The first five years of my walk with Christ I was unaware of a profound theological truth: God’s effectual call. I was familiar with the gospel call or invitation. This was because extending the gospel to unbelievers is one of our responsibilities; and also for believers the term calling is mostly spoken of in relation to a specific Christian ministry focus or vocational ministry. Added to all of that, the language of calling—effectual or not—is almost never spoken of in regard to salvation.
The language of calling—effectual or not—is almost never spoken of in regard to salvation.
So, I can fully understand why you, the reader, were expecting an article about a calling to ministry; and not salvation. However, picking up our series on the doctrine of salvation’s implications for preaching, this article will focus on effectual calling. Below I outline the doctrine, before teasing out its implications for our preaching.
The Doctrine in Brief: Effectual Call
We find one of the clearest teachings on God’s effectual call in Romans 8:28. Paul writes, “We know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” Commenting further on God’s salvific purposes and love, he continues, “For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son….And those whom he predestined he also called” (Romans 8:28-29). These verses reveal that salvation is rooted in eternity past, not only evangelism. It’s grounded in God’s eternal decrees.
Salvation is rooted in eternity past, not only evangelism.
What God decrees in eternity occurs within history. That is God’s effectual call. As Paul writes, “God chose you as the first fruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thessalonians 2:13b-14). Put differently, God calls those he has elected for salvation through proclamation of the gospel.
This is where preaching fits in. The preacher doesn’t know who’s predestined for salvation. All we know is that God’s effectual call occurs through the proclamation of the gospel. Saving faith comes through hearing and believing in the Lord Jesus Christ. So if we long to see people come to faith, then we must focus on the gospel. This is true whether we’re preaching on a Sunday or teaching children. The gospel is the means.
How Will God Save?
Now, if God calls his elect to salvation through the proclamation of the gospel, a failure to proclaim that gospel is to ignore God’s eternal purposes. To put it another way, God uses those who faithfully preach Christ. To proclaim anything else reveals that we aren’t partnering with God.
A failure to proclaim that gospel is to ignore God’s eternal purposes.
I grew up hearing something you’ve probably heard too. “This pastor specialises in prophecy.” “That pastor specialises in miracles.” So when you meet these pastors one encounters very little to no gospel. The focus is on their ‘specialities.’ What a tragedy it would be to reach the end and learn from God that the mighty things we did were ultimately meaningless. God calls his people to be saved through the gospel (2 Thessalonians 2:14). That must be the primary speciality of any faithful pastor or preacher.
Consider the role of miracles in the Gospels, which didn’t save but signalled the coming of God’s Messiah. Not matter how mighty, miracles aren’t God means of salvation. When we look at the Bible, it seems that we’re called to proclaim the gospel. This is the focus.
What Does He Save Them to?
Since we’re considering effectual calling, it’s also worth asking, what does God call his saved people to? This will give us a better idea regarding what to teach our people regarding salvation. A few examples will do. We are called to be saints, or “holy ones” (Romans 1:7); to fellowship with God’s Son (1 Corinthians 1:9); to freedom (Galatians 5:13); into eternal life (1 Timothy 6:12); away from impurity and sin (Thessalonians 4:7); even to suffering for good (1 Peter 2:21).
God calls his people to personal holiness and piety.
All these verses, along with many others, shed light to what we should prioritise in preaching. Each verse on its own is a fountain of Christ-centred, God-exulting truths meant to help us understand our salvation and who are we are in God’s grace. God calls his people to this.
Broadly, we can summarise much of that in the word “sanctification” (2 Thessalonians 2:13); that is, personal holiness and piety. God sets us apart, firstly in election; then through the preaching of his gospel; for the pursuit of practical godliness in service of him and others. Preaching that doesn’t hit these notes is, again, a refusal to partner with God in his work of salvation.
Preacher, Partner With God
Therefore pastor, preacher, children’s worker, elder, prophet, and believers, how does God’s teaching of what he called his people to influence the focuses and priority of yours? Do you preach the gospel, confident in God’s effectual call? And then do you call his people to the same things that God does? If we desire to be partners with God in his work then we must preach the gospel, for salvation and sanctification.
