Westminster Confession of Faith
II. This effectual call is of God’s free and special grace alone, not from anything at all foreseen in man [i], who is altogether passive therein, until, being quickened and renewed by the Holy Spirit [k], he is thereby enabled to answer this call, and to embrace the grace offered and conveyed in it [l].
[i] 2 Timothy 1:9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.
Titus 3:4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Ver.5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.
Ephesians 2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Ver.5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved). Ver.8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Ver.9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Romans 9:11 For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth.
[k] 1 Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
Romans 8:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
Ephesians 2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved).
[l] John 6:37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
Ezekiel 36:27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them..
John 5:25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.
Westminster Confession of Faith
III. Elect infants, dying in infancy, are regenerated, and saved by Christ, through the Spirit [m], who works when, and where, and how He pleases [n]: so also are all other elect persons who are incapable of being outwardly called by the ministry of the Word [o].
[m] Luke 18:15 And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them. Ver.16 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.
And Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Ver.39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
And John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Ver.5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
And 1 John 5:12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
And Romans 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. [Compared together.]
[n] John 3:8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
[o] 1 John 5:12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Larger Catechism
Q60. Can they who have never heard the gospel, and so know not Jesus Christ, nor believe in him, be saved by their living according to the light of nature?
A. They who, having never heard the gospel [n], know not Jesus Christ [o], and believe not in him, cannot be saved [p], be they never so diligent to frame their lives according to the light of nature [q], or the laws of that religion which they profess [r]; neither is there salvation in any other, but in Christ alone [s], who is the Savior only of his body the church [t].
[n] Romans 10:14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
[o] 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
Ephesians 2:12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
John 1:10-12 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
[p] John 8:24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.
Mark 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
[q] 1 Corinthians 1:20-24 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? Ver.21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. Ver.22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: Ver.23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; Ver.24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
[r] John 4:22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.
Romans 9:31-32 But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. Ver.32 Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;
Philippians 3:4-9 Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: Ver.5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; Ver.6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. Ver.7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Ver.8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, Ver.9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
[s] Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
[t] Ephesians 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
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