-''Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus
Christ;''
This denotes privilege.

They are called Saints-Romans 1;7a-''To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints;''
This speaks of practice.

They are called according to God's eternal purpose, God's plan-Romans 8;28-[Quote].

They are called =children of the living God, referring to their perpetuity-
Romans 9;26-[turn].
END