Effectual Calling

Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus; - Hebrews 3:1

    What is this call of God by which God’s elect are saved? What is this heavenly calling of which we have been made partakers by the grace of God? It is described in many ways in doctrinal and theological works: The Internal Call - The Effectual Call - The Irresistible Call - The Call of Grace. All those terms are good and accurate. But it is best described in the words of Holy Scripture. This is how God the Holy Spirit describes the call of grace by which chosen, redeemed sinners are brought to life and faith in Christ.

    Darkness to Light

    This internal, effectual, saving call of grace is a call out of gross darkness into God’s marvelous light. "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light" (1 Pet. 2:9). As in the creation of the world, God commanded the light to shine out of darkness, so in the new creation of grace God the Holy spirit shines in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 4:6). “When the apostle Paul was called by grace, a light surrounded him, as an emblem of that internal light which was sprung in him. After that, there fell from his eyes, as it had been scales, as a token of the removal of his former darkness and ignorance” (John Gill).

    Engulfed in Gross Darkness

    Before God saved us, we were like all other men, engulfed in the gross darkness of our own depraved hearts and spiritual ignorance. God’s elect, in their state of nature, before they are converted, are just like all other men, totally ignorant of all things spiritual (John 3:#). Though chosen of God and redeemed by the blood of Christ, we were totally ignorant of God’s character, our sin, Christ’s person and work, the righteousness of God, the atonement of Christ, the providence of God, the Scriptures, the gospel, and the Spirit of grace. We knew absolutely nothing of God, or of faith in his Son, or of eternal life.

    Spiritual Understanding

    Now, by the effectual call of God the Holy Spirit, the eyes of our understanding have been opened, we are now made to see the light and walk in the light, as the children of the light. God’s people are children of light. They no longer grope about in darkness. They have the unction of the Spirit, causing them to know all things. Believers have the mind of Christ, enabling them to understand all things (Pro. 28:5; 1 Cor. 2:15-16; 1 John 2:20). Believers understand the truth, believe the truth, and receive the love of the truth. There is no such thing as a believer who despises revealed truth concerning God and his ways, himself and his sin, Christ and his atonement, or grace and salvation

    Being taught of God, born of his Spirit, enlightened by his grace, saved sinners have the ability to distinguish things that differ. They know the difference between grace and works. They know the difference between free grace and free will. We have been called out of darkness into God’s marvelous light. We no longer grope about in darkness. “We walk in the light, as he is in the light.” And walking in the light, we both have fellowship with all who walk in the light and the assurance that we are partakers of God’s grace and salvation in Christ (1John 1:7).