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The following is an excerpt from chapter 10 of Studies in the Atonement. This topic has sparked much discussion. Scripture is clear in communicating the fact that all men are called to repent of their sins. On the other hand, Scripture also reveals that there are those whom the Father gives to Christ. These, Christ declares, shall never be lost. “And we know that God causes all things to work together for Good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified, and these whom He justified, He also glorified. If we are children of God today, called by the Father, purchased by the Son, and sealed by the Spirit, NOTHING can separate us from His love! The Triune God of Scripture will see to it that we are conformed to the image of His Son! Here is the excerpt:

The Gospel Call is the sincere and gracious command, summons, and invitation of God given to and for all mankind.
It consists in a setting forth of man’s true identity as a responsible creature of God, created in God’s image, and a rebellious sinner who must give an account of himself on the Day of Judgment.

It centers in a presentation of Christ’s work as the only Divinely appointed way for sinners to be reconciled to God. The duty of faith and repentance are pressed upon the consciences of all sinners because it is their moral responsibilities to worship their Creator.

Rejection of or ignorance of the Gospel Call cannot excuse man from his creaturely responsibilities to serve his Creator. The fact of judgment is based on man’s sinful nature while the degree of judgment is based on how they respond to the light that they have.* The Gospel Call, once rejected, becomes a savor of death unto death and increases the guilt and condemnation of the sinner (II Cor. 3:15-16; Rom. 1-3).

The Effectual Call is the work of the Triune God for the Father is the author of the call (Romans 8:30; I Cor. 1:9, the Son is the object (Rom. 1:6; I Cor. 1:9), and the Spirit is the agent (John 15:26; 1Thess. 1:5). It is that act of God in which He not only summons the sinner to come to Christ, but He effectually draws him to Christ (John 6:37-44, 65) by making him willing to come to Him (Ps. 110:3; Phil. 2:13 cf.; Acts 16:14).

The sinner is not forced against his will to come to Christ but God so powerfully works in the heart of sinners so as to make them freely of their own will receive Christ as offered in the Gospel Call. Thus the effectual call comes to Lydia. Acts 16:14: “And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us, whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.”

Several other points should be added to our definition of Effectual Calling at this point.

1. The Gospel Call must be viewed as preceding regeneration and even the Effectual Call itself. The application of salvation always takes place in the context of the preached or written Word of God (Acts 14:46; Rom. 10:14; James 1:18). In this sense calling precedes regeneration.
2. The effectual Call should not be confused with regeneration, in which sinners are viewed as being dead in sins; i.e., totally passive. This is an obvious contrast to Effectual Calling where sinners are viewed as freely and actively responding to the Gospel Call.
3. In this light, Effectual Calling must be viewed as being logically after or simultaneous with regeneration.
   

Perhaps the parallel of physical resurrection would clarify this point. In John 5:25 Christ said,

“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.”

It is obvious that the words “and now is” must refer to some present exercise of Christ’s resurrection power. It is not surprising therefore to read that the raising of Lazarus was accomplished by the voice of the Son of God when He said in John 11:43, “Lazarus, Come Forth.” It is said that if Christ had not explicitly named Lazarus, all the dead would have been resurrected! But what is important for us to notice is that:

1. A verbal calling took place first just as the Gospel Call must take place first.
2. This verbal call was seen to be accomplished by an effectual call for Lazarus did not come forth.
3. It was impossible for Lazarus to respond to the call of Christ to come to Him until he had been quickened or raised from the dead. His response to Christ was the reflex reaction of his resurrection by Christ