Baptist Confession of Faith (1689)

Chapter 10 EFFECTUAL CALLING

10.1 Those whom God¹ has predestined to life,² he is pleased (in his appointed and accepted time)³ to effectually call ⁴ by his Word ⁵ and Spirit.6 He calls them out of that state of sin and death in which they are by nature, to grace and salvation by Jesus Christ.⁷ He enlightens their minds spiritually and savingly to understand the things of God.⁸ He takes away their heart of stone, and gives to them a heart of flesh.⁹ He renews their wills, and by his almighty power causes them to do what is good.¹⁰ He effectually draws them to Jesus Christ,¹¹ yet in such a way that they come completely freely, for they are made willing by his grace.¹²

(1) Rom 8:28-29
(2) Rom 8:29-30; 9:22-24; 1Co 1:26-28; 2Th 2:13-14; 2Ti 1:9
(3) Joh 3:8; Eph 1:11
(4) Mat 22:14; 1Cor 1:23-24; Rom 1:6; 8:28; Jude 1:1; Psa 29; Joh 5:25; Rom 4:17
(5) 2Th 2:14; 1Pe 1:23-25; Jas 1:17-25; 1Jo 5:1-5; Rom 1:16-17; 10:14; Heb 4:12
(6) Joh 3:3,5-6,8; 2Co 3:3,6
(7) Rom 8:2; 1Co 1:9; Eph 2:1-6; 2Ti 1:9-10
(8) Act 26:18; 1Co 2:10,12; Eph 1:17-18
(9) Eze 36:26
(10) Deu 30:6; Eze 36:27;
(11) Joh 6:44-45; Eph 1:19; Phi 2:13
(12) Psa 110:3; Joh 6:37; Rom 6:16-18

10.2 This effectual call is of God’s free and special grace alone, not on account of anything at all foreseen in us. It is not made because of any power or action in us,¹ for we are altogether passive in it, we are dead in sins and trespasses until we are made alive and renewed by the Holy Spirit.² By this [regeneration] we are enabled to answer this call, and to embrace the grace offered and conveyed in it, this power being none other than that which raised up Christ from the dead.³

(1) 2Ti 1:9; Tit 3:4-5; Eph 2:4-5,8-9; Rom 9:11
(2) 1Co 2:14; Rom 8:7; Eph 2:5
(3) Joh 6:37; Eze 36:27; Joh 5:25; Eph 1:19-20

10.3 Infants ¹ dying in infancy are regenerated and saved by Christ through the Spirit who works when and where and how he pleases.² So also are all elect persons regenerated who are incapable of being outwardly called by the ministry of the word.

(1) WCF: Elect infants
(2) Joh 3:8

10.4 Those who are not elected, even though they may be called by the ministry of the Word and may experience some common operations of the Spirit,¹ cannot be saved because they are not effectually drawn by the Father, therefore they will not and cannot truly come to Christ. Much less can those who do not profess the Christian religion be saved,² no matter how diligently they order their lives according to the light of nature and the teachings of the religion they profess.³

(1) Mat 13:20-21; 22:14; Heb 6:4-5; Mat 7:22
(2) Joh 6:44-45,64-66; 8:24
(3) Act 4:12; Joh 4:22; 17:3

Chapter 1: The Holy Scriptures
Chapter 2: God and the Holy Trinity
Chapter 3: God’s Decree
Chapter 4: Creation
Chapter 5: Divine Providence
Chapter 6: The Fall, Sin and its Punishment
Chapter 7: God’s Covenant
Chapter 8: Christ the Mediator
Chapter 9: Free Will
Chapter 10: Effectual Calling
Chapter 11: Justification
Chapter 12: Adoption
Chapter 13: Sanctification
Chapter 14: Saving Faith
Chapter 15: Repentance to Life and Salvation
Chapter 16: Good Works
Chapter 17: The Perseverance of Believers
Chapter 18: The Assurance of Grace and Salvation
Chapter 19: The Law of God
Chapter 20: The Gospel and its Gracious Extent
Chapter 21: Christian Liberty and Liberty of Conscience
Chapter 22: Worship and the Lord’s Day
Chapter 23: Lawful Oaths and Vows
Chapter 24: Civil Government
Chapter 25: Marriage
Chapter 26: The Church
Chapter 27: The Fellowship of Believers
Chapter 28: The Ordinances
Chapter 29: Baptism
Chapter 30: The Lord’s Supper
Chapter 31: The State of People after Death and the Resurrection of the Dead
Chapter 32: The Last Judgment
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