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CLIP: Many are chosen, and called through preaching

Jim Butler · 2023-03-01 · 236 words · 1 min

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Summary

Expository

God's appointment of the permanent preaching office is itself evidence of his purpose to save a vast multitude, and every sinner is called to look to Christ in faith through that ordained means.

God's design to save a vast multitude is visible not only in Revelation 7's innumerable throng from every tribe and tongue, but in the very institution of the preaching office itself. The perpetual office of pastor-teacher — continuing until Christ's return in glory — exists precisely to call sinners to faith and repentance and to promise the blessedness of Christ to all who come by grace through faith. The breadth of God's saving purpose and the means he has appointed to accomplish it are together a standing encouragement for any sinner to look to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Key quotes

Obviously, God is in the business of saving a lot of people.
He has designed a particular class of men, a particular office to continue in the church.
It's to promise the blessedness of our Lord Jesus Christ to all who come by grace through faith in him.

Applications

  1. Look to what God has done to save people from their sins, and do not underestimate the breadth of his saving purpose.
  2. Receive the preaching of the gospel as God's own appointed means of calling sinners to faith and repentance.
  3. Look unto the Lord Jesus Christ in faith, trusting the promise of blessedness held out to all who come by grace through faith in him.

Questions this sermon answers

Is God willing to save a large number of sinners?

The innumerable multitude of Revelation 7 drawn from every tribe, tongue, people, and nation makes plain that God is in the business of saving a great many people.

Why does God continue the office of pastor and teacher in the church?

Pastor-teachers remain until Christ's return precisely to preach the gospel, call sinners to faith and repentance, and promise the blessedness of Christ to all who come by grace through faith.

Have the apostles and prophets ceased?

The offices of apostle and prophet have ceased, while the office of pastor-teacher continues until Jesus comes again in glory to judge the living and the dead.

point. If you're not a Christian here tonight, look at what God has done to save people from their sins. I know there's a bit of difference of opinion in our particular city in terms of, is God willing to save a lot of sinners? Well, the Bible says so, and not only Revelation 7.

When you get to Revelation 7, there's a great multitude that no man can number from every tribe, tongue, people, and nation. I don't know how you avoid the obvious. Obviously, God is in the business of saving a lot of people. But it's not only those specific texts that tell us he's going to save a lot of people, but it's passages like these.

He has designed a particular class of men, a particular office to continue in the church. The apostles ceased. The prophets ceased, the evangelists again, it's a bit of a tough one, but pastors, teachers remain until Jesus comes again in glory to judge the living and the dead. What's one of the purposes for these men?

It's to preach the gospel to sinners. It's to call sinners to faith and repentance. It's to promise the blessedness of our Lord Jesus Christ to all who come by grace through faith in him. And that ought to be another encouragement for anyone here to look unto the Lord Jesus Christ in faith because he's about the salvation.

Scripture References

  • Revelation 7

Study notes

Theological terms

  • Cessationism
  • Definite Atonement
  • Effectual Calling
  • Preaching Office×2