Shorter Catechism Q. 31. 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.
Commentary: Salvation in Christ Jesus is freely offered to all who hear the gospel. And yet, not everyone who hears it is saved. Some reject Christ outright, while others believe with joy for a time and then fall away into unbelief and disobedience. Only some of those who hear the gospel are saved. Why is that? One way to answer that question is to point out that the outward call of the gospel needs to be accompanied by the effectual or inward call of the gospel.
We are by nature dead in our trespasses and sins, which means that we are unresponsive to the things of God. Our hearts are made of stone (dead) and not made of flesh (alive to God). Consequently, we react negatively to God’s gracious and loving calls to find salvation in his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. This is why we need God to make the call of the gospel effectual in our hearts and minds.
Effectual calling occurs when the Spirit works in us so that we want to (are persuaded) and can (enabled) embrace Jesus Christ. Our positive, saving response to the gospel is thus the fruit of the Spirit’s work in us.
The Spirit’s work in effectual calling accomplishes three things. First, he convinces us that we are rebellious, sinful creatures who have lost communion with God, are under God’s wrath and curse and so made liable to all miseries in this life, to death itself, and to the pains of hell forever (WSC 19).
Second, the Spirit enlightens our minds so that we know that Jesus is Lord, that he is the savior of the world, who died for our sins and rose again from the dead, and that he now sits at God’s right hand, from whence he shall come to judge both the living and the dead.
Third, the Spirit renews our wills so that we act on our newfound convictions and knowledge and embrace Jesus as our Lord and Savior.