Verse 28 teaches the church of Jesus Christ about effectual calling. Here Paul identifies a people whom He designates, ‘the called’. It is not the first time Paul has employed this title to describe the believers in Rome. In 1:6 he tells them their faith confirms them ‘among the called of Jesus Christ’. The called are saved men and women; boys and girls, who have been regenerated, made spiritually alive and made partakers of the new birth by God the Holy Ghost. They are ‘called’ to salvation internally by efficacious grace and externally by the preaching of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.  A spiritual work This calling is not an appointment to an office in the church nor a commission to fulfil a…

The Lord Jesus Christ tells us that men ought always to pray and not to faint. Actually, there are many things men ought always to do but by nature we cannot and will not do them. For example, we will not give God the honour, praise and love He is due from His creatures. We will not glorify His name. Far from loving the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength we hate Him by nature and despise His claims upon us. A long way down Paul has in this very chapter described our fallen nature as ‘enmity against God’. Enmity is mankind’s governing principle of aversion and hostility towards God in heart and mind. It is the state of all…

It is my plan, God willing, to spend a few weeks dwelling on some of the wonderful truths bound up in Romans 8:28-30. I appreciate we are here breaking into a larger section of Paul’s teaching but I trust the Holy Spirit will enable us to draw some spiritual benefit from holding up these diamonds to the light to marvel at the beauty they contain. These verses have been likened to a golden chain of salvation with each golden link precious in itself. A word in context The Apostle Paul begins by speaking of all things working together for good. This is not a stand-alone statement. It is actually the answer to a question anticipated by the apostle. He has been speaking of the great…

It is an especial delight for a gospel preacher to preach from a passage so full of the Lord Jesus Christ as are these two verses.  Jude brings his little epistle to an end in a doxology that beautifully elevates the glory of Christ and must surely be amongst the highest examples of earthly worship known to man. He is magnifying our Saviour who is able and willing to save His people from their sins, preserve them holy, in time, and present them faultless in glory with great joy. It is fully consistent with Jude’s strong sovereign grace emphasis in this epistle that at its end He who is all-wise and all-powerful should be thus worshipped.  Worthy of praise It is to Christ that Jude…

The remainder of the apostle’s letter is positive and encouraging. It is full of help and comfort for the Lord’s people. Jude offers spiritual direction for our wellbeing. Previously, in verse 17, Jude used the title ‘beloved’ to register God’s loving commitment to His church and here, again, he employs it as a reminder of God’s continuing love and faithfulness. Perhaps, the love of the Lord Jesus Christ is foremost in Jude’s mind as he goes on to speak specifically of Christ’s mercy.   Build and keep Jude’s admonition to build ourselves up in the faith and keep ourselves in God’s love does not imply creature ability in spiritual matters. Every good and perfect gift is from above and consequently there is no spiritual growth…

Jude opens our passage today with a reference to brotherly love. He reminds us of this principal feature of Christian fellowship. Our love for the Lord Jesus arises from God first loving us. Our love for the Lord, as His followers, thereafter manifests itself in our love for one another. This is spiritual union. Because the Lord loves us we love those whom He loves. We do not love as He loves, nor love as we should, but we endeavour to emulate our Saviour by loving the brethren. Beloved of God Jude does not wish to unduly frighten or trouble the Lord’s little ones. He knows that when a true child of God hears of false professors their first reaction is, ‘Is it I?’ Despite…