Of Effectual Calling
1689 London Baptist Confession · 10.1–10.4
10.1. Of Effectual Calling
Those whom God hath predestinated unto Life, he is pleased in his appointed, and accepted time, effectually to call by his word, and Spirit, out of that state of sin, and death, in which they are by nature, to grace and Salvation by Jesus Christ; inlightning their minds, spiritually, and savingly to understand the things of God; taking away their heart of stone, and giving unto them an heart of flesh; renewing their wills, and by his Almighty power determining them to that which is good, and effectually drawing them to Jesus Christ; yet so as they come most freely, being made willing by his Grace.
Proof texts
- Romans 8:30 — [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.
- Romans 11:7 — [7] What then? Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking. The elect obtained it, but the rest were hardened,
- Ephesians 1:10, 11 — [10] as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. [11] In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will,
- 2 Thessalonians 2:13, 14 — [13] But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. [14] To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
- Ephesians 2:1-6 — [1] And you were dead in the trespasses and sins [2] in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience — [3] among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. [4] But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, [5] even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ — by grace you have been saved — [6] and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
- Acts 26:18 — [18] to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’
- Ephesians 1:17, 18 — [17] that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, [18] having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,
- Ezekiel 36:26 — [26] And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
- Deuteronomy 30:6 — [6] And the LORD your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your offspring, so that you will love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live.
- Ezekiel 36:27 — [27] And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.
- Ephesians 1:19 — [19] and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might
- Psalm 110:3 — [3] Your people will offer themselves freely on the day of your power, in holy garments; from the womb of the morning, the dew of your youth will be yours.
- Song of Solomon 1:4
For discussion
- The Assembly cited Romans 8:30 in support of this answer. Read it in context — how does it bear on what is claimed here?
- 13 passages are cited here. Which does the most work, and is anything claimed that the proofs do not obviously carry?
- WSC Q29 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?
- WSC Q30 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?
Read alongside
WSC Q29 · WSC Q30 · WSC Q31 · WSC Q32 · WLC Q57 · WCF 10.1 · WCF 10.2 · WCF 10.3 · WCF 10.4 · HC Q53 · BC 6.1 · BC 6.2 · BC 6.3 · CD 3.1 · SD 10.1 · SD 10.2 · SD 10.3 · SD 10.4
10.2. Of Effectual Calling
This Effectual Call is of God's free, and special grace alone, not from any thing at all foreseen in man, nor from any power, or agency in the Creature, coworking with his special Grace, the Creature being wholly passive therein, being dead in sins and trespasses, until being quickned & renewed by the holy Spirit, he is thereby enabled to answer this call, and to embrace the Grace offered and conveyed in it; and that by no less power, then that which raised up Christ from the dead.
Proof texts
- 2 Timothy 1:9 — [9] who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,
- Ephesians 2:8 — [8] For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
- 1 Corinthians 2:14 — [14] The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.
- Ephesians 2:5 — [5] even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ — by grace you have been saved —
- John 5:25 — [25] “Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.
- Ephesians 1:19, 20 — [19] and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might [20] that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places,
For discussion
- The Assembly cited 2 Timothy 1:9 in support of this answer. Read it in context — how does it bear on what is claimed here?
- 6 passages are cited here. Which does the most work, and is anything claimed that the proofs do not obviously carry?
- WSC Q29 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?
- WSC Q30 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?
Read alongside
WSC Q29 · WSC Q30 · WSC Q31 · WSC Q32 · WLC Q57 · WCF 10.1 · WCF 10.2 · WCF 10.3 · WCF 10.4 · HC Q53 · BC 6.1 · BC 6.2 · BC 6.3 · CD 3.1 · SD 10.1 · SD 10.2 · SD 10.3 · SD 10.4
10.3. Of Effectual Calling
Elect Infants dying in infancy, are regenerated and saved by Christ through the Spirit; who worketh when, and where, and how he pleaseth: so also are all other elect persons, who are uncapable of being outwardly called by the Ministry of the Word.
Proof texts
- John 3:3, 5, 6 — [3] Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” [5] Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. [6] That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
- John 3:8 — [8] The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
For discussion
- The Assembly cited John 3:3, 5, 6 in support of this answer. Read it in context — how does it bear on what is claimed here?
- 2 passages are cited here. Which does the most work, and is anything claimed that the proofs do not obviously carry?
- WSC Q29 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?
- WSC Q30 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?
Read alongside
WSC Q29 · WSC Q30 · WSC Q31 · WSC Q32 · WLC Q57 · WCF 10.1 · WCF 10.2 · WCF 10.3 · WCF 10.4 · HC Q53 · BC 6.1 · BC 6.2 · BC 6.3 · CD 3.1 · SD 10.1 · SD 10.2 · SD 10.3 · SD 10.4
10.4. Of Effectual Calling
Others not elected, although they may be called by the Ministry of the word, and may have some common operations of the Spirit, yet not being effectually drawn by the Father, they neither will, nor can truly come to Christ; and therefore cannot be saved: much less can men that receive not the Christian Religion be saved; be they never so diligent to frame their lives according to the light of nature, and the Law of that Religion they do profess.
Proof texts
- Matthew 22:14 — [14] For many are called, but few are chosen.”
- Matthew 13:20, 21 — [20] As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, [21] yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away.
- Hebrews 6:4, 5 — [4] For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, [5] and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come,
- John 6:44, 45, 65 — [44] No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day. [45] It is written in the Prophets, ‘And they will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me — [65] And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.”
- 1 John 2:24, 25 — [24] Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father. [25] And this is the promise that he made to us — eternal life.
- Acts 4:12 — [12] And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
- John 4:22 — [22] You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews.
- John 17:3 — [3] And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.
For discussion
- The Assembly cited Matthew 22:14 in support of this answer. Read it in context — how does it bear on what is claimed here?
- 8 passages are cited here. Which does the most work, and is anything claimed that the proofs do not obviously carry?
- WSC Q29 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?
- WSC Q30 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?
Read alongside
WSC Q29 · WSC Q30 · WSC Q31 · WSC Q32 · WLC Q57 · WCF 10.1 · WCF 10.2 · WCF 10.3 · WCF 10.4 · HC Q53 · BC 6.1 · BC 6.2 · BC 6.3 · CD 3.1 · SD 10.1 · SD 10.2 · SD 10.3 · SD 10.4