1689 London Baptist Confession, Chapter 10
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.
Scripture references for paragraph 1
Berean Standard Bible. Public domain text and source credits.
Romans 8:3030And those He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified.
Romans 11:77What then? What Israel was seeking, it failed to obtain, but the elect did. The others were hardened,
Ephesians 1:1010as a plan for the fullness of time, to bring all things in heaven and on earth together in Christ.
Ephesians 1:1111In Him we were also chosen as God’s own, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything by the counsel of His will,
2 Thessalonians 3:1313But as for you, brothers, do not grow weary in well-doing.
2 Thessalonians 3:1414Take note of anyone who does not obey the instructions we have given in this letter. Do not associate with him, so that he may be ashamed.
Ephesians 2:1-61And you were dead in your trespasses and sins,
2in which you used to walk when you conformed to the ways of this world and of the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit who is now at work in the sons of disobedience.
3All of us also lived among them at one time, fulfilling the cravings of our flesh and indulging its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature children of wrath.
4But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,
5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in our trespasses. It is by grace you have been saved!
6And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,
Acts 26:1818to 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 an inheritance among those sanctified by faith in Me.’
Ephesians 1:1717that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in your knowledge of Him.
Ephesians 1:1818I ask that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know the hope of His calling, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints,
Ezekiel 36:2626I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.
Deuteronomy 30:66The LORD your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, and you will love Him with all your heart and with all your soul, so that you may live.
Ezekiel 36:2727And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes and to carefully observe My ordinances.
Ephesians 1:1919and the surpassing greatness of His power to us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of His mighty strength,
Psalms 110:33Your people shall be willing on Your day of battle. Arrayed in holy splendor, from the womb of the dawn, to You belongs the dew of Your youth.
Song of Solomon 1:44Take me away with you—let us hurry! May the king bring me to his chambers.
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.
Scripture references for paragraph 2
Berean Standard Bible. Public domain text and source credits.
2 Timothy 1:99He has saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works, but by His own purpose and by the grace He granted us in Christ Jesus before time began.
Ephesians 2:88For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God,
1 Corinthians 2:1414The natural man does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God. For they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.
Ephesians 2:55made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in our trespasses. It is by grace you have been saved!
John 5:2525Truly, truly, I tell you, the hour is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.
Ephesians 1:1919and the surpassing greatness of His power to us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of His mighty strength,
Ephesians 1:2020which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms,
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.
Scripture references for paragraph 3
Berean Standard Bible. Public domain text and source credits.
John 3:33Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.”
John 3:55Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.
John 3:66Flesh is born of flesh, but spirit is born of the Spirit.
John 3:88The wind blows where it wishes. You hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
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.
Scripture references for paragraph 4
Berean Standard Bible. Public domain text and source credits.
Matthew 22:1414For many are called, but few are chosen.”
Matthew 13:2020The seed sown on rocky ground is the one who hears the word and at once receives it with joy.
Matthew 13:2121But since he has no root, he remains for only a season. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away.
Hebrews 6:44It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit,
Hebrews 6:55who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age—
John 6:4444“No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day.
John 6:4545It is written in the Prophets: ‘And they will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard the Father and learned from Him comes to Me—
John 6:6565Then Jesus said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to Me unless the Father has granted it to him.”
1 John 2:2424As for you, let what you have heard from the beginning remain in you. If it does, you will also remain in the Son and in the Father.
1 John 2:2525And this is the promise that He Himself made to us: eternal life.
Acts 4:1212Salvation exists in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”
John 4:2222You worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews.
John 17:33Now this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent.
Source and edition
1689 London Baptist Confession. NonlinearFruit/Creeds.json, Unlicense. Creeds.json, English transcription
Unlicense. Source transcription.
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