Effectual Calling

aka Irresistible Grace

This is one I struggled with initially; I'm not sure why. Today it seems as simple and clear to me as Total Depravity, the first doctrine covered here and the one that is accepted by many who would not even consider themselves "Calvinists." In actuality, they've all become rather clear to me, with the possible exception of the issue of the Atonement, which I argued as being "unlimited" in my previous post (although unlimited is perhaps not the best word, since we know that the reality is that it is limited).

Effectual calling is, in my view, widely mischaracterized and thus largely misunderstood - leaving it open to attacks that are not valid and straw man arguments. Let me start with what Effectual Callling is not. Effectual Calling, like a lot of these terms, does not mean what it may seem to imply: that man is unable to make choices. This is not the case. All humankind will either choose or reject God during their lifetime. Plenty of people will resist choosing God. There are other misconceptions that are covered under "Misconceptions" in the GotQuestions.org article below.

So, we know, generally, what Effectual Calling isn't - but what is it? Put simply, it means that when God effectually calls a person, that they will answer that call affirmatively. The term "effectually" here is important, because there are two types of calls. The other, the General Call, is offered to all mankind - and some will certainly resist this call.

Following are definitions and Scripture pertaining to these two types of Divine calling, from Basic Theology, by Charles Ryrie:

1. The General Call - Only one or two references in the New Testament use the word "call" to convey the idea of a general call to elect and non-elect alike. Matthew 22:14 clearly supports the concept, while Matthew 9:13 may also. However the idea is clearly expressed in passages like Luke 14:16-24 and John 7:37. This is God's general invitation to men to come to him.
2. The Effective (or Effectual) Call - This is the call that only the elect respond to through faith and that results in their salvation (Romans 8:30, 1 Corinthians 1:2). This is God's work, though He uses the proclamation of the Word of God (Romans 10:17). The call is unto fellowship (1 Corinthians 1:9), light (1 Peter 2:9), liberty (Galatians 5:13, holiness (1 Thessalonians 4:7), and His kingdom (1 Thessalonians 2:12).

Following is a treatment of this subject from GotQuestions.org:

Irresistible Grace can also be referred to in many ways. “The Effectual Calling,” “Efficacious Grace,” “The Call,” “Regeneration,” “The Inward Call,” or “Rebirth” are the different ways to refer to the doctrine of Irresistible Grace. Irresistible Grace can often be misunderstood due to the word “irresistible.” The correct way to see “irresistible” in its true light is to consider the creation of the universe. When God said, “Let there be light,” light irresistibly came into being. When Lazarus was raised from the dead, he came to life irresistibly. When God wants to accomplish something He merely calls it into being and it obeys with no resistance.

So, when Calvinists say, “Irresistible Grace,” they mean that when God chooses to save a man He does so easily and certainly. More specifically, salvation takes place when God, by His own gracious choice, vivifies or regenerates a man from spiritual death and calls into existence a new nature that will cause a man to willingly respond the Gospel message and be saved. Here you see the logical connection between Total Depravity and Irresistible Grace. Since Total Depravity teaches that man is incapable of submitting to God, and man will never come to Christ on his own, God must change a person’s nature the moment of salvation. Rebirth is not the fruit of faith, but faith is the fruit of rebirth.

Rebirth is all or none and it always results in conversion. The outward call of God, which is given to all, can be rejected. But, the inward call of God always results in salvation. If a man “almost” comes to Christ but doesn’t, then he wasn’t regenerated. If a person was right on the edge of faith but decided to wait, they were not regenerated. A man must be inwardly called by the grace of God to be saved. This is what Jesus means in John 6:44 and 65 when He says, “No one can come to Me, unless the Father who sent Me draws him,” or “unless it is granted him from the Father.” Another verse that clearly discloses this truth is 2 Corinthians 4:6, "For God who said, ‘Let light [irresistibly] shine out of darkness,’ is the One who has shone in our hearts to [irresistibly] give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ."

More evidence of this truth is found in Acts 16:14 in reference to Lydia the seller of purple fabrics. The Scripture says that the Lord “opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul,” or it can be read, “the Lord opened her heart for response to the things spoken by Paul.” Also, Jesus tells Nicodemus that no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again. Seeing the kingdom of God doesn’t necessarily mean to actually see heaven itself, but to see that the kingdom of God is near through the message of Christ (“Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” – Matthew 4:17). Jesus also tells Peter in Matthew 16:17 that his confession of the Christ was not revealed from man but from the Father. Men are born again by God alone and not from anything within themselves (John 1:13). 1 Peter 1:3 speaks of God “causing us to be born again.” James 1:18 reveals that it is God who has “brought us forth.”

Rebirth is given to whomever the Son wills and is the equivalent to a dead man’s need to receive life in order to live (John 5:21). The verse that contributes the most to the doctrine of “The Inward Call” is found in Romans 8:30. Those “whom He predestined, He also called; and whom He called He also justified…” It is quite clear that not all are justified and saved. It is only logical to conclude that those who have not been saved have not been called because the calling always results in justification. This is why Christians are referred to as “the called” (Romans 8:28; 1 Thessalonians 2:12; Galatians 1:15). This is what Christ meant when He said, “My sheep will hear my voice” (John 10:16). Belief is granted (Philippians 1:29); Repentance is granted (2 Timothy 2:25); Understanding is granted (1 John 5:20). The most important thing to realize is that a person in reborn ONLY through the Gospel message (Romans 10:17; 1 Peter 1:23, 25; Ephesians 1:13)!! No one will ever be reborn randomly.

Misconceptions:

There are numerous misconceptions concerning Irresistible Grace. Irresistible Grace does not teach that men are forced to Christ, but those men, when given a new nature and freed from their sinful bondage, will willingly come to Christ. There will be no one in heaven who is frustrated because God forced them to believe much like there will be no one in hell who is angry with God because He didn’t regenerate them. Unbelievers reject Christ just as willingly as the regenerated accept Him. Also, I’ve read critics who reject and slander Irresistible Grace because they say that a person is saved before they have faith. This is the mistake of making regeneration synonymous with salvation. Regeneration is not the same as salvation! Regeneration is unto salvation just as Acts 16:14 reveals. A person is not saved until the heart, as a result of regeneration, genuinely and accurately believes on Christ. A final and crucial thing to remember: Irresistible Grace cannot exist without the Gospel! Some would assert, “Well, why do we share the Gospel? The elect will believe regardless of what we do.” This is a false assumption and is contrary to Calvinism and Scripture. The elect believe only through the message of Christ that we have been commanded to proclaim – there is no other way!

And following is Scripture supporting the doctrine of Irresistable Grace:

Jer 31:3 The LORD appeared to him from afar, saying, "I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore I have drawn you with lovingkindness.

Hos 11:3-4 Yet it is I who taught Ephraim to walk, I took them in My arms; But they did not know that I healed them. (4) I led them with cords of a man, with bonds of love, And I became to them as one who lifts the yoke from their jaws; And I bent down and fed them.

Mat 16:17 And Jesus said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.

Joh 1:13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

Joh 6:37-39 (37) "All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out.
(38) "For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. (39) "This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day.

Joh 6:44 "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.

Joh 6:65 And He was saying, "For this reason I have said to you, that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father."

Joh 10:16 "I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will hear My voice; and they will become one flock with one shepherd.

Joh 10:27 "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me;

Joh 11:25-26
(25) Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies,
(26) and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?"

Act 16:14 A woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshiper of God, was listening; and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul.

Rom 8:28-30 (28) And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. (29) For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; (30) and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.

2Co 4:6 For God, who said, "Light shall shine out of darkness," is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

Gal 1:15 But when God, who had set me apart even from my mother's womb and called me through His grace, was pleased

Col 2:13 When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions,

Phi 1:29 For to you it has been granted for Christ's sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake,

2Ti 2:25 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth,

Jam 1:18 In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures.

1Pe 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

1Jo 5:13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.


GOSPEL CALL (“General Call”, Outward Call”)

Psa 19:1-6 (1) For the choir director. A Psalm of David. The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands. (2) Day to day pours forth speech, And night to night reveals knowledge.
(3) There is no speech, nor are there words; Their voice is not heard. (4) Their line has gone out through all the earth, And their utterances to the end of the world. In them He has placed a tent for the sun, (5) Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber; It rejoices as a strong man to run his course. (6) Its rising is from one end of the heavens, And its circuit to the other end of them; And there is nothing hidden from its heat.

Isa 45:22 "Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth; For I am God, and there is no other.

Mat 22:14 "For many are called, but few are chosen."

Joh 7:37 Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink.

Rom 1:18-20 (18) For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, (19) because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. (20) For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.