LBC1689.Ch2.Before There was Time

Does God elect us because we choose Him, or does God elect us and then we choose Him? The question is of significance concerning the Scriptural teaching on salvation. Of course, all Christians affirm the necessity of the lost person choosing Christ in faith to be saved. The issue is not whether faith is necessary, the matter relates to where this comes from. Is our salvation a reward for our faith or is it entirely a matter of grace? Our Baptist heritage has an answer that is consistent with the other important foundational articles of faith that we have looked at.

The matter is dealt with in the 2nd London confession in four parts. Today we will look at two of them:

“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. 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, being wholly passive therein, being dead in sins and trespasses, until being quickened and 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 than that which raised up Christ from the dead” (The Second London Baptist Confession of Faith 1689, Ch. 10, sec. 1-2).

First, only those predestined come to faith. Second, only those enlightened by grace come to faith. Third, only with renewed wills by grace, do sinners come to faith. Fourth, those who come by grace, do so, willingly as they are effectually called by God. Fifthly, this call is by “God’s free and special grace alone.” It is not based on merit. God does not look down the portal of time to see who meets certain conditions. Clearly, this Baptist confession repudiates such a concept. The sinner, “being wholly passive,” is enabled to respond once he is “quickened and renewed by the Holy Spirit.” Otherwise, none would or could come. Indeed, sinners choose Christ during their lives; yet only in response to their being chosen by God before there was time.