Derek Thomas

When he writes to the Corinthians, the very opening verses,

He refers to the Christians in Corinth as called to be saints.

They were called to be saints.

Or you can also translate that the holy called ones.

Next time you think about yourself as a Christian, you could say this about yourself.

I'm somebody who has been called.

I've received a call.

I've received a sovereign, effectual call that drew me to Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit.

And so for Paul at this stage when he's writing to the Galatians, the reason why he's a Christian is because he answered the call.

He received a call and he answered the call.

And that call was powerful.

That call was sovereign.

That call was effectual.

That way of thinking will be dominant in St.

Augustine, for example.

It'll be dominant in the Reformers.

It'll be dominant in the Puritans of the 17th century, the doctrine of effectual calling.

As we record these sessions, it's the anniversary of the Synod of Dort, the five points of Calvinism, one of which is effectual calling.

We've been called sovereignly and powerfully by God.

And then he goes on to say in verse 16, was pleased to reveal his son to me.