Effectual Calling Hebrews 3:1

What is this call of God by which God’s elect are saved? What is this heavenly calling of which we have been made partakers by the grace of God? It is described in many ways in doctrinal and theological works: The Internal Call - The Effectual Call - The Irresistible Call - The Call of Grace. All those terms are good and accurate. But it is best described in the words of Holy Scripture. This is how God the Holy Spirit describes the call of grace by which chosen, redeemed sinners are brought to life and faith in Christ.

Darkness to Light

This internal, effectual, saving call of grace is a call out of gross darkness into God’s marvelous light. "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light" (1 Pet. 2:9). As in the creation of the world, God commanded the light to shine out of darkness, so in the new creation of grace God the Holy spirit shines in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 4:6). “When the apostle Paul was called by grace, a light surrounded him, as an emblem of that internal light which was sprung in him. After that, there fell from his eyes, as it had been scales, as a token of the removal of his former darkness and ignorance” (John Gill).

Engulfed in Gross Darkness

Before God saved us, we were like all other men, engulfed in the gross darkness of our own depraved hearts and spiritual ignorance. God’s elect, in their state of nature, before they are converted, are just like all other men, totally ignorant of all things spiritual (John 3:#). Though chosen of God and redeemed by the blood of Christ, we were totally ignorant of God’s character, our sin, Christ’s person and work, the righteousness of God, the atonement of Christ, the providence of God, the Scriptures, the gospel, and the Spirit of grace. We knew absolutely nothing of God, or of faith in his Son, or of eternal life.

Spiritual Understanding

Now, by the effectual call of God the Holy Spirit, the eyes of our understanding have been opened, we are now made to see the light and walk in the light, as the children of the light. God’s people are children of light. They no longer grope about in darkness. They have the unction of the Spirit, causing them to know all things. Believers have the mind of Christ, enabling them to understand all things (Pro. 28:5; 1 Cor. 2:15-16; 1 John 2:20). Believers understand the truth, believe the truth, and receive the love of the truth. There is no such thing as a believer who despises revealed truth concerning God and his ways, himself and his sin, Christ and his atonement, or grace and salvation

Being taught of God, born of his Spirit, enlightened by his grace, saved sinners have the ability to distinguish things that differ. They know the difference between grace and works. They know the difference between free grace and free will. We have been called out of darkness into God’s marvelous light. We no longer grope about in darkness. “We walk in the light, as he is in the light.” And walking in the light, we both have fellowship with all who walk in the light and the assurance that we are partakers of God’s grace and salvation in Christ (1John 1:7).

Effectual Calling (2)

Hebrews 3:1

The Word of God describes the call of God by which we are saved as a call out of darkness into God’s marvelous light. In Galatians 5:13, the Holy Spirit tells us that the call of grace is a call…

Unto Liberty.

“For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another." We were by nature children of wrath, even as others; but now, in Christ we are freed from all the curse and condemnation of God’s holy law. We lived all the days of our lives as home born slaves, under the dominion of sin; but now, in Christ we have become the servants of righteousness. We spent all our days under the power and influence of Satan; but we are now Christ’s free men.

How I thank God for the blessed liberation of grace! Satan, like a strong man armed, held me in a bondage worse than that of Egypt. Grace has set me free (Deut. 4:31-39; 6:20-23). We who believe have been called unto liberty, even “the glorious liberty of the sons of God”!

Unto Fellowship.

Not only have we been called out of bondage and into liberty, we have been called into the blessed liberty of intimate, sweet fellowship with the Triune God in our all-glorious Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ! "God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord" (1 Cor. 1:9).

God calls his people to abandon the world for Christ. Those who are called of God are called to forsake family and friend, like Abram, and follow Christ. We have been, and are continually called by our God, to “love not the world, neither the things that are in the world.” Being called of God, let us forever abandon and never again seek the riches of the world, the recognition of the world, or the religion of the world Deut. 7:2-6, 25-26; 2 Cor. 6:14-7:1; Rev. 18:4).

This is no great sacrifice. “The heavenly calling” of which we are now partakers brings us into far better company than we ever knew before. We now have access to and communion with God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit and blessed fellowship with his saints on earth, and even with his saints in heaven (Heb. 12:22-23). God’s house is open to us. The Lord’s table is open to us. The very throne of God is open to us. What great privileges! We have been called into fellowship with the eternal God!

Effectual Calling (3)

Hebrews 3:1

God the Holy Spirit calls sinners out of darkness into his marvelous light. He has called us out of bondage unto liberty in Christ. We have been called, by immaculate mercy, into the fellowship of God’s dear Son. And God has called us…

To Peace.

"But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace" (1 Cor. 7:15). The call of God is a call to internal peace, peace of mind and peace of conscience; to which all men are utter strangers by nature. There is no peace to the wicked: but God has called us to peace. He has blessed us with it; with a peace which passes all understanding; with peace in the midst of the tribulations of the world; with a peace which the world can neither give nor take away. Our peace is a peace which arises from the blood and righteousness of Christ, and is part of that kingdom of God which is within us, into which we are brought by our heavenly calling. We have also been called to peace among ourselves, and with all men. "Let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body" (Col. 3:15). We have been called unto peace, and…

Unto Holiness.

"God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness" (1 Thess. 4:7). The call of God is a holy calling. It is a call arising from upon a holy purpose -- The Purpose Of God! It is a call based upon a holy principle -- Justice satisfied! It is a call which has brought us into a holy position - Justified and Sanctified in Christ! It is a call which makes us a holy people -- “An Holy Nation!” -- “A Peculiar People!” -- “A Royal Priesthood!”

John Gill wrote, with regard to this call of God’s elect, “They are called out of a state of unholiness and sinfulness, into a state of holiness and righteousness; for being created anew in righteousness and true holiness, and created in Christ Jesus to good works, they are called to the exercise of them; to live holily, soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present evil world; ‘God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness’, (1 Thess. 4:7) and ‘hath called us to glory and virtue’ (2 Pet. 1:3), to glorious acts of virtue and goodness, becoming the nature of their call, and of him that has called them; ‘As he which hath called you is holy’ (1 Pet. 1:15).”

We have been called unto holiness. Let us ever seek to walk in holiness for the glory of our holy Lord God, and the honor of the gospel, by the power and grace of his Holy Spirit.

Effectual Calling (4)

Hebrews 3:1

Those who are “the called” are a people who have been called by almighty, irresistible grace out of darkness into light, out of bondage into liberty, out of turmoil into peace, out of enmity into the fellowship of God’s dear Son, and out of sin unto holiness. In Galatians 1:6, we are told that God has also called us…

Into The Grace Of Christ.

"I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel." We have been call by the grace of Christ. We have been called by the instrumentality of the gospel of the grace of Christ. We have been called into the blessed experience of the grace of Christ. We have been called to be partakers of and to enjoy all the blessings of the grace of Christ.

Salvation is, in its totality, a matter of pure, free, sovereign, unconditional, immutable grace. Let sinners rejoice! The salvation of our souls does not depend upon the works of our hands, the emotions of our hearts, the feelings we have, or the feelings we lack, or even the exercise of our wills. “Salvation is of the Lord!” He who has called us by his grace has called us…

Unto His Kingdom And Glory.

"That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory" (1 Thess. 2:12). Believer, God has called you to a glory which is a kingdom. He has called you into the possession of the kingdom of grace here, a kingdom which can never be taken away from you. And he has called you to inherit a kingdom of glory hereafter. “The Lord will give grace and glory.” This kingdom and the glory of it are not things we earn, but gifts of God’s free grace in Christ. This kingdom and glory to which he has called us is an everlasting kingdom and everlasting glory. We have been called by the grace of God “To the obtaining of the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thess. 2:14), and obtain it we shall (Col. 3:4).

All who are called are “called in one hope of their calling” (Eph. 4:4). All who are called have the same “promise of eternal inheritance” (Heb. 9:15; 1 Pet. 1:3-4). All who are called are called to and have been given the same glory for their eternal inheritance (John 17:22)

Here is a call which falls from the lips of the Son of God himself. May God the Holy Spirit will make it irresistibly effectual to all who read these lines by his almighty grace. This is indeed “the heavenly calling”. May God make you a partaker of it, for Christ’s sake. "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Come to Christ, and he will give you rest. Take the yoke of Christ upon you, learn of him, and you shall find rest for your soul. His yoke is easy, and his burden is light.