Called By God Through the Gospel
A Sermon on Galatians 1:6-9
Originally preached Dec. 7, 1958
Scripture
6I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 8But though we, or an angel from heaven, …
Sermon Description
What is the Gospel? Paul was forced to defend and expound the Gospel of grace alone in Galatians 1:6-9 because there were those that were preaching a different 'gospel.' Paul says that Christians are those that have been called by God out of the world of sin and evil into the new life of Christ. All those that are called by God will come to Him and they will persevere. While many will hear the Gospel, only those that God effectually calls will come to Him and be saved. Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones shows how this doctrine has great practical significance. It shows us that salvation is a matter of grace, no one can come to God until he enlightens them and draws them to himself. This sermon forces us all to asks ourselves, am I trusting in Jesus? Am I resting in God’s grace alone? The Gospel that Paul defends is one of grace and peace. Only the Gospel of grace can transform us and bring us into a loving relationship with God.
Sermon Breakdown
- The gospel offers wonderful things: forgiveness of sins, reconciliation to God, new life, adoption as children of God.
- How can we obtain these blessings? By faith alone, not by works. We are justified by faith.
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But how can we know we have faith and are justified? There are tests:
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We have been called by God. This is an effectual call that leads to belief, not just hearing the general call of the gospel. It is powerful, personal, illuminating, and compelling. Have you felt God's power and heard his personal call?
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We have received the gospel message. This means being persuaded of its truth, convicted of our sin, repentant, and believing in Christ. Have you understood the gospel, repented of your sin, and trusted in Christ?
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We have been moved to action by the gospel. Though works don't save us, true faith produces works. Have you thanked God for salvation? Forsaken the world? Surrendered to God? Been determined to live for his glory? Shared the gospel with others?
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Examine yourself to see if you have these marks of true faith. Have you been called, received the gospel, and been moved to action? Your eternal destiny hangs on this.
Sermon Q&A
What Are the Key Signs of Being Effectually Called According to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones?
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones discusses the signs that indicate a person has been truly saved through God's effectual call. Here's his explanation of how one can know they're truly a Christian.
What is the difference between the general call and the effectual call of the gospel?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, there are two types of gospel calls:
"There is such a thing as the general call of the gospel to everybody. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is preached to men and women indiscriminately. The offer of salvation is made to all freely."
However, the effectual call is different:
"Though there is this general universal call, and the message is preached to everybody in the same way, calling upon them to repent and to believe, only some believe. What is it that makes this difference? Well, the answer given by the New Testament is that it is obvious that those who believe are called in a different way from the others."
How can someone know if they have been effectually called by God?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones provides three main tests:
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They experience a powerful encounter with the truth: "The man who hears in this living way, the man who has been effectually called, is a man who, as he sits and listens to the preaching of the gospel, becomes aware of a power. He becomes aware of a power that is dealing with him. He's not just listening to a man. He's not just hearing words. He's aware that something's happening to him."
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They receive the gospel message personally: "When the gospel comes to a man with power and comes in this efficacious manner, it always makes him feel that man speaking to me, that message is for me. He forgets everybody else... This is for him and for his life, and he listens personally."
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They are moved to action by the message: "The Christian is a man who has been moved to action by the message. He is not only being called by it, he has not only received it, he's been moved to do something by it."
What happens when someone truly receives the gospel message?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that receiving the gospel involves:
- Being convinced of its truth
- Being convicted by it - "The man who becomes a Christian is convicted. Yes, he says, that's right. That's true. And as he's convicted, he's convicted of how wrong he has been in the past."
- Experiencing sorrow and repentance for sin
- Embracing Christ's offer of salvation - "He clutches at it. He trusts himself to it. He abandons everything else and gives himself utterly and entirely to it."
How does a truly saved person respond to the gospel?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, the true Christian response includes:
"The first thing you do is to thank God for it and to thank Christ for it."
"The moment we understand and receive these things and feel their power... We forsake the world and its ways and its life and its thinking."
"He surrenders himself and his life unto God... it involves surrender, and of course that leads to a determination to live henceforth, to his glory and to his praise."
The Christian also becomes "anxious that everybody else shall be doing the same" and wants to share the good news with others.
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Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.