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Again, I have to disagree. The "effectual call" consists of:
[LIST=1]
[*]Outward, general call; e.g., preaching of the gospel</li>
[*]Inward call: regeneration and drawing to Christ by virtue of the new nature created by the Spirit</li>


The effectual call is not the same as the general call. We can start a new thread if you so desire. If that was the case then one would believe in Gospel Regeneration which is erroneous.


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It is God Himself Who "applies" justification, i.e., makes a legal pronouncement declaring the believer, at the moment faith reaches out to Christ, is righteous. Justification follows faith. And faith follows the effectual call.

Then faith becomes a condition. I do nto believe you can have it both ways. The elect are justified prior to any faith on their part. The faith is the gift of God that lays hold of the Christ. Believing is a fruit Pilgrim. Once the Holy Spirit regenerates the Elect, they do not plead their faith in Christ in order to come to Him. We come as helpless beggars. Knowing nothing but our need for a savior.

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Whoa!! [Linked Image] Perhaps part of the problem here is terminology. You appear to be using "effectual call" in a very broad, encompassing sense which includes conversion; i.e., regeneration, repentance and believing on Christ. IF that is the case, then I can understand, at least in part, how you would be wanting to say that "the effectual call applies justification". But nevertheless, it isn't the "effectual call" itself that applies justification, but God Who imputes the righteousness of Christ to the sinner at the moment he/she believes. And the believing always occurs, in the case of adults, immediately after regeneration.

Regeneration, new birth, effectual calling, and irresistible grace are synonymous theological terms referring to the work of the Holy Spirit in the radical transformation of the soul. Regeneration is the personal application of the blood of Christ to the "inner man" so that the soul is cleansed, really and individually, from sin: "Not by works of righteousness which we have done' but according to His mercy He saved us by the washing of regeneration, and the renewing of the Holy Ghost" (Titus 3:5). The "new man" is thus created "in righteousness and true holiness" (Eph. 4:24), for sin has been washed away. The interesting nugget in Titus which I recently noticed says we are saved by regeneration. And again Paul uses the same application in 1 Tim 2:9. This is something new I never noticed before.

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Methinks you have not understood what is entailed in this ordo solutis, specifically in regard to what transpires between the "and whom he called, them he also justified:" <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/scratchchin.gif" alt="" /> The "calling" is to faith in Christ. And those who believe on Christ, "them he also justified". The biblical record concerning Abraham fully supports this:

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Romans 4:3-5 "For what saith the scripture? And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned unto him for righteousness. Now to him that worketh, the reward is not reckoned as of grace, but as of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is reckoned for righteousness."

Galatians 3:6-9 "Even as Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned unto him for righteousness. Know therefore that they that are of faith, the same are sons of Abraham. And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand unto Abraham, [saying,] In thee shall all the nations be blessed. So then they that are of faith are blessed with the faithful Abraham."<br>
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In is an incontrovertible fact, according to the text, that justification FOLLOWS faith. The merits of Christ's atoning work is IMPUTED/RECKONED to the one who believes in time.

I do not believe this is Classic Calvinism as you call it. This makes faith a work and the cause of justification. Again Abraham was justified in Genesis 12 when He was called. If faith is a gift of God, how can it count towrds our justification? If He gives is, why would He wait for us to show our faith before justifying us. The elect are justifed by faith, by grace, not because of faith, you know this.

I will comment on sanctification in another thread also. Pilgrim, I enjoy this tremendously and praise God I ahve been led here.


Joe

There never was a sinner half as big as Christ is as a Savior.