GRACE BAPTIST CHURCH

CALLED, CHOSEN AND FAITHFUL
God's Effectual Grace Distinguishing His Elect
Revelation 17:14

Don Fortner

In Revelation 17 we are assured of the destruction of all false religion, symbolized by Babylon, the great mother of harlots. Though supported through the centuries by kings, nations and empires, Babylon will fall at last. Though it is maintained, enriched and adorned by satan with the gaudy ornaments of the earth all false religion will be destroyed at last. Though the kings and people of the earth drink from the golden cup which the great whore holds in her hand and are made drunk with the wine of her fornication, the filthiness of the world's religion, the abomination of free-willism and works religion will be exposed at last. And those who have been deceived by it shall loathe it forever.

In the end, the truth of God shall prevail. The Church of Christ shall be victorious at last. The gates of hell shall not prevail against her. The gospel of God's free and sovereign grace, substitutionary atonement, and effectual mercy shall win the day. Christ will see to it! In all things, "we are more than conquerors through him that loved us." The message of this Book, from beginning to end, is a message of victory through grace. Though tried, persecuted, scorned, derided and afflicted, the Church of God shall triumph over all her enemies. Every true believer shall be exalted with Christ over his enemies. It is true, "The God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly" (Rom. 16:20).

In verse 14, the Holy Spirit inspired John to show us four things specifically revealed to him by the angel, for the comfort and edification of God's saints in all ages.

When John saw the kings of the earth, whose rule and power is inspired by the hellish beast, the angel said, "These shall make war with the Lamb." These kings of the earth represent the secular, political, economic, philosophical, academic powers of the earth, acting in unison with and by inspiration of the great whore. In other words, the world which is drunk with the religion of Babylon, (free-willism, self-righteousness, and works), always has been and always will be opposed to Christ, the Church of God, and the gospel of God's free grace.

a. The truth of God is never accepted, supported and maintained by popular opinion.
b. If you follow Christ, you will have to fight the world, specifically the religion of the world.
c. We must never seek to conciliate or unite with the enemies of Christ (James 4:4; II Cor. 6:14-7:1).

Throughout the Word of God, and especially in this Book, the Lord Jesus Christ is constantly referred to in his sacrificial character as the Lamb of God. And it is by virtue of his sin-atoning sacrifice that he must prevail over all his enemies.

a. He will overcome some by the power of his saving grace.
b. He will overcome others by the rod of his wrath.
c. But he will overcome all his enemies. (Ps. 89:23).

3. He is Totally Sovereign Over All Things. "He is Lord of lords and King of kings." (John 17:2; Acts 2:36; Rom. 14:9).

If our God and Savior were not totally sovereign over all things we could not be certain that any promise he has made would be fulfilled. We could not be sure that he will be triumphant in the end. Everything would be unstable. Divine sovereignty is essential to faith, hope and confidence in the promises of God. If God were not sovereign, we could not, with sanity, trust him implicitly. But we rejoice to know that he whom we trust, into whose hands we have committed our souls, is absolutely, totally, universally sovereign over all things, always doing all things according to the good pleasure of his own will (Ps. 115:3; 135:6).

a. He is Eternally Sovereign!
b. He is Universally Sovereign!
c. He is Naturally Sovereign as God!
d. He is Rightfully Sovereign as Mediator!
e. He is Graciously Sovereign! "I will have mercy!"

4. The One Thing That Distinguishes God's Elect from All Other People in the World is Their Relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

Others make war with the Lamb. Those are "they that are with him." They are one with him, united to him by grace from all eternity. It is their union with the Lamb that separates and distinguishes them from all others, makes them acceptable with God, and secures their eternal salvation. God's elect are with Christ now, always have been with Christ, and forever shall be with Christ.

a. We were with him as Our Surety in the Covenant of Grace.
b. We were with him as Our Representative while he lived upon the earth.
c. We were with him when he died as Our Substitute on the cross.
d. We were with him when he arose from the dead and ascended into heaven as Our Mediator King.
e. And we are with him in our Hearts by Faith and Love. His cause is our cause. We are with out Lord in all that he does. In heart, will, purpose and desire God's saints are with Christ.

Now look at the last line of verse 14 and notice how the angel describes God's saints, identifying them by three distinct works of grace on our behalf. Those who are with Christ "are called, and chosen, and faithful." With these three words, "called," "chosen," and "faithful," all who are truly born of God are described. These three words write the biography of every redeemed sinner who enters glory by the merits of Christ.

God's saints are called by the Spirit because they have been chosen of God' and they are faithful to Christ because they are called.

1. ALL WHO ARE WITH CHRIST ARE WITH HIM BY THE ALMIGHTY, EFFECTUAL, IRRESISTIBLE CALL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

2. THE CALL OF THE SPIRIT IS THE PROOF AND EVIDENCE OF OUR ETERNAL ELECTION IN CHRIST.

3. THE SURE AND CERTAIN RESULT OF GOD'S ELECTING GRACE AND THE SPIRIT'S EFFECTUAL CALL IS FAITHFULNESS.

Without question, there is a general call that goes forth to all men, without qualification, every time the gospel is preached. By the power and authority of God himself, the gospel preacher commands all who hear his voice to repent and come to Christ in true faith (Luke 24:47; Acts 17:30; Rom. 10:9-13, 21).

NOTE: The preaching of the gospel is not an invitation to heaven. It is a Divinely authorized command to faith!

Apart from this outward call, apart from the preaching of the gospel, there is no possibility of salvation – (Rom. 10:17; James 1:18; I Pet. 1:23-25).

3. All who hear this outward call, all who hear the gospel of Christ preached, are responsible to obey it and trust Christ (Rom. 10:21; John 3:36; I John 5:10).

I am preaching the gospel to you tonight, one more time. It is your responsibility to hear and obey. I am calling you to faith in Christ. Trust the Lord Jesus Christ now. Right where you sit, right now, trust Jesus Christ. Confess your sin and trust him.

• Trust His Atonement!


• Trust His Righteousness!


• Trust His Grace!


• Trust His Intercession!


• Trust Him!

If you obey this gospel call, you are saved. You are redeemed! You are justified! You are sanctified! Christ is yours! Forgiveness is yours! God is yours! Heaven is yours! Eternity is yours!

4. But this outward call alone will never produce faith in a sinner.

If my voice is the only voice you hear, you will never be saved. "Many are called, but few are chosen." No matter how eloquent, sincere, earnest and convincing the preacher is, this outward call can never produce faith or save a sinner.

Our text is talking about another call. These who are "the called" have been called, not by the voice of man, but by the voice of God the Holy Spirit. He uses the voice of a preacher. But the call is Divine, inward, effectual, and saving. May God be pleased to make everyone of you "partakers of the heavenly calling" this night – (John 6:63; 10:3; Ps. 65:4; 110:3).

Illustrations: Ezekiel's Valley of Dry Bones – (Ezk. 37).
  Ezekiel's Infant – (Ezk. 16).
  Zacchaeus (Luke 19).
  Lazarus (John 11).

Illus: Hosea & Gomer
Shelby

Illus: The Remembrance Room (Isa. 51:1).

II. THE CALL OF THE SPIRIT IS THE PROOF AND EVIDENCE OF OUR ETERNAL ELECTION IN CHRIST.

In our text, calling is put before election because we cannot know our election until we are called. But election took place long before we were called. The fact that we are called in time is the proof that we were chosen in eternity (I Thess. 1:4-5).

Divine election is a blessed, comforting, soul cheering truth of Holy Scripture in which all true believers delight. As it caused David to dance before the ark, it causes our hearts to dance before the Lord our God (Jer. 31:3; John 15:16; Rom. 8:28-30; 8:11-23; Eph. 1:3-7; II Thess. 2:13-14; II Tim. 1:9). Notice particularly I Peter 1:2. Those who despise the doctrine of sovereign election will usually run to this text and twist it to their own destruction, suggesting that election is based upon foreknown or foreseen faith. Of course, that is absurd!

A. We Are Elect "According To The Foreknowledge of God The Father."

• Foreordination (see v. 20 – same word).


• Forelove.

B. Our Election To Eternal Life Is "Though Sanctification Of The Spirit."

God has chosen to bring us to heaven by the regenerating, sanctifying grace of the Holy Spirit, who gives us a new nature, imparting to us the righteousness of Christ, in the new birth (Ezek. 36:25-27).

C. And We Were Chosen "Unto Obedience And Sprinkling of The Blood of Jesus Christ."

The text might legitimately be interpreted to say, "We were chosen and foreordained to eternal life by God the Father, set apart, preserved and kept by God the Holy Spirit, until the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished his obedience and death as our Substitute." These things certainly are true. And they are taught elsewhere in the scriptures.

But Peter is telling us that the object of God in our election was and is our obedience to the gospel and the effectual application of the blood atonement of Christ to our hearts by faith – (Heb. 9:14).

1. God the Father Chose Us!
2. God the Son Redeemed Us!
3. God the Spirit Regenerated Us – Giving us faith to obey Christ, trusting his blood for our complete atonement!

D. As The Result of God's Eternal, Electing Love, Grace And Peace Are Multiplied To All God's Elect – (vv. 3-5).

1. He has begotten us again.
2. He has given us a lively hope.
3. He has reserved for us an eternal inheritance.
4. He keeps us by the power of his grace.
5. He has given us faith.
6. He has accomplished salvation for us.

We rejoice in and give thanks to God for his eternal, electing love, mercy and grace in Christ Jesus. We know our election because of our calling. And our calling makes election precious.

III. THE SURE AND CERTAIN RESULT OF GOD'S ELECTING GRACE AND THE SPIRIT'S EFFECTUAL CALL IS FAITHFULNESS.

Those who are with Christ "are called, and chosen, and faithful." This simply means three things:

1. The saints of God are faithful, true, honest men and women (Eph. 1:1).

They can be trusted and depended upon.

2. God's saints are faithful stewards, using whatever God puts in their hands for his glory and his interest in this world – (Matt. 25:14-30).

• Money.


• Opportunity.


• Ability.


• Gifts.

• To the Will of Their Lord.


• To the Glory of Christ.


• To the Gospel of Christ.


• To the Church of Christ.


• To the People of Christ.

C. And All Who Are Called By The Spirit Remain Faithful, Persevering To The End of Their Days By Grace.

1. They will endure their trials.
2. They will overcome their temptations.
3. They will triumph over their enemies.
4. They will die in faith.

• It is God who chose us.


• It is God who called us.


• It is God who gave us faith.


• It is God who keeps us faithful.


• It is God alone who shall have our praise, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost!

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