What does it mean to be called to believe in Christ?

The call to believe in Christ signifies both an invitation and an assurance from God. In Lydia's case, her heart was opened by the Lord, making her receptive to the gospel message. This reflects the Reformed view of the effectual call, which asserts that God actively draws certain individuals to Himself through His grace. When we refer to the call to believe, we acknowledge that this is not merely a passive suggestion but a powerful, transformative act of God leading us to faith. As stated in John 6:44, no one can come to Jesus unless the Father draws them, emphasizing the divine initiative behind our response to the gospel. This highlights both the necessity of God's grace in faith and the joyous reality that believers are indeed called by God to trust in Christ for salvation, as seen in Acts 16:31 when the jailer was instructed to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and he would be saved.