Predestination and Calling

Spurgeon opens by acknowledging that the book of God's eternal decrees is sealed to human eyes, but argues that because the Bible links predestination and calling together — "whom he predestinated, them he also called" — a person can know whether they are elect by examining whether they have received the effectual, saving call of God, illustrating this call through Lazarus raised from the dead, Saul struck down on the Damascus road, Zacchaeus called down from his tree, Abraham led out from Ur, and Samuel hearing God's voice in the night. He then provides a series of practical tests drawn directly from Scripture to help readers examine whether their calling is genuine: does it produce holiness, an upward direction of heart and hope, fellowship with Christ, a sense of coming out of darkness into light, freedom from the bondage of sin, and the humbling awareness of being a sinner in need of grace rather than a self-righteous person who needs nothing. He closes with two great consolations: first, that if a person is truly called they can be certain they are also predestinated, because God joins these inseparably; and second, that the gifts and calling of God are without repentance, meaning every called person will be justified and glorified — a certainty no poverty, suffering, or enemy can overturn.Sermon delivered by Charles Spurgeon on March 6th, 1859.