Effectual calling

{{short description|God calling a person to himself}} '''Effectual calling''' (or '''effective calling'''<ref name=Grudem692 />), in Calvinist Christian soteriology, is a stage in the ''ordo salutis'' in which God calls a person to himself. It is connected with, but different from ''external calling'', in which a person hears the gospel message.

Wayne Grudem suggests that it is a summons from the King of the universe that has "such power that it brings about the response that it asks for in people's hearts."<ref name=Grudem692>{{cite book|last=Grudem|first=Wayne|author-link=Wayne Grudem|title=Systematic Theology|year=1994|publisher=IVP|page=692}}</ref> Grudem appeals to the story of Lydia: according to Acts 16:14, "The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message" (NIV).<ref>Grudem, ''Systematic Theology'', p. 693.</ref>

==See also== {{Portal|Reformed Christianity}} *Irresistible grace *Prevenient grace

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *[http://www.pbministries.org/books/gill/Doctrinal_Divinity/Book_6/book6_12.htm "Of Effectual Calling"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050624073539/http://www.pbministries.org/books/gill/Doctrinal_Divinity/Book_6/book6_12.htm |date=2005-06-24 }} from John Gill's ''Body of Doctrinal Divinity''

{{Christian Soteriology}} Category:Salvation in Protestantism Category:Christian terminology