Why is God's grace essential in the call to salvation?

The grace of God is central to the call to salvation, as it is through grace that God draws individuals from spiritual darkness into light. As the sermon highlights, individuals are naturally born in ignorance and dead to God (Ephesians 2:1), making them unable to respond to God unless He intervenes. The effectual call is described as personal and gracious, emphasizing that it is purely by God's mercy that anyone is called to salvation. In this view, salvation is not based on human merit but solely on the sovereign and gracious choice of God. This underscores the doctrinal truth that God's grace is what makes salvation possible, providing the necessary means for a sinner to hear and respond to the call of Christ.