How do we know that God calls rather than invites people to salvation?
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God's call is a powerful response to human need, while invitations imply equality that does not exist in our relationship with God.
The understanding of God's calling versus inviting is critical in Reformed theology. The call of God to humanity is not an equal invitation but a sovereign act that responds to the neediness of the sinner. When God calls, He meets the inward need of the heart; this is exemplified in the Gospel where the weary and heavy-laden are assured rest. This divine calling infers a relationship of dependence, where the sinner recognizes their poverty and turns to God for sustenance and spiritual nourishment. Thus, God's call to salvation is seen as a gracious intervention in our lives.
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