WCF 10 - God’s Call: A Commitment To The Elect

WCF 10 - God’s Call: A Commitment To The Elect

Chapter 10:
Of Effectual Calling

10:1 All those whom God hath predestinated unto life, and those only, He is pleased in His appointed and accepted time effectually to call (Rom_8:30; Rom_11:7; Eph_1:10, Eph_1:11), by His Word and Spirit (2Co_3:3, 2Co_3:6; 2Th_2:13, 2Th_2:14), out of that state of sin and death, in which they are by nature, to grace and salvation by Jesus Christ (Rom_8:2; Eph_2:1-5; 2Ti_1:9, 2Ti_1:10); enlightening their minds spiritually and savingly to understand the things of God (Act_26:18; 1Co_2:10, 1Co_2:12; Eph_1:17, Eph_1:18); taking away their heart of stone, and giving unto them a heart of flesh (Eze_36:26); renewing their wills, and by His almighty power determining them to that which is good (Deu_30:6; Eze_11:19; Eze_36:27; Phi_2:13), and effectually drawing them to Jesus Christ (Joh_6:44, Joh_6:45; Eph_1:19): yet so, as they come most freely, being made willing by His grace (Psa_110:3; Son_1:4; Joh_6:37; Rom_6:16-18).

10:2 This effectual call is of God’s free and special grace alone, not from anything at all foreseen in man (Rom_9:11; Eph_2:4, Eph_2:5, Eph_2:8, Eph_2:9; 2Ti_1:9; Tit_3:4, Tit_3:5), who is altogether passive therein, until being quickened and renewed by the Holy Spirit (Rom_8:7; 1Co_2:14; Eph_2:5), he is thereby enabled to answer this call, and to embrace the grace offered and conveyed in it (Eze_36:27; Joh_5:25; Joh_6:37).

10:3 Elect infants, dying in infancy, are regenerated, and saved by Christ through the Spirit (Luk_18:15, Luk_18:16, and Act_2:38, Act_2:39, and Joh_3:3, Joh_3:5, and 1Jo_5:12, and Rom_8:9 compared), who worketh when, and where, and how He pleaseth (Joh_3:8): so also, are all other elect persons who are uncapable of being outwardly called by the ministry of the Word (Act_4:12; 1Jo_5:12).

10:4 Others, not elected, although they may be called by the ministry of the Word (Mat_22:14), and may have some common operations of the Spirit (Mat_7:22; Mat_13:20, Mat_13:21; Heb_6:4, Heb_6:5), yet they never truly come unto Christ, and therefore cannot be saved (Joh_6:64-66; Joh_8:24): much less can men, not professing the Christian religion, be saved in any other way whatsoever, be they never so diligent to frame their lives according to the light of nature, and the law of that religion they do profess (Joh_4:22; Joh_14:6; Joh_17:3; Act_4:12; Eph_2:12); and to assert and maintain that they may, is very pernicious, and to be detested(1Co_16:22; Gal_1:6-8; 2Jo_1:9-11).

Summary statements we are taught:

A. Who The Ones Are That Are Effectually Called (WCF 10.1)

B. When They Are Effectually Called (WCF 10.1)

C. The Means Or Manner By Which They Are Effectually Called (WCF 10.1)

D. The Moral And Spiritual Condition From Which They Are Effectually Called (WCF 10.1)

E. The Moral And Spiritual Condition To Which They Are Effectually Called (WCF 10.1)

F. In What Manner A Person Is Effectually Called (WCF 10.2)

G. That The Effectual Call Is Wholly A Work Of God (WCF 10.2)

H. That There Are Some Human Being S That Are Incapable Of Being Outwardly Called By The Ministry Of The Word (WCF 10.3)

I. These May Be Of The Elect And Therefore Effectually Called (WCF 10.3)

J. The Holy Spirit Works When , Where And How He Pleases (WCF 10.3)

K. Any That Are Not Elect Will Not Be Saved (WCF 10.4)

L. Those Not Elect Do Not Desire And Therefore Will Not Come To Christ (WCF 10.4)

M. The General Revelation (Light Of Nature) Affords Those Untouched By The Gospel With No Basis Of Saving Faith, Therefore They Are Without God And Without Hope (WCF 10.4)