“We know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (Rom. 8:28).

Here we have the matter of “calling,” and that causes some to be discouraged. A brother will say, “Perhaps I am not called, I’m not at all sure that I am. And therefore it doesn’t work for me.”

That matter of “calling” could be settled immediately. Who has God called? “And the Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come’! And let him who hears say, ‘Come!’ And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely” (Rev. 22:17).

The call is to every man and woman and child on earth. Those who hear it are to take it up and pass it along. The kindness of God is wide enough to take in every individual: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (Jn. 3:16). Those two texts are sufficient to scatter to the four winds all the theological trash that has been written to prove that God has set some few that He has called, and no others. Let no soul stay away because he thinks he’s not called. All do not come, all do not take the advice of Peter and make their calling and election sure; but that is not the fault of God.

Sometimes we get afraid of that word, “elected.” Is there any need to be afraid? No; for every individual can be a candidate, and every candidate can be elected. The free gift by grace of the justification of life comes upon all (Rom. 5:18). The moment you give up self and take Christ instead, you have everything Christ has to give. He is able to bless you “in turning every one of you from your iniquities” (Acts 3:26). Everything that is necessary for life and godliness is given to us in Christ. Therefore the soul that stands in Christ may stand as firm and secure as the Rock of Ages. Everyone is called to the fellowship of Christ if he will accept. We are elected in Him, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of His glory of His grace.

Jones, General Conference Bulletin, 1895, p. 267