Author
VBVMI StaffAccess all of our teaching materials through our smartphone apps conveniently and quickly.
Author
VBVMI StaffEphesians 1:5 says that God predestined us to Himself before the world. If this is true that we have already been chosen, then what purpose does an "altar call" serve, where people come forward to "accept" Christ?
The Bible teaches that saving faith is a product of God’s work in the heart of a sinner. The Lord by His Spirit brings faith to a person’s heart according to His mercy, as Paul says:
Nevertheless, Jesus does call sinners to repent:
And the apostles echoed this call in their personal ministry of evangelism. As Paul said:
God works through the call of the Gospel to lead men and women to confess His name, yet the very prompting for that confession is God’s Spirit working in the heart. Therefore, God’s call to repent gives opportunity for God’s gift of faith to be revealed in the heart of a sinner and God’s name to be glorified for His grace.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. www.lockman.org