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| An example of a whole and its distinct parts. Effectual call is a much broader term - it is calling an elect out of his native state of sin and death to that of grace and salvation in Jesus Christ. Regeneration is much more specific - it is the quickening of those dead in trespasses and sins, a distinct and separate part in the effectual call. |
Effectual Calling and Regeneration...
are they distinct or one and the same?
I read an article entitled:
Born Again : The Doctrine of Effectual Calling.
I commented:
An excellent article. To avoid confusion, effectual call and regeneration should not be used as synonyms! They are quite different... at least the way the PB CoF 1900 uses them.
A brother replied tersely:
Brother Sing, if by the phrase "the PB CoF" you mean "the 1689 LCoF", then you must understand that although some PB's have adopted that Calvinist document as "the PB CoF", it is NOT accepted by all.
As to your statement, "To avoid confusion, effectual call and regeneration should not be used as synonyms! They are quite different." I for one, disagree with that statement, effectual call and regeneration are "quite the SAME".
Several others joined in the chorus to vigorously INSIST that effectual call and regeneration are "quite the SAME", if not EXACTLY synonymous.
It is plain that most would see effectual calling and regeneration as synonymous. Such would insist they are both ONE and the SAME. I think that is no small confusion. If they are synonymous, then try this. In the biblical passages where effectual call is spoken of, replace it with regeneration, and in those passages that speak of regeneration/new birth/quickening, replace them with effectual call. Try it!
Regeneration is much more specific - it is the quickening of those dead in trespasses and sins.
Effectual call is a much wider term... it is calling an elect out of his native state of sin and death to that of grace and salvation in Jesus Christ.
To call an elect out of his native state of sin and death requires MUCH MUCH more that regeneration alone! Regeneration alone DOES NOT, and CANNOT bring an elect out of his native state of sin and death!!!
To call an elect out of his native state of sin and death into the state of grace and salvation, the Triune God does these necessary sovereign acts, and freely :
- He justifies... (deals with condemnation)
- He regenerates... (deals with deadness)
- He adopts into the divine family... (deals with alienation)
- He gives the Spirit of adoption to dwell in the elect.
These free and sovereign activities of the Triune God bring an elect out of his NATIVE state of sin and death into that of grace and salvation. Without these, an elect is not called into a state of grace and salvation, fitted for eternal glory!
That's just my understanding, freely offered to those who have ears to hear!
Let's look at these Scriptures!
Ro 8:30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
1Co 1:9 God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
Ga 1:6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
1Th 2:12 That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.
1Pe 5:10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
2Pe 1:3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
I don't see how the calling in these passages are the same and synonymous with regeneration.
Being called unto the fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ, into the grace of Christ, unto His kingdom and glory, unto His eternal glory by Christ, to glory and virtue... involves/requires FAR more than regeneration! That's as plain can be to any with eyes to behold.
Read some comments following the above post on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/sing.f.lau/posts/10200846343536368
The exchange is a good example of how a subject can so easily get off at a tangent!
p/s the old school baptists of the 1689 CoF noted the distinction between effectual call and regeneration. Take a look here:
http://pruning-deformed-branches.blogspot.com/2008/01/effectual-calling.html
