Shorter Catechism
Q.31. What is effectual calling?
A. Effectual calling is the work of God’s Spirit [t], whereby, convincing us of our sin and misery [v], enlightening our minds in the knowledge of Christ [w], and renewing our wills [x], he doth persuade and enable us to embrace Jesus Christ, freely offered to us in the gospel [y].
[t] 2 Timothy 1:9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.
2 Thessalonians 2:13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit, and belief of the truth. Ver.14 Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
[v] Acts 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter, and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
[w] Acts 26:18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.
[x] Ezekiel 36:26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you; and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. Ver.27 And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.
[y] John 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father, which hath sent me, draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. Ver.45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.
Philippians 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you, both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
Larger Catechism
Q. 67. What is effectual calling?
A. Effectual calling is the work of God’s almighty power and grace [i], whereby (out of his free and special love to his elect, and from nothing in them moving him thereunto [k]) he doth, in his accepted time, invite and draw them to Jesus Christ, by his Word and Spirit [l]; savingly enlightening their minds [m], renewing and powerfully determining their wills [n], so as they (although in themselves dead in sin) are hereby made willing and able freely to answer his call, and to accept and embrace the grace offered and conveyed therein [o].
[i] John 5:25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.
Ephesians 1:18-20 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, Ver.19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Ver.20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
2 Timothy 1:8-9 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; Ver.9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
[k] Titus 3:4-5 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Ver.5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Ephesians 2:4-5 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Ver.5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) Ver.7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. Ver.8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Ver.9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Romans 9:11 (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)
[l] 2 Corinthians 5:20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.
2 Corinthians 6:1-2 We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. Ver.2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)
John 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
2 Thessalonians 2:13-14 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: Ver.14 Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
[m] Acts 26:18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.
1 Corinthians 2:10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. Ver.12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
[n] Ezekiel 11:19 And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh:
Ezekiel 36:26-27 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. Ver.27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.
John 6:45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.
[o] Ephesians 2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
Philippians 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
Deuteronomy 30:6 And the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live.
End of Lesson, Day 39
For Further Study:
Francis R. Beattie's The Presbyterian Standards
Union with Christ; Effectual Calling; Regeneration
James Fisher's Catechism on the Catechism
John Flavel's Exposition of the Assembly's Shorter Catechism
Matthew Henry's A Scripture Catechism in the Method of the Assembly's
Thomas Vincent's The Shorter Catechism Explained from Scripture
Thomas Watson's Body of Divinity
John Whitecross' The Shorter Catechism Illustrated
Alexander Whyte's A Commentary on the Shorter Catechism
Gordon Clark, Commentary on the Westminster Confession
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