Q. What is effectual calling?
A. Effectual calling is the work of God’s Spirit, whereby, convincing us of our sin and misery, enlightening our minds in the knowledge of Christ, and renewing our wills, he doth persuade and enable us to embrace Jesus Christ, freely offered to us in the gospel.
Irresistible grace flows from the heart of the Spirit of God to call us out of darkness into his marvelous light; convincing, enlightening, renewing, persuading, and enabling us to embrace Christ as our Savior.
What is the work of the Spirit?
“It is a high calling, ‘I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God’ Phil 3.14. It is a high calling, (i) Because we are called to high exercises of religion; to be crucified to the world, to live by faith, to do angel’s work, to love God, to be living organs of his praise, to hold communion with the Father and the Son. I John 1:3. (Thomas Watson)
The ‘preaching of the word,’ which is the sounding of God’s silver trumpet in men’s ears. God speaks not by an oracle, he calls by his ministers. Samuel thought it had been the voice of Eli only that called him; but it was God’s voice (1 Sam. 3:6). So, perhaps, you think it is only the minister that speaks to you in the word, but it is God himself who speaks. Therefore Christ is said to speak to us from heaven (Heb. 12:25). How does he speak but by his ministers? As a king speaks by his ambassadors. Know, that in every sermon preached, God calls to you; and to refuse the message we bring, is to refuse God himself. (Thomas Watson)
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