What is effectual calling?
Effectual calling is the work of God’s Spirit, whereby convincing us of our sin and misery, enlightening our minds in the knowledge of Christ, and renewing our wills, he doth persuade and enable us to embrace Jesus Christ freely offered to us in the gospel.
Proofs
- Effectual calling is the work of God’s Spirit, (2 Timothy 1:9; 2 Thessalonians 2:13–14)
- whereby convincing us of our sin and misery, (Acts 2:37)
- enlightening our minds in the knowledge of Christ, (Acts 26:18)
- and renewing our wills, (Ezekiel 36:26–27)
- he doth persuade and enable us to embrace Jesus Christ freely offered to us in the gospel. (John 6:44–45; Philippians 2:13)
Additional Exposition
Section 1
Is there an outward call given to all men?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: Unto you, O men, I call, (Proverbs 8:4)
Does God call by his works of creation?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: For there is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard, (Psalm 19:3)
And by his works of providence?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: The Lord’s voice crieth into the city, (Micah 6:9)
And by his word?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: He sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden, (Matthew 22:3)
And by the common motions of his Spirit?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: My Spirit shall not always strive with man, (Genesis 6:3)
But is this call always effectual?
Answer: No.
Proof: They would not come, (Matthew 22:3)
Section 2
Are the special calls of the Spirit the fruits of electing love?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: Whom he predestinated, them he also called, (Romans 8:30)
Are they attended with the mighty power of God?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: Our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, (1 Thessalonians 1:5)
And yet suitable to the nature of man?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: I drew them with the cords of a man, (Hosea 11:4)
And are they always effectual?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: They shall come, (John 6:27)
Section 3
Are all that are effectually called convinced of sin?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: When the commandment came, sin revived, (Romans 7:9)
Are they convinced of sin in the heart?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: They shall know every man the plague of his own heart, (1 Kings 8:38)
And of sin in the life?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: Thou makest me to possess the iniquities of my youth, (Job 13:26)
Are they especially convinced of gross and leading sins?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: Who was before a persecutor, (1 Timothy 1:13)
Do they see sin in the glass of the law?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: For by the law is the knowledge of sin, (Romans 3:20)
And in the glass of the divine perfections?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: Now mine eye seeth thee, I abhor myself, (Job 42:5)
And in the glass of Christ’s sufferings?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: They shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and mourn, (Zechariah 12:10)
Do they see sin to be exceeding sinful?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: Know therefore and see that it is an evil thing, (Jeremiah 2:19)
And exceeding hateful?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: I hate every false way, (Psalm 119:104)
And exceeding hurtful?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: I find more bitter than death the woman whose heart is snares and nets, (Ecclesiastes 7:26)
And is such a conviction the fruit of the Spirit?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: For when he is come he will reprove the world of sin, (John 16:8)
Section 4
Are all such convinced of their misery?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: Woe is me, for I am undone, (Isaiah 6:5)
And of the equity of God’s judgments?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: O Lord, righteousness belongeth unto thee, (Daniel 9:7)
And of their helplessness in themselves?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: We cannot stand before thee because of this, (Ezra 9:15)
Will such a conviction produce horror?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: The jailer came trembling, (Acts 16:29)
And shame?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: We lie down in our shame, (Jeremiah 3:25)
And humble silence?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: He putteth his mouth in the dust, (Lamentations 3:29)
And earnest inquiry?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? (Acts 9:6)
Section 5
Is such a conviction necessary?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: For the whole need not a physician, (Matthew 9:12)
But is it all that is necessary?
Answer: No.
Proof: For he has torn, and he will heal us, (Hosea 6:1)
Does the same Spirit then that has begun the work carry it on?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: For he will perfect that which concerneth us, (Psalm 138:8)
Doth he enlighten our minds?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: He shines into our hearts, (2 Corinthians 4:6)
Doth he particularly enlighten them into the knowledge of Christ?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: He gives the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ, (2 Corinthians 4:6)
And of the things of Christ?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: He shall take of mine and show it unto you, (John 16:15)
Section 6
Is that knowledge which the Spirit affords inward and experimental?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: Wisdom entereth into the heart, (Proverbs 2:10)
Is it attended with the greatest certainty?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: We believe and are sure that thou art Christ the Son of the living God, (John 6:69)
Is it an operative and effectual knowledge?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: It bringeth forth fruit, (Colossians 1:6)
Is it an abiding knowledge?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: The anointing which you have received of him abideth in you, (1 John 2:27)
Should it therefore be earnestly coveted and sought after?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus our Lord, (Philippians 3:8)
Section 7
Is this illumination of the understanding attended with a determination of the will?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: He shall make ready a people prepared for the Lord, (Luke 1:17)
Is the perverse will rendered pliable?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh, (Ezekiel 11:19)
And the rebellious will obedient?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: Every thought is brought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, (2 Corinthians 10:5)
And is this also the work of God?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: it is he that worketh in us to will, (Philippians 2:13)
Section 8
Doth the soul thus awakened and enlightened venture itself upon Christ?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: Every man that hath heard and learned of the Father, cometh unto me, (John 6:45)
And that immediately?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: Christ said follow me; and he rose and followed him, (Matthew 9:9)
And resolutely?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him, (Job 13:15)
Is Christ proposed in the word as an able Saviour?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: He is able to save to the uttermost, all that come unto God through him, (Hebrews 7:25)
And as a willing Saviour?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: This man receiveth sinners, (Luke 15:2)
And do the actions of faith in the soul answer to the discoveries made of Christ in the word?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: So we preach, and so ye believed, (1 Corinthians 15:11)
Section 9
Is the whole work of grace in conversion represented by a call?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: Called to be saints, (1 Corinthians 1:2)
Is this a secret call?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: The kingdom of God cometh not with observation, (Luke 17:20)
And a mysterious one?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: For we know not what is the way of the Spirit, (Ecclesiastes 11:5)
And a personal one?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: I have called thee by thy name, (Isaiah 43:1)
And a free and gracious one?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: Of his own will begat he us, (James 1:18)
Should God therefore have the glory of it?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: Not unto us, not unto us, but unto thy name, give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth’s sake, (Psalm 115:1)