Understanding The Westminister Confession of Faith
Chapter 10 - Of effectual Calling

On this important doctrine, the WCF begins by saying, “All those whom God hath predestinated unto life, and those only, he is pleased, in his appointed and accepted time, effectually to call, by his Word and Spirit, out of that state of sin and death, in which they are by nature, to grace and salvation by Jesus Christ…” And the scriptures that are cited as the basis of this doctrine, among others are: Rom 8:2, 30; 11:7; Eph 1:10-11, 2:1-5; 2 Cor 3:3, 6; 2 Thes 2:13-14; and 2 Tim 1:9-10.

The above and other sections of this chapter of the WCF show us, (1) who they are who are effectually called, (2) when, (3) by what means, (4) from what moral and spiritual condition, (5) to what moral and spiritual condition, (6) in what manner they are effectually called, and (7) that this effectual call is wholly of God.

This effectual call is of God’s free and special grace alone, and is not due to anything at all in man. Man is, in this case, passive until “being quickened and renewed by the Holy Spirit” (Rom 8:7; 1 Cor 2:14; Eph 2:5). When that man is so “quickened” (made alive), he is then enabled to answer this call, and to embrace the grace offered and conveyed in it.

God has commanded His Church to go into all the world to preach the gospel to everyone (Matt 24:14, 28:19; Acts 1:8). The reason is that “faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Rom 10:17). This does not mean that every human being in history will hear the gospel. Many have not (Eph 2:11,12). God appointed some to dwell in darkness until the set time for deliverance to come (Acts 17:26, 27).

But the gospel will come to the elect. It also comes to others with whom they are intermingled. It comes with good offers of grace and salvation to all. It makes no discrimination, and neither must those who preach it.

The question is: why do some accept and others reject this offer of eternal salvation? The answer is that it is contrary to the will and the desire of men to accept it, until, in the case of some, their basic nature is changed. This change is the result of the instantaneous creation of a new heart in them by the almighty power of the Spirit of God. “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you” (Ezek 36:26). This is the “new birth” (John 3:3f), the “new creation” (Eph 2:10), which is as that which is “raised from the dead.”

All this is the regenerative work of the Spirit of God and is closely associated with the preaching of the gospel.

In Him,
Rev Robert Chew