FAQs Mondays: What Are the Benefits of Effectual Calling?

"FAQs Mondays" is an ongoing series of posts based on an adaptation of The Baptist Catechism.  You can view the original documents from which it is drawn: here, here, and here.  Previous posts include: "the Introduction", "What Is the Chief End of Man?", "Who Is God?", "What is the Word?", "What is God?",  "How Does God Work within His Creation?", "What Went Wrong?", "Was That the End of the Story?", "What Is the Work of the Redeemer", and "How Is Redemption Applied". Last week, we looked how redemption was applied.  Redemption is applied to the believer through the effectual calling of the Holy Spirit.  But what are the benefits of that calling?

What benefits do those who are effectually called receive in this life?

Those who are effectually called receive in this life justification, adoption, sanctification, and the several benefits which in this life accompany or flow from them. Paul summarizes it this way:

And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.  What then shall we say to these things?  If God is for us, who can be against us?  He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?(Rom 8:30-32)

We are also predestined to adoption (see Gal 3:26; Eph. 1:5), sanctified (see 1 Cor. 6:11), and many other benefits (see 1 Cor 1:30).  Thus, effectual calling brings us into the blessings set apart for us in Christ Jesus.

What is justification?

Justification is an act of God's free grace, by which he pardons all our sins, and accepts us as righteous in his sight, only for the righteousness of Christ imputed to us, and received by faith alone. Contrasting Christ's work to Adam's sin, Paul explains, "For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous" (Rom. 5:19).  Thus, justification is a grace gift (see Rom. 3:24, Gal. 2:16), that provides forgiveness through Christ's blood (see Eph. 1:7), and gives us Christ's righteousness (see Phil. 3:9)Paul states, "For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God" (2 Cor. 5:21).  

What is adoption?

Adoption is an act of God's free grace, by which we are received into the company of God's children and have a right to all the privileges of his sons.  John explains, "But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become the children of God" (John 1:12).  John exclaims, "See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called the children of God; and so we are" (1 John 3:1)!  Paul states,

For all those who are led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God.  For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoptions as sons, by whom we cry out, "Abba! Father!  The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God, and if children, then heirs--heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provide we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him (Rom. 8:14-18).

What is sanctification?

Sanctification is the work of God's free grace by which we are renewed in the whole person after the image of God, and are enabled more and more to die unto sin, and live unto righteousness. Paul, expressing gratitude for the work of God in the life of the saints in Thessalonica , states "But we ought always give thanks for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth" (2 Thes 2:13).  Sanctification is the process through which the Spirit changes us as we mature in the Lord.  Paul states, "And to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness"  (Eph. 4:23-24).  We accomplish this by counting ourselves dead to sin (see Rom. 6:11).

What are the benefits which in this life do accompany or flow from justification, adoption, and sanctification?

The benefits which in this life do accompany or flow from justification, adoption, and sanctification, are, assurance of God's love, peace of conscience, fellowship with Christ, joy in the Holy Spirit, increase of grace, the privilege of prayer, and perseverance therein to the end.  Consider these passages: Romans 5:1-5, 14:17; Proverbs 4:18; 1 Peter 1:5; 1 John 5:13; 1 Corinthians 1:9; and John 15:7.

Conclusion

The benefits of effectual calling are many.  They all spring from God's gracious nature, through his gracious provision, in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Next week, we will answer the question, "What other benefits come from being in Christ?"