The WESTMINSTER LARGER Catechism

WLC 68. Are the elect only effectually called?

A. All the elect, and they only, are effectually called;1 although others may be, and often are, outwardly called by the ministry of the Word,2 and have some common operations of the Spirit;3 who, for their wilful neglect and contempt of the grace offered to them, being justly left in their unbelief, do never truly come to Jesus Christ.4

Proofs

1Acts 13:48; 2Mt 22:14; 3Mt 7:22; 13:20–21; Heb 6:4–6; 4Jn 12:38–40; Acts 28:25–27; Jn 6:64–65; Ps 81:11–12

Comments

We have already seen that the call of the Gospel is of two sorts, which may be roughly designated external call and internal call. The internal call is an ‘effectual call’; whereas the external call is a command to repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, which is not always obeyed. Indeed, the external call is obeyed only when there is also an internal call,—in which the heart is sovereignly renovated by the Holy Spirit.

We have also seen that the effectual call is only issued to the elect (Acts 13:48). But what about the non-elect or reprobates? We know as a fact that many of them would hear the preaching of the Gospel and experience the outward call: "For many are called, but few are chosen" (Mt 22:14). Can these come to salvation, although they may not experience the effectual call? In other words, is the effectual call absolutely necessary, or are there some exceptions by which, say, some philanthropists or ‘moral persons’ may find salvation by their ‘good’ works?

Our catechism affirms the negative. No one who is not elect will ever be saved because he will never come to Christ which is the only way of salvation.

Nevertheless, the Scripture teaches us that a reprobate may not only hear the outward call, but may actually experience some "common operations of the Spirit."

The writer of Hebrews, for example, speaks of "those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost" (Heb 6:4), who nevertheless fall away. These could not be the elect, for it cannot be impossible to renew the elect unto repentance (v. 5).

But what are these "common operations of the Spirit"? Our catechism does not clarify, but from the verses in the Scripture that speaks of those who appeared to be converted and yet were not, we see that common operations of the Holy Spirit often result in: (1) Conviction of sin (Acts 24:25; 2 Cor 7:10); (2) Intellectual illumination to biblical truths (Acts 26:28; Heb 6:4a); (3) Outward reformation of life (Acts 8:9-13, 21); (4) Temporary religious excitement (Mt 13:20); (5) Zealous labours in the church (1 Cor 13:3).

The result of the common operations of the Holy Spirit is that there are professing believers who appear to be regenerated who are not. Sometimes, these fall away on account of persecution or the cares of the world, even though they appear to be very zealous initially. Our Lord speaks of these in His Parable of the Sower and the Soil:

"But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended" (Mt 13:20-21).

But more poignant than that, there are those who live lawless lives but are up to the very end, deluded in regard to their salvation. Our Lord alludes to these when He says:

"Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?" (Mt 7:22)

Because of this possibility, it behoves all believers to honestly examine ourselves to see whether we are in the faith (2 Cor 13:5), to repent of our sins and to pray for the Holy Spirit (Lk 11:14, Jn 4:10), and for assurance of salvation.

But if a man is reprobate and therefore does not enjoy the effectual call, does it mean that he is not responsible for his continued unbelief? No, for their continuing in the state of nature is because of "their wilful neglect and contempt of the grace offered to them." In other words, grace is presented in preaching of the Word, but those who remain unconverted are unconverted because they knowing the truth, refuse to believe the truth. And since our salvation is entirely by God’s grace, God is not obligated to change the heart of anyone. Thus it is said that those who enjoy only the common operations of the Holy Spirit are "being justly left in their unbelief" and will never truly come to Jesus Christ. W