"The Called Ones"

The "Called" or called is never in the Epistles of the N.T. applied to those who have only the external invitation of the gospel. It always means an internal, effectual call upon the hearts and minds of them that receive the call. It always means 'internally, effectually, savingly called;' denoting the first great step in personal salvation, and answers to the term "conversion." Only, whereas the word conversion expresses the change of character which then takes place, this 'calling' expresses the divine authorship of the change and the sovereign power by which we are summoned.