What is the Difference Between Effectual Call and Normal Conviction?

The Difference Between Common Conviction and Effectual Calling

So it is a bit of a corrective to the view that that when God calls us He just moves us from one kingdom to another that there's no willingness on our part. That's not what he's arguing. He's arguing that God does make us willing.

We willingly choose him now where before we willingly did not.

One of the things he says that God does to make us willing is that he in the in the work of conviction He begins by showing us the depth of our need. So, you know, we all know that we have some needs.

We would say well, okay, I'm not perfect but it's not until God opens our understanding to see exactly how Desperately needy our situation is that we really begin to think of the gospel as something that's valuable.

And you know, that's just human nature if we have it all together and someone adds a little extra to our life. Like well, I know you've got everything a person could want but would you like this as well?

You say well, that's a nice gesture. I don't really need it. But if a man is is dying of starvation, you know. We're thirst and a man comes by with a plate of food or a cup of water, you know. There there there is such a desperation in this we wouldn't let that man pass us by we would plead with him.

We would grab and we would say, you know, I can't live another day without this and that's an evidence of God at work. Not just admitting Biblical truths like well, yes, we're sinners. We're all sinners, but when a man or a woman or a young person begins to feel those truths in a way That is unbearable.

We know that God is at work.

The Philippian Jailer and Pentecost as Examples of Conviction

You see this in the Philippian jailer who cries out? What must I do to be saved or as Peter preaches on the day of Pentecost? You know, he doesn't open up a traditional kind of invitation and say now here's what you need to do.

The people cry out to him. What do we need to do?

Yeah, in a sense interrupting, you know, I'm so desperate, you know. You're reading the Bible and you just stop halfway through a verse and you get on your knees and you say God I Need you and I'm not willing to live another day without you.

The Effectual Call Brings a Sinner to Christ

Um, this brings us to one question and that is, you know. What's the difference between? The normal convicting work of the Bible where a person reads and their conscience is bothered and they say, you know I kind of feel bad about myself and the effectual call.

And the difference is that the effectual call is effective. It actually ends up. Ultimately results in the person embracing Christ. Whereas what we would call kind of a common work of conviction it fizzles out, you know.

I feel bad I go home and then I forget all about it. More like a New Year's resolution to join the gym, right?

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, so that's the first one. Chuck. What else does it goes into the effectual call?

Seeing the Sufficiency and Perfection of Christ

Well, God not only helps us to see our need shows us our need as it is with weight. But God also shows us the sufficiency in the perfection of Christ as a Savior. And that he's fit to be that for us. You would think that seeing our need would be enough to drive us to Christ, but it's not enough.

He shows us That our need is not so great that Christ is unable to meet it and That Christ is a sufficient Savior for not just sinners in general, but for me.

So He is willing and he is able and nobody goes to the offended King if we're not convinced of those things. You know being realizing your needs not enough. You've got to be convinced that there's someone who can meet that need.