What does the Bible say about God's calling?

The Scriptures affirm that God's calling is a profound act of grace. In 2 Timothy 1:9, Paul explains that God 'saved us and called us with a holy calling not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace.' This demonstrates that salvation is initiated by God, grounded in His divine will, rather than our human efforts. This calling is not merely a general invitation, but a specific, effectual call to the elect, characterized by a transformative encounter with God that leads to genuine faith and repentance.

Moreover, the notion of being called relates back to the eternal purpose of God. Ephesians 1:4-5 states that believers were chosen in Christ 'before the foundation of the world.' This emphasizes that before any human works or decisions, God set apart for Himself a people, engendering a sacred relationship through His Son. Thus, the call contains the essence of grace and signifies a believer's movement from death to life, reflecting God's sovereign initiative in the salvation of His people.