Sermon by Missionary Samaroo Sookraj
SUB: Efficacious Grace or Irresistible Grace
Intro: 1) Continuation of the teachings on God’s Sovereign Grace.
2) Its importance is that you worship the Redeemer of the soul in a manner He deserves.
3) Our subject is the Irresistible Grace of God or Efficacious Grace
1. THE DOCTRINE
A. It’s definition… "All those whom God has predestinated unto life, and those only, He is pleased, in His appointed and accepted time, effectually to call, by His Word and Spirit, out of that state of death, in which they are by nature, to grace and salvation by Jesus Christ; enlightening their minds spiritually and savingly, to understand the things of God; taking away their heart of stone, and giving them a heart of flesh; renewing their wills, and by His almighty power determining them to that which is good; and effectually drawing them to Jesus Christ, yet so as they come most freely, being made willing by His grace.
"This effectual call is of God's free and special grace alone, not from any thing at all foreseen in man, who is altogether passive therein, until, being quickened and renewed by the Holy Spirit, he is thereby enabled to answer this call, and to embrace the grace offered and conveyed by it." Westminster Confession.
And the Shorter Catechism, in answer to the question "What is effectual calling?" says, "Effectual calling is the Work of God's Spirit, whereby, convincing us of our sin and misery, enlightening our minds in the knowledge of Christ, and renewing our wills, He doth persuade and enable us to embrace Jesus Christ, freely offered to us in the Gospel.
11. NECESSITY OF THIS IRRESISTIBLE OF GOD.
A. Man is a totally helpless sinner who is also unwilling to come to God. Eph 2:1, Rom 3:11.
B. God in His Sovereignty elected some to be the recipients of His saving grace. Eph 1: 4,5. According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
Eph 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
C. The Son of God came and gave Himself a ransom for the world of the elect. Joh 10:11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
D. Since mankind cannot come to God because of His state of helplessness, God must be the One who makes the first step is the salvation of those elect.
111 THE BIBLICAL SUPPORT FOR THE IRRESISTIBLE GRACE OF GOD.
A. The certainty of that salvation through the irresistible grace of God.
a. The Gospel is the power of God unto salvation not unto the faith of the elect believer. Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
b. It is this same Word that God uses to give us salvation. Jam 1:18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. 1Pe 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
c. Our Lord promised to bring His sheep into the fold. Joh 10:16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
Joh 12:32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.
All without distinction, of every creed and race, not all without exception!
d. All that the Father gives to Christ will come to him Joh 6:37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
e. Other texts: Acts 13:48.Rom 8: 29-30.
B. How Irresistible Grace is accomplished.
a. Psa 65:4. Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee,
b. Joh 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
Joh 1:13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
c. Joh 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
d. God opens the heart. Act 16:14 And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.
e. Lazarus made to come… Joh 11:39 Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.
Joh 11:40 Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?
Joh 11:41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.
Joh 11:42 And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.
Joh 11:43 And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.
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.
e. Psa 110:3 Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power,
f. Jer 31:3 The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.
IV. THE BENEFITS OF KNOWING AND PROCLAIMING THIS DOCTRINE.
A. We have comfort in knowing that our salvation is all in the hands of the Sovereign and omnipotent God.
B. We give Him the glory due to Him as the Author and Finisher of our faith.
C. We better understand ourselves and our daily dependence on Him.
Note: If God’s grace can be resisted successfully, then God can be overcome.
CONC: 1) It is only through God’s goodness and mercies we are ever aware of the need for repentance and saving faith. Rom 2:4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
APP: Christ our Lord died so that all of God’s elect will be lovingly drawn to the Father and Christ through the preaching of the Word and the Spirit’s quickening. Have you been convicted by the Word and did the Spirit quicken you?
