Chapter # 5 Paragraph # 4 Study # 7
June 7, 2015
Dayton, Texas
(Download Audio)

• I. The Specific Declarations.
  • A. In the opening statement of 5:23, it is "God Himself" who is the subject of the compound verbs.
  • B. Then the entire statement of 5:24 is a claim that the God Who calls is the One Who does.
• II. The Specific Issues Involved.
  • A. In 5:23 Paul introduced both the "telos" and the "klaros" of God's labors.
    • 1. The "telos" gives the objective: what God has in mind; the specific assignment(s) He plans to give to His child.
    • 2. The "klaros" gives the setting: what God's mind is focused upon; the specific setting for the final outcome(s) of those plans in the future Kingdom to be introduced at the coming of "our Lord Jesus Christ".
  • B. In 5:24 Paul raises the two most critical issues that are involved in God's successful accomplishment of His objective in His setting.
    • 1. Primary to the entire issue is God's identity as the One Who Calls.
      • a. This identity is critical because God's purposes are rooted in grace (Romans 9:11) as the root of God's determinative plans (Romans 11:1-6).
      • b. This identity is critical because there are multiple "calls" (the verb is present tense) presented in the Bible and the implication is that God "calls" when a particular situation "calls for" some special and specific input by Him to nudge things along the determined path.
        • 1) There is a "call" (1 Timothy 6:12) to eternal life.
        • 2) There are multiple "calls" (Paul's characterization of the verb in the present tense as in 2:12 and our current text) to specific issues (as in 4:7 where "uncleanness" in is view).
        • 3) The point is that God is actively involved on at least a periodic basis in addressing our attitudes, choices, and actions.
    • 2. Secondary to the issue is the believer's identity as a "believer".
      • a. The process of God's purposes are rooted in the necessity of trustworthiness and trust.
        • 1) No kingdom involving persons can stand in the face of the lack of either.
        • 2) Hebrews 11:6 makes it as plain as it can be that only "faith" pleases God.
      • b. The facts of the matter include the reality that "unbelief" does stymie the process; so much so that God will not tolerate it for long.
      • c. Paul would not have felt compelled to present God as "faithful" if "faith" were not a critical element in the way God's plans come to pass.
        • 1) His statement is, in one sense, a "call to faith".
        • 2) But his statement is more fundamentally a "declaration of truth" that God settles into the hearts of His people.