1. Systematic Theology III The Doctrine of Salvation
The Call of God
&
Regeneration

2. The Definition of Calling
“Calling is that work of God by which He, through the Spirit, invites all men to Christ and actually brings sinners to salvation…J. I. Packer suggests a good explanation: ‘The developed biblical idea of God’s calling is of God summoning men by his word, and laying hold of them by his power, to play a part in and enjoy the benefits of his gracious redemptive purposes.’
It is to be noted that divine election to personal salvation and calling are closely related doctrines. The effectual aspect of the call of God is coextensive with both election and predestination according to Romans 8:29-30: ‘For those whom He foreknew [election], He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son…and those whom He predestined, these He also called’” (McCune, p. 37).
Divine Monergism means God is the one who chooses and brings His own to salvation through this process.

3. The Aspects of Calling
“The Bible teaches two aspects to calling: general and effectual/efficacious (or specific)” (McCune, p. 38).
The General Aspect
“This is the aspect of the call of God in which He urgently invites all who hear the Gospel to come and be saved. Elect and non-elect are invited indiscriminately to come to Christ and salvation” (McCune, p. 38). See Matt 22:14 and Luke 14:16-24.
Universal in Scope – “This aspect of the call of God is unlimited in its invitation. All to whom the gospel comes, that is, all who hear, are invited to be saved. This is found throughout both the Old and New Testaments” (McCune, p. 39). See Isa 45:22; Matt 11:28; John 7:37-38; 12:32.
Universal Calling and General Revelation – “Calling/conviction of sin is not based on general revelation, one form of which is the operation of the conscience. To be sure, conviction is a work of the Holy Spirit via the conscience. However, simply because the conscience functions in general revelation and is condemnatory (Rom 2:15-16), it is not the means of the general call. The general aspect of the call comes when the conscience functions on the basis of special revelation – the Word of God” (McCune, p. 40).
May Be Resisted – See Isa 65:12; Matt 23:37; Acts 7:51; Heb 4:7.
Always Culpably Resisted – Those who reject the call of God are responsible and will suffer the consequences of that rejection.
Some argue that general revelation can cause someone to seek more light and thus prepare the way for their reception of the gospel.

4. The Aspects of Calling The Effectual Aspect
Issues in Salvation – The effectual aspect of God’s call “is a direct operation or work of the Holy Spirit that brings the elect sinner to faith and repentance, from darkness to light, from bondage to liberty, from sin into fellowship with Jesus Christ. It is the aspect that implements election or is election realized (Rom 8:28; 11:29)” (McCune, p. 43). References to this calling include Rom 1:6-7; 1 Cor 1:9, 24; 2 Tim 1:9; Heb 3:1.
Does Not Violate Human Freedom – “The effectual call is not a constraint on or a coercion of the human will. God’s sovereignty and man’s freedom form a profound mystery, yet both do operate compatibly, and both must be affirmed if one wants to be Scriptural” (McCune, p. 46). See Acts 16:14.
Based on God’s Eternal Purpose – “Thus the underlying reason or eternal purpose of calling is God’s election” (McCune, p. 47). See 2 Thess 2:13-14.
Accomplished by the Word of God – “The call is an operation of the Holy Spirit through the special revelation of God. The instrument itself is the Word; the efficacious power of the call is the Holy Spirit” (McCune, p. 47).
Irrevocable – “The special call will infallibly accomplish its final end of bringing the elect sinner to Christ and to the inevitable glory of eternal bliss without fail” (McCune, p. 48).

5. Regeneration

6. The Meaning of Regeneration
Definition – “Regeneration is the instantaneous, supernatural impartation of spiritual life to the spiritually dead” (McCune, p. 49).
Biblical Proof
The term regeneration only occurs twice in the NT (Matt 19:28; Titus 3:5), but the concept of a new birth or new creation occurs more frequently (e.g., John 1:13; Jas 1:18; 1 Pet 1:3; 1 John 3:9).
In the OT the metaphor often employed is a new or circumcised heart (e.g., Deu 30:6; Jer 4:4; Ezek 36:26).
Analysis
A Change of Heart or Governing Disposition – “Regeneration is a complete change in the governing disposition of the individual. Prior to the new birth, the governing heart attitude, which controlled one’s dominant motives, was hostility, enmity and hatred toward God and spiritual things” (McCune, p. 52).
An Instantaneous Miracle – “In short, there is no middle ground between death and life, and the transition from the one to the other is instantaneous. Strong’s assessment is exactly right: ‘[Regeneration] is an instantaneous change , in a region of the soul below consciousness, and is therefore known only in its results…Regeneration is not a gradual work’” (McCune, p. 53).

7. The Meaning of Regeneration
Analysis
A Work of God Alone
“Man is passive in regeneration; he is the recipient. He cannot cooperate or make any contribution to regeneration” (McCune, p. 53).
“While man is essentially passive, he will exercise the awakened governing disposition in repentance and faith…conversion and sanctification are the immediate and consciously recognizable results of regeneration” (McCune, p. 54).
Texts – John 1:13; Eph 2:10; 1 Pet 1:3.
Repentance and Faith as “Gifts” of God – We will deal with this next week.
Total Depravity/Inability – “The Bible is clear that the unsaved person is “dead” in trespasses and sins (Eph 2:1) and thus must be given life before he can respond spiritually to God” (McCune, p. 56).
Regeneration Known Only By Its Results
“There is no satisfactory psychological explanation for the operation of the new birth. Since it is a direct application of God’s power upon the immaterial part of man’s constitution (i.e., the heart, the governing disposition), there is no observable way to analyze regeneration except by its effects and manifestations in character and conduct” (McCune, p. 57).
John 3:8 illustrates the last point.

8. The Work of Regeneration
God Is the Author
John 1:13 who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
1 Corinthians 3:6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. 7 So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth.
The Spirit Is the Agent
John 3:5-6 Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”
The Word of God Is the Means
John 15:3 "You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.”
James 1:18 In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we might be, as it were, the first fruits among His creatures.
1 Peter 1:23 for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and abiding word of God.

9. The Evidences of Regeneration
“The apostle John is the principal source for the evidences of regeneration in a believer’s life, evidences which are in fact signs of the necessary and inevitable perseverance of the saints” (McCune, p. 59).
Believing that Jesus is the Christ (1 John 5:1)
Righteous Living (1 John 2:29)
Cessation of Habitual Sinning (1 John 3:9)
Overcoming Faith (1 John 4:4)
Love of Christian Brothers (1 John 2:10)
Obedience to Divine Commands (1 John 2:3-5)
Paul Adds the Witness of the Spirit (Rom 8:16)
“is born” or “has been born” are perfect tense forms; “believes” and “practices” are present tense (ongoing behavior).

10. Next Time: The Doctrine of Salvation
Repentance
&
Faith