Chapter 3: Of God's Decree
6._____ As God hath appointed the elect unto glory, so he hath, by the eternal and most free purpose of his will, foreordained all the means thereunto; wherefore they who are elected, being fallen in Adam, are redeemed by Christ, are effectually called unto faith in Christ, by his Spirit working in due season, are justified, adopted, sanctified, and kept by his power through faith unto salvation; neither are any other redeemed by Christ, or effectually called, justified, adopted, sanctified, and saved, but the elect only.
( 1 Peter 1:2; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Thessalonians 5:9, 10; Romans 8:30; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Peter 1:5; John 10:26; John 17:9; John 6:64 )
Notice the scriptures cited in support of this statement, particularly II Thess. 2: 13, which reads as follows:
"But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ." (vs. 14 included)
This is the confession that the churches that first formed the "Primitive Baptist Church" endorsed, because it was the confession of their forefathers. Notice how the confession says that God in his decree "foreordained all the means thereunto." What "means"? Simply that which is stated in II Thess. 2:13-14! It is "the truth" and the "gospel"! Notice also that this statement in the confession says that all the elect, by God's decree, are "effectually called unto faith in Christ" and "kept by his power through faith unto salvation." Faith, evangelical faith, the kind produced by the preaching of the gospel, is the "means." Notice also that the "faith" that is made essential for eternal salvation is "faith in Christ," not some kind of faith that the heathen have!
Chapter 10: Of Effectual Calling
1._____ 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; enlightening their minds spiritually and savingly to understand the things of God; taking away their heart of stone, and giving unto them a 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.
(Romans 8:30; Romans 11:7; Ephesians 1:10, 11; 2 Thessalonians 2:13, 14; Ephesians 2:1-6; Acts 26:18; Ephesians 1:17, 18; Ezekiel 36:26; Deuteronomy 30:6; Ezekiel 36:27; Ephesians 1:19; Psalm 110:3; Song of Solomon 1:4)
Again, notice how in this section the confession once again refers to II Thess. 2: 13-14! Notice that the effectual call is "by his Word and Spirit." It is not by the Spirit alone as today's Hardshells teach. Notice also that in being effectually called, one is "enlightened" so that they "savingly understand the things of God," and that they are drawn "to Jesus Christ," and that "they come" to this Jesus "most freely." Thus, it is clear, that these Old Baptists made conversion via the gospel and via evangelical faith, to be the result of being effectually called. They did not separate conversion from either regeneration or from the new birth.
Today's so-called "Primitive Baptists" need to come back to the belief of their forefathers!
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