God's Sovereign Purpose in Regeneration and Calling

God's sovereign purpose in regeneration and calling refers to the divine initiative in bringing individuals to salvation and into a relationship with Him. This purpose is understood as eternal, unchangeable, and comprehensive, encompassing all things that will ever be ^[3]. The concept of "calling" in Scripture can refer to several aspects: a general invitation to all humanity, a designation to a special office, or an effectual, saving invitation ^[8].

The Bible speaks of God's election in various ways: the election of individuals to specific offices or privileges (e.g., Abraham, David, the apostles), the election of nations to special privileges (e.g., Israel), and the election of individuals to eternal life ^[1]. This election to salvation is grounded in God's "good pleasure" [1, Ephesians 1:5, 11]. The term "predestination" is used in Scripture to describe God's plan or purpose of salvation, indicating that His eternal, sovereign, immutable, and unconditional decree governs all events related to this purpose ^[5]. While this doctrine can be complex, it is understood to belong to the "secret things" of God, with believers guided by His revealed word ^[5].

The "calling of God" is presented as a multifaceted action. It can occur through Christ [4, Isaiah 55:5], by His Spirit [4, Revelation 22:17], through His works in creation [4, Psalm 19:2-3], by His ministers [4, Jeremiah 35:15], and through the gospel message [4, 2 Thessalonians 2:14]. This call is described as being "from darkness" [4, 1 Peter 2:9] and is addressed to all people [4, Isaiah 45:22]. However, while the call is universal, many reject it [4, Proverbs 1:24]. For those who are saved, the call is considered "effectual" [4, Psalm 110:3].

This effectual call is characterized as being "of grace" [4, Galatians 1:15], "according to the purpose of God" [4, Romans 8:28], "high" [4, Philippians 3:14], "holy" [4, 1 Timothy 1:9], and "heavenly" [4, Hebrews 3:1]. Its purpose is to bring individuals into fellowship with Christ [4, 1 Corinthians 1:9] and to holiness [4, 1 Thessalonians 4:7]. God's divine power grants everything needed for life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called believers by His own glory and excellence ^{[2, 7]}.

The concept of God's calling is closely linked to His unchangeable nature. The "gifts and calling of God are without repentance," meaning they are irrevocable [13, Romans 11:29]. This implies that God will not change His mind regarding His chosen people or the covenant He has made ^{[10, 11]}. Adam Clarke, a Methodist commentator, explains that "repentance, when applied to God, signifies simply change of purpose relative to some declarations" ^[11]. John Gill, a Baptist commentator, notes that those "called with a holy calling, according to the purpose and grace of God," are referred to as "the called of Jesus Christ" [14, Romans 1:6].

The process of salvation itself is attributed to God's purpose and appointment [9, 2 Timothy 1:9, 1 Thessalonians 5:9]. God is willing to grant salvation [9, 1 Timothy 2:4], and it is accomplished through Christ alone [9, Acts 4:12]. The Lord God Almighty, who is eternal and unchangeable, is praised for His reign and for calling His people to His eternal glory in Christ ^{[6, 9, 12]}. The "remnant" are those preserved by God's grace to be the foundation of His new people, demonstrating that His purpose is to have a people who walk in His ways and are holy ^[13]. The Psalmist expresses confidence in God's ongoing work, stating, "I call to God Most High, To God who is perfecting for me" ^[4].

Sources

Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Election of Grace — The Scripture speaks (1) of the election of individuals to office or to honour and privilege, e.g., Abraham, Jacob, Saul, David, Solomon, were all chosen by God for the positions they held; so also were the apostles. (2) There is also an election of nations to special privileges, e.g., the Hebrews (Deut. 7:6; Rom. 9:4). (3) But in addition there is an election of individuals to eternal life (2 Thess. 2:13; Eph. 1:4; 1 Pet. 1:2; John 13:18). The ground of this election to salvation is the good pleasure of God (Eph. 1:5, 11; Matt. 11:25, 26; John 15”
II Peter “II Peter 1:3 (BSB) — His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Decrees of God — "The decrees of God are his eternal, unchangeable, holy, wise, and sovereign purpose, comprehending at once all things that ever were or will be in their causes, conditions, successions, and relations, and determining their certain futurition. The several contents of this one eternal purpose are, because of the limitation of our faculties, necessarily conceived of by us in partial aspects, and in logical relations, and are therefore styled Decrees." The decree being the act of an infinite, absolute, eternal, unchangeable, and sovereign Person, compre”
Psalms “Psalms 57:2 (YLT) — I call to God Most High, To God <FI>who<Fi> is perfecting for me.”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Predestination — This word is properly used only with reference to God's plan or purpose of salvation. The Greek word rendered "predestinate" is found only in these six passages, Acts 4:28; Rom. 8:29, 30; 1 Cor. 2:7; Eph. 1:5, 11; and in all of them it has the same meaning. They teach that the eternal, sovereign, immutable, and unconditional decree or "determinate purpose" of God governs all events. This doctrine of predestination or election is beset with many difficulties. It belongs to the "secret things" of God. But if we take the revealed word of God as our guid”
I Peter “I Peter 5:10 (LEB) — And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered for a short time, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.”
2 Peter “2 Peter 1:3 (NASB) — seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Call — (1.) To cry for help, hence to pray (Gen. 4:26). Thus men are said to "call upon the name of the Lord" (Acts 2:21; 7:59; 9:14; Rom. 10:12; 1 Cor. 1:2). (2.) God calls with respect to men when he designates them to some special office (Ex. 31:2; Isa. 22:20; Acts 13:2), and when he invites them to accept his offered grace (Matt. 9:13; 11:28; 22:4). In the message of the gospel his call is addressed to all men, to Jews and Gentiles alike (Matt. 28:19; Mark 16:15; Rom. 9:24, 25). But this universal call is not inseparably connected with salvation, although it leav”
Revelation (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Revelation 11:17: Saying, we give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty,.... The person addressed is the Lord Jesus Christ, whose the kingdoms are become, and who now reigns in great power and authority; he is Lord of all, and truly and properly God, and the Almighty, as his works of creation, preservation, redemption, raising himself from the dead, &c. declare; and each of these titles exceedingly well suit him, when his visible kingdom on earth will be so greatly enlarged: which art, and wast, and art to come: the everlasting, "I am", the unchangeable Jehovah: the phrase is express”
Romans (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Romans 11:29: For the gifts and calling--"and the calling" of God are without repentance--"not to be," or "cannot be repented of." By the "calling of God," in this case, is meant that sovereign act by which God, in the exercise of His free choice, "called" Abraham to be the father of a peculiar people; while "the gifts of God" here denote the articles of the covenant which God made with Abraham, and which constituted the real distinction between his and all other families of the earth. Both these, says the apostle, are irrevocable; and as the point for which he r”
Romans (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Romans 11:29: For the gifts and calling of God, etc. - The gifts which God has bestowed upon them, and the calling - the invitation, with which he has favored them he will never revoke. In reference to this point there is no change of mind in him; and therefore the possibility and certainty of their restoration to their original privileges, of being the people of God, of enjoying every spiritual blessing with the fullness of the Gentiles, may be both reasonably and safely inferred. Repentance, when applied to God, signifies simply change of purpose relative to some declarations ”
Revelation (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Revelation 15:3: 15:3-4 The song of Moses and the Lamb signifies that God’s will is united in the old and new covenants. 15:3 The Lord God, the Almighty (see also 1:8; 4:8; 11:17; 16:7; 19:6; 21:22): For persecuted Christians, the message that God is all-powerful provides great comfort and security. • The truth that God is also just and true is the foundation of human integrity in the midst of a confused, unjust, and dishonest world. • God is the supreme, universal King of the nations, not a localized deity attached to one nation or to a human monarch with limited authority.”
Micah (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Micah 5:7: 5:7-15 God’s purpose was not to create another nation like all the other nations (Exod 19:4-6; Num 23:9; Jer 7:23), but to have his own people who would walk in his ways and be holy as he is holy (Lev 11:45). In that day (Mic 5:10), God will rule a redeemed and purified people, healed of violence and the ravages of war. 5:7 The remnant are those whom God’s grace preserved to be the foundation of his new people (Ezra 9:8-15; Neh 1:2). • Dew and rain are gifts from the Lord; no person can prevent his sending them.”

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