C ONFESIÓN DE FE DE W ESTMINSTER

CAPÍTULO X
De la vocación eficaz

I. Todos aquellos a quienes Dios ha predestinado para vida, y sólo aquellos a quienes Él se complace en llamar eficazmente en su tiempo señalado y aceptado,[1]        por su Palabra y Espíritu,[2]     del estado de pecado y muerte en que se encuentran por naturaleza, a la gracia y salvación por Jesucristo;[3]     iluminando sus mentes espiritual y salvíficamente para que entiendan las cosas de Dios,[4]     quitando su corazón de piedra, y dándoles un corazón de carne;[5]     renovando sus voluntades, y, por su poder omnipotente, determinándolos a lo que es bueno,[6]     y atrayéndolos eficazmente a Jesucristo:[7]     sin embargo, como vienen más libremente, estando dispuestos por su gracia.[8]   

[1]     Romanos 8:30. Y a los que predestinó, a ésos también llamó; y a los que llamó, a ésos también justificó; y a los que justificó, a ésos también glorificó. Romanos 11:7. ¿Entonces que? Israel no ha obtenido lo que busca; pero la elección la obtuvo, y los demás fueron cegados. Efesios 1:10-11. para que en la dispensación del cumplimiento de los tiempos pueda reunir todas las cosas en Cristo, tanto las que están en los cielos como las que están en la tierra; aun en él: en quien también hemos obtenido herencia, siendo predestinados según el propósito de aquel que hace todas las cosas según el designio de su voluntad.

[2]     2 Tesalonicenses 2:13-14. Pero nosotros estamos obligados a dar siempre gracias a Dios por vosotros, hermanos amados del Señor, porque Dios os ha elegido desde el principio para salvación, por la santificación del Espíritu y la fe en la verdad; a lo cual os llamó por nuestro evangelio, a la obtención de la gloria de nuestro Señor Jesucristo. 2 Corintios 3:3, 6. Por cuanto manifiestamente sois carta de Cristo administrada por nosotros, escrita no con tinta, sino con el Espíritu del Dios vivo; no en tablas de piedra, sino en tablas de carne del corazón... El cual también nos hizo ministros competentes del nuevo pacto; no de la letra, sino del espíritu; porque la letra mata, mas el espíritu vivifica.

[3]     Romanos 8:2. Porque la ley del Espíritu de vida en Cristo Jesús me ha librado de la ley del pecado y de la muerte. Efesios 2:1-5. Y os dio vida a vosotros, que estabais muertos en vuestros delitos y pecados; en los cuales anduvisteis en otro tiempo, siguiendo la corriente de este mundo, conforme al príncipe de la potestad del aire, el espíritu que ahora opera en los hijos de desobediencia, entre los cuales también todos nosotros conversamos en tiempos pasados ​​en las concupiscencias de nuestra carne, cumpliendo los deseos de la carne y de la mente; y éramos por naturaleza hijos de ira, lo mismo que los demás. Pero Dios, que es rico en misericordia, por su gran amor con que nos amó, aun estando nosotros muertos en pecados, nos dio vida juntamente con Cristo (por gracia sois salvos). 2 Timoteo 1:9-10.quien nos salvó y llamó con llamamiento santo, no conforme a nuestras obras, sino según el propósito suyo y la gracia que nos fue dada en Cristo Jesús antes de los tiempos de los siglos, pero que ahora se manifiesta por la aparición de nuestro Salvador Jesucristo, que quitó la muerte y sacó a luz la vida y la inmortalidad por el evangelio.

[4]    Acts 26:18. To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me. 1 Corinthians 2:10, 12. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.... Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Ephesians 1:17-18. That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints.

[5]    Ezekiel 36:26. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.

[6]    Ezekiel 11:19. And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh. Philippians 2:13. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Deuteronomy 30:6. And the Lord thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live. 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.

[7]    Ephesians 1:19. And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to usward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power. John 6:44-45. No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.

[8]    Song of Solomon 1:4. Draw me, we will run after thee. Psalm 110:3. Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth. 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. Romans 6:16-18. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

II. This effectual call is of God’s free and special grace alone, not from anything at all foreseen in man,[9]    who is altogether passive therein, until, being quickened and renewed by the Holy Spirit,[10]    he is thereby enabled to answer this call, and to embrace the grace offered and conveyed in it.[11]   

[9]    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 3:4-5. But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, 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 2:4-5, 8-9. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved).... For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 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.

[10]    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).

[11]    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 36:37. Thus saith the Lord God; I will yet for this be inquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them; I will increase them with men like a flock. 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.

III. Elect infants, dying in infancy, are regenerated, and saved by Christ, through the Spirit,[12]    who worketh when, and where, and how he pleaseth:[13]    so also are all other elect persons who are incapable of being outwardly called by the ministry of the Word.[14]   

[12]    Luke 18:15-16. And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them. 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. Acts 2:38-39. 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. 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. John 3:3, 5. 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. 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. 1 John 5:12. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. 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.

[13]    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.

[14]    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.

IV. Others, not elected, although they may be called by the ministry of the Word,[15]    and may have some common operations of the Spirit,[16]    yet they never truly come unto Christ, and therefore cannot be saved:[17]    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 laws of that religion they do profess.[18]    And, to assert and maintain that they may, is very pernicious, and to be detested.[19]   

[15]    Matthew 22:14. For many are called, but few are chosen.

[16]    Matthew 7:22. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? Matthew 13:20-21. But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. Hebrews 6:4-5. For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come.

[17]    John 6:64-66. But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him. And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. 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.

[18]    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. John 14:6. Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. 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 4:22. Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. John 17:3. And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

[19]     2 Juan 9-11 Cualquiera que se extravía y no persevera en la doctrina de Cristo, no tiene a Dios. El que permanece en la doctrina de Cristo, ése tiene tanto al Padre como al Hijo. Si alguno viniere a vosotros, y no trajere esta doctrina, no le recibáis en vuestra casa, ni le pidáis a Dios que se apresure; porque el que le ordena que Dios se apresure, es partícipe de sus malas obras. 1 Corintios 16:22. Si alguno no ama al Señor Jesucristo, sea Anathema Maranatha. Gálatas 1:6-8.Me maravillo de que tan pronto os apartéis del que os llamó por la gracia de Cristo a otro evangelio, que no es otro; pero hay algunos que os inquietan y quieren pervertir el evangelio de Cristo. Mas si nosotros, o un ángel del cielo, os anunciare otro evangelio diferente del que os hemos anunciado, sea anatema.


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