“Divine Procurement” (2 Peter 1:3c)

 

EVENING SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 10/02/2025 8:14 PM

My Worship Time                                                                             Focus: “Divine Procurement”

Bible Reading and Meditation                                                                                  Reference: 2 Peter 1:3c

            Message of the verses: “through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.”

            I begin this evening’s SD with a quotation from John MacArthur to help us know where we are going with these verses:  “In light of the divine power and provision available to Christians, the question then arises, ‘How does one experience those to the fullest?’  The apostle indicates that it is through the true knowledge of Him.  Knowledge (epignosis) refers to a knowledge that is deep and genuine.  The word is sometimes used interchangeably with the more basis term gnosis, which means simply knowledge.  But Peter is referring to more than a superficial knowledge of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection.  Christ Himself warned of the peril of an inadequate knowledge of Him, even for those who minister in His name:

21 "Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. 22 “Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ 23 “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS’ (Matt. 7:21-23; Cf. Luke 6:46).”

 

                                                                                                                                                            

            Personal saving knowledge of the Lord is the obvious beginning point for believers, and as with everything in the Christian life, it comes from Him who called them (John 3:27; Rom. 2:4; 1 Cor. 4:7; cf. Jonah 2:9).  Theologically, God’s call comprises two aspects: the general call and the effectual call.  Theologian Charles M. Horne succinctly defined the two aspects as follows:

 

            The general call is a call which comes through the proclamation of the gospel:  It is a call which urges sinners to accept salvation.  On the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried aloud ‘If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink’” (Jn. 7:37, Williams; cf. Matt. 11:28; Isa. 45:22; etc.).

 

            This message (kerygma), which is to be authoritatively proclaimed—not optionally debated—contains three essential elements:  (1) It is a story of historical occurrences—an historical proclamation: Christ died, was buried, and rose (1 Cor. 15:3-4). (2) It is an authoritative interpretation of these events—a theological evaluation.  Christ died for our sins. (3) It is an offer of salvation to whosoever will—an ethical summons.  Repent! Believe!

 

            The general call is to be freely and universally offered.  “Jesus came up…and said, ‘Full authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  God then a make disciples of all the nations’” (Matt. 28:18-19, Williams).

 

            The effectual call is efficacious; that is, it always results in salvation.  This is a creative calling which accompanies the external proclamation of the gospel; it is invested with the power to deliver on to the divinely intended destination.  “It is very striking that in the New Testament the terms for calling, when used specifically with reference to salvation, are almost uniformly applied, not to the universal call of the gospel, but to the call that ushers men into a state of salvation and is therefore effectual.’ [John Murray Redemption—Accomplished and Applied (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1955), p. 88.]

 

            Perhaps the classic passage on the effectual call is found in Romans 8:30: “Whom he did predestinate, them he also called’ (KJV).  Other pertinent references include: Romans 1:6-7; 1 Corinthians 1:9, 26; 2 Peter 1:10).

 

            The efficacious call is immutable, thereby insuring our perseverance.  “For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable” (Rom. 11:29, NASB). (Salvation [Chicago: Moody, 1971, 47-48; italics in original.  See also these other New Testament references:  John 1:12-13; 3:3-8; 6:37, 44-45, 64-65; Acts 16:14; Eph. 2:1, 5, 10; Col. 2:13; 1 Thess. 1:4-5; 2 Tim. 1:9; Titus 3:5.)

 

As in all appearances of this call in the epistles, Peter’s use of called here clearly refers to the effectual and irresistible call to salvation.

 

            “God effects His saving call through the revealed majesty of His own Son.  Sinners are drawn by the glory and excellence of Jesus Christ.  In Scripture glory always belongs to God alone (cf. Ex. 15:11; Deut. 28:58; Pss. 8:1; 19:1; 57:5; 93:1; 104:1; 138:5; 145:5; Isa. 6:3; 42:8, 12; 48:11; 59:19; Heb. 1:3; Rev. 21:11, 23).  Thus when sinners see the glory of Christ they are witnessing His deity (cf. Luke 9:27-36; John 1:3-5, 14).  Unless through the preaching of the gospel (Rom. 10:14-17) they realize who Christ is (the glorious Son of God who is Savior; cf. John 20:30-31; 1 Peter 1:16-18), and understand their need for repentance, so as to come to Him in faith, pleading for salvation, sinners cannot escape hell and enter heaven. 

           

            “So, when God draws sinners to Himself, they see not only Christ’s glory as God, but also His excellence as man.  That refers to His morally virtuous life and His perfect humanity (cf. Matt. 20:28; Luke 2:52; 22:27; 2 Cor. 8:9; Phil. 2:7; Heb. 2:17; 4:15; 7:26; 1 Peter 2:21-23; 1 John 3:3).  All salvation blessings, power, and provision come only to those who see and believe the words and acts of the sinless God/Man (cf. John 17:7-10; Acts 2:22; 1 Cor. 15:47; 1 John 1:1-2; 5:20).”

 

10/2/2025 9:34 PM