The 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith

Then & Now · 11 of 42

10. Of Effectual Calling

10. Of Effectual Calling

Paragraph 1: Those whom God hath predestinated unto life, He is pleased in His appointed and accepted time, effectually to call,184 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;185 enlightening their minds spiritually and savingly to understand the things of God;186 taking away their heart of stone; and giving to them a heart of flesh;187 renewing their wills, and by His almighty power determining them to that which is good, and effectually drawing them to Jesus Christ;188 yet so as they come most freely, being made willing by His grace.189

  1. 184. Romans 8:30; 11:7; Ephesians 1:10–11; 2 Thessalonians 2:13–14
  2. 185. Ephesians 2:1–6
  3. 186. Acts 26:18; Ephesians 1:17–18
  4. 187. Ezekiel 36:26
  5. 188. Deuteronomy 30:6; Ezekiel 36:27; Ephesians 1:19
  6. 189. Psalm 110:3

Paragraph 1: Those whom God hath predestinated unto life, He is pleased in His appointed and accepted time, effectually to call,184 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;185 enlightening their minds spiritually and savingly to understand the things of God;186 taking away their heart of stone; and giving to them a heart of flesh;187 renewing their wills, and by His almighty power determining them to that which is good, and effectually drawing them to Jesus Christ;188 yet so as they come most freely, being made willing by His grace.189

  1. 184. Rom 8:30; 11:7; Eph 1:10–11; 2 Thess 2:13–14
  2. 185. Eph 2:1–6
  3. 186. Acts 26:18; Eph 1:17–18
  4. 187. Ezek 36:26
  5. 188. Deut 30:6; Ezek 36:27; Eph 1:19
  6. 189. Ps 110:3

Paragraph 2: This effectual call is of God’s free and special grace alone, not from anything at all foreseen in man, nor from any power or agency in the creature, co-working with His special grace,190 the creature being wholly passive therein, being dead in sins and trespasses, until being quickened and renewed by the Holy Spirit;191 he is thereby enabled to answer this call, and to embrace the grace offered and conveyed in it, and that by no less power than that which raised up Christ from the dead.192

  1. 190. 2 Timothy 1:9; Ephesians 2:8
  2. 191. 1 Corinthians 2:14; Ephesians 2:5; John 5:25
  3. 192. Ephesians 1:19–20

Paragraph 2: This effectual call is of God’s free and special grace alone, not from anything at all foreseen in man, nor from any power or agency in the creature, co-working with His special grace,190 the creature being wholly passive therein, being dead in sins and trespasses, until being quickened and renewed by the Holy Spirit;191 he is thereby enabled to answer this call, and to embrace the grace offered and conveyed in it, and that by no less power than that which raised up Christ from the dead.192

  1. 190. 2 Tim 1:9; Eph 2:8
  2. 191. 1 Cor 2:14; Eph 2:5; John 5:25
  3. 192. Eph 1:19–20

Paragraph 3: Elect infants dying in infancy are regenerated and saved by Christ through the Spirit;193 who works when, and where, and how He pleases;194 so also are all other elect persons, who are incapable of being outwardly called by the ministry of the Word.

  1. 193. John 3:3, 5–6
  2. 194. John 3:8

Paragraph 3: Elect infants dying in infancy are regenerated and saved by Christ through the Spirit;193 who works when, and where, and how He pleases;194 so also are all other elect persons, who are incapable of being outwardly called by the ministry of the Word.

  1. 193. John 3:3, 5–6
  2. 194. John 3:8

Paragraph 4: Others not elected, although they may be called by the ministry of the Word, and may have some common operations of the Spirit,195 yet not being effectually drawn by the Father, they neither will nor can truly come to Christ, and therefore cannot be saved,196 much less can men that do not receive 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.197

  1. 195. Matthew 22:14; 13:20–21; Hebrews 6:4–5
  2. 196. John 6:44–45, 65; 1 John 2:24–25
  3. 197. Acts 4:12; John 4:22; 17:3

Paragraph 4: Others not elected, although they may be called by the ministry of the Word, and may have some common operations of the Spirit,195 yet not being effectually drawn by the Father, they neither will nor can truly come to Christ, and therefore cannot be saved,196 much less can men that do not receive 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.197

  1. 195. Matt 22:14; 13:20–21; Heb 6:4–5
  2. 196. John 6:44–45, 65; 1 John 2:24–25
  3. 197. Acts 4:12; John 4:22; 17:3