“We preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called... Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.”

— 1 Corinthians 1:23–24

Verse 23 highlights the outward call—the universal proclamation of the gospel. Though Christ is preached to all, this message is rejected by all in their natural state. Jews stumble over it; Gentiles dismiss it as foolishness. No one, apart from divine grace, esteems Christ rightly.

Verse 24 reveals the inward call—the Spirit’s sovereign, effectual summons that opens the hearts of the elect. To those who are called, Christ is no longer foolish, but becomes the very power and wisdom of God. This inward call is not merely persuasive—it is transformative, and always results in saving faith.

Paul teaches the same truth in Romans 8:30:

“And those whom He predestined He also called, and those whom He called He also justified, and those whom He justified He also glorified.”

Note the grammar:

“Those whom He called, He also justified.”

There is no room here for partiality or possibility—no one falls through the cracks.

It does not say some of those He called, He also justified. "Those" means all. All who are called in this way are justified. This is not the general call heard by many and ignored by most. This is the effectual call, and it is perfectly effective.

If Paul meant to say, “some of those called are justified,” he would have said so. But instead, he uses a tightly linked chain—each link inseparable from the next:

Predestined → Called → Justified → Glorified

There is no room for loss between the links. The same group is carried all the way from eternity past to glory future. That is the power of God’s sovereign grace.

So when the gospel goes out, many hear—but only those who are called inwardly by the Spirit respond with faith. And all of them are justified. Not most. Not some. All. Jesus declared, “All that the Father gives me will come to me" (John 6:37) Not some, All.

The same message goes out to all—but only the inward call makes it irresistible and life-giving.