2025-08-31 Sermon Notes
| Series | Location | Subjects | Takeaways | Sermon Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allison on Galatians | Emmaus Orthodox Presbyterian Church | - | - |
💡Big Idea
Takeaways and Next Steps
📖Bible Passage
But when it was the good pleasure of God, who separated me from my mother's womb and called me through his grace
Points
- This was not the beginning of God's dealings with Paul. God was working His plan in Paul's life even before Paul knew it.
- God called Paul
- The situation of Paul's calling by God was unique but every Christian is called by God. That is not unique to Paul.
- Galatians 1.6 I marvel that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ to a different "good news",
- Romans 1.6 among whom you are also the called of Jesus Christ
- Paul was called by God. Paul's life was a response to God's calling.
- Paul's ministry was not because of his following of the great teacher Gamaliel
- nor because of his feelings of guilt
- It was because God called Paul that Paul followed
- We Christians are all called by God
- God called Adam in the garden.
- God calls us to worship.
- Worship originates and proceeds from God. We worship because He first called us. We love because He first loved us.
Who Calls
The Father, The Son and The Spirit Calls
God's Call Is His Word, His Voice, Speaking To His Creatures
God Called Saul And He Still Calls Today
- If you could pick the least likely person to be saved by God, it would be Saul
- And yet God did call him, and did save him.
- God still calls today.
What God Does
1. God Calls With Authority
- What does call mean? It's complicated in Hebrew and in Greek.
-
- Call is a word that implies authority.
- In English we would call this a "summon". It is a communication from higher to lower authority.
- God's calling is an authoritative call.
- It is not a mere suggestion.
- In Scripture this word is almost always used in a saving manner
- Romans 8.30 Whom he predestined, those he also called. Whom he called, those he also justified. Whom he justified, those he also glorified.
- God not only calls specific people to ministry, God also calls generally all sinners to repentance.
- This is why we have consciences.
- Isaiah 55.1 "Hey! Come, everyone who thirsts, to the waters! Come, he who has no money, buy, and eat! Yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
- (God here is calling us.)
- Proverbs 8.4 "I call to you men! I send my voice to the sons of mankind.
- the general call can be resisted. In fact every sinner by their nature rejects this call.
- Romans 3:10-12 As it is written, "There is no one righteous; no, not one. There is no one who understands. There is no one who seeks after God. They have all turned away. They have together become unprofitable. There is no one who does good, no, not so much as one."
- Jeremiah 7.13 Now, because you have done all these works," says Yahweh, "and I spoke to you, rising up early and speaking, but you didn't hear; and I called you, but you didn't answer;
- Matthew 22.14 For many are called, but few chosen."
- God speaks and so it is
- Westminster Shorter Catechism: Effectual column is when God persuades and enables us to embrace Jesus Christ freely offered in the Gospel.
2. God Call Is A Word Of Kindness
- God's call is also warm, welcoming and inviting.
- Perhaps you have heard your dad's call and it was authoritarian.
- You feel and know that you have done something naughty and he will punish you for it.
- Other times you hear your dad's voice and feel his inviting warmth
- This Greek word for calling also includes a meaning of inviting
- Luke 14.16 But he said to him, "A certain man made a great supper, and he invited many people.
- John 2.2 Jesus also was invited, with his disciples, to the wedding.
- It is a great honor and blessing to be called, that is invited to a wedding or celebration!
- Perhaps you have heard your dad's call and it was authoritarian.
3. God's Call Claims The Sinner To Be His Possession
- This word also has a meaning of possession. God calls us because he owns us. He claims us for Himself and Has the right to do so.
- In the same way, parents name their child because their child is theirs.
- You are not your own.
- Isaiah 43.1 But now Yahweh who created you, Jacob, and he who formed you, Israel, says: "Don't be afraid, for I have redeemed you. I have called you by your name. You are mine.
- 1 John 3.1 See how great a love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God! For this cause the world doesn't know us, because it didn't know him.
- In the same way, parents name their child because their child is theirs.
God's Call Is Exhaustive Or Comprehensive
- He doesn't just call us from something, He calls us to something:
- to glorious works for His Kingdom
- to freedom and salvation
- to joy and fulfillment
- to life eternal
Whom God Calls
God Calls Me Individually
- Paul says God called me. This is specific. It is a one on one encounter.
- Scripture says that God calls His church, and yet He also calls individuals to Him.
God's Call Is So Warm
- People accuse the Reformed faith of being cold and mechanical because we teach that God must call sinners to salvation.
- But this is quite wrong. There is nothing more warm, loving and personal than a Father calling His children into His embrace.
Why God Calls
- There are many who arrogantly think that they deserve to be called
- Paul never thought he deserved to be called and neither should we.
- 1 Timothy 1.15 The saying is faithful and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.
- Paul is saying "If God can save me, He can save anyone!"
How God Calls
God Calls By Means Of His Grace
- Our text says that God calls us through His grace.
- This means He calls us by means of His grace.
- Westminster Confession: Repentance is when the sinner apprehends mercy from God through Christ.
God Calls Us To Holiness
- The goal of Christianity is not merely salvation. We are called to be holy, to be saints.
- 1 Corinthians 1.2 to the assembly of God which is at Corinth--those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called saints, with all who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ in every place, both theirs and ours:
- The Roman church teaches wrongly that saints are a special class of Christians.
- Did you know that Pauls favorite word to refer to Christians is not believers, it is saints.
- Paul calls Christians saints 43 times in the NT.
- Being a saint is not a merit badge to be achieved.
- Every Christian is a saint.
- They are holy, sanctified, set apart by Christ Jesus.
- Satan wants us to forget this fact. He wants us to despise ourselves, to wallow in shame.
- Did you know that Pauls favorite word to refer to Christians is not believers, it is saints.
- holiness is also a continuing challenge. We are called to live it out daily and progressively.
- Shorter catechism 35: by this we are enabled to live more and more for Him.
- Hebrews 12.14 Follow after peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no man will see the Lord,
Application
- ❓: Are you pursuing holiness? Are you putting your sin to death? Are you plucking out your eye or any member in your body that causes you to sin?
- Jesus came to save us from our sins, not to leave us in our sins.
- Track sin in your life and heart. Find it and kill it.
- Holiness is a supreme gift.
- Any holiness we have in our life is a reflection of Jesus Christ.
- If we have any holiness, it is only from Him. We can't take any credit.
- The world wants us to think that holiness is cold, bland, unenjoyable. Not true.
- Was Jesus bland, colorless? No. Jesus was a friend of sinners and tax-collectors. Jesus lived a colorful, full, rich life in the Lord.
- Don't believe Satan's life that holiness is dull and restricting.
- This does not mean that there are not times when it is a bit scary. God is going to purge sin from our life. This hurts but in the end of the day you are glad and know true inner joy.
- If you do not heed God's call today, one day after your death you will heed His call in judgment.
- I plead with you, answer His call today.
Further Study
💬Discussion Questions
2025-08-31 Sermon Notes
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On this page
💡Big Idea
Takeaways and Next Steps
📖Bible Passage
Points
Who Calls
The Father, The Son and The Spirit Calls
God's Call Is His Word, His Voice, Speaking To His Creatures
God Called Saul And He Still Calls Today
What God Does
1. God Calls With Authority
2. God Call Is A Word Of Kindness
3. God's Call Claims The Sinner To Be His Possession
God's Call Is Exhaustive Or Comprehensive
Whom God Calls
God Calls Me Individually
God's Call Is So Warm
Why God Calls
How God Calls
God Calls By Means Of His Grace
God Calls Us To Holiness
Application
Further Study
💬Discussion Questions