WSC. 31. What is effective calling?

A. Effective calling is the work of God's Spirit by which he convinces us of our sin and misery, enlightens our minds in the knowledge of Christ, and renewing our wills, and so persuades and enable us to embrace Jesus Christ, freely offered to us in the gospel.

By the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Ghost (Titus 3:5)

(Jacob and Rachel Joseph von Fuhrich)

It is the will that must be renewed.  What is so foreign to those who don't believe is how anyone could want to and enjoy following and serving Christ.  For so many Christ is the Pale Galilean kill joy.  Instead Christ must be set free from these metaphors to be the One who shows us what it is like to live a meaningful, purposeful existence. It is not that Jesus is sad all the time or laughing all the time- but He is purposeful all of the time.  He is the giver of peace.  But it is the Holy Spirit who makes this peace real to us.  He washes our will with a special wake-up fluid.  It is like the fluid that put on a sheet full of invisible ink writing shows the ink up.  The Spirit energizes our "want to" our "will to" so that serving the Lord is not a task but our real joy.  When someone is in love, serving the one they love is not a task but what they want to do.  I think of Jacob "who served seven years for Rachel, but they were like only a few days because of his love for her."  (Gen. 29:20).  The Spirit renews our wills for God- and the sign of that is a love and thirst for more of God, and a delight in Him.  Someone in love cannot get enough of being with the other person.  So, someone in love with God comes to worship, whereas someone whose love is growing cold is staying away more and more.  

Prayer: May my soul seek your presence, O Lord.

4/18/12- The Spirit Convicts

WSC. 31. What is effective calling?

A. Effective calling is the work of God's Spirit by which he convinces us of our sin and misery, enlightens our minds in the knowledge of Christ, and renewing our wills, and so persuades and enable us to embrace Jesus Christ, freely offered to us in the gospel.

But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. ⁸ When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt^[a] in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: ⁹ in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; ¹⁰ in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; ¹¹ and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.


For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. ¹³ Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. (Hebrews 4:12,13)


Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. ¹⁸ And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. (Eph. 6:17)

Thoughts: The Spirit is often perceived as a source of power (Jehovah's Witnesses call the Holy Spirit an energy like electricity).  Some see the Spirit as a source of comfort and counsel.  But the Spirit is the "Holy" Spirit who convicts us when we are not holy.  
    The Spirit often uses the Word of God- "the sword of the Spirit."  The Spirit inspired the scriptures and also illuminates the scriptures to make them not just words, but the Word of God for us.  The scriptures convict us if we have ears to hear. If we do cannot listen, we will not understand.  The scriptures speak of one of the most evil times as being at the end of history- a time of rebellion when people will not listen to the Spirits rebuke- and will not repent of sin (2 Tim. 3; Rev. 3,9).
    It is a blessing from God to be able to be convicted.  A pig has to know the pig pen is a mess in order to leave it.  One of the steps toward salvation (especially of an adult) is to recognize that our situation on earth needs changing and we begin to desire another world with a real God.  

4/17/12- definition of effectual calling

How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. ² Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. ³ Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure. (1 John 3:1-3) 


WSC. 31. What is effective calling?

A. Effective calling is the work of God's Spirit by which he convinces us of our sin and misery, enlightens our minds in the knowledge of Christ, and renewing our wills, and so persuades and enable us to embrace Jesus Christ, freely offered to us in the gospel.

Thoughts: God's call to us is real- the most real thing we ever experience.  He wakes us up to Him. 

The Spirit convicts us of sin, and shows us God's way.  The Spirit renews, persuades, and enables us to respond to God.  The free offer of the gospel means little to us until we are enabled and renewed to respond.

Prayer: You, O Lord are worthy of praise for you call and draw me to yourself.

WSC Q. 31- What is effectual calling?
A. Effectual calling is the work of God's Spirit, whereby, convincing us of our sin and mercy, enlightening our minds in the knowledge of Christ, and renewing our wills, he doth persuade and enable us to embrace Jesus Christ, freely offered us in the gospel.