Westminster Larger Catechism, Q&A 67—“… the grace offered and conveyed therein.”

 [Back to Creedal Index]

Q. 67: What is effectual calling?

A. 67: Effectual calling is the work of God’s almighty power and grace, whereby (out of his free and special love to his elect, and from nothing in them moving him thereunto) he doth, in his accepted time, invite and draw them to Jesus Christ, by his word and Spirit; savingly enlightening their minds, renewing and powerfully determining their wills, so as they (although in themselves dead in sin) are hereby made willing and able freely to answer his call, and to accept and embrace the grace offered and conveyed therein.

 

(I)

Rev. Lau Chin Kwee

[Source: Protestant Reformed Theological Journal, vol. 35, no. 2 [April 2002], pp. 32-33]

In the Westminster Larger Catechism, grace is said to be offered and conveyed in the call of the gospel. The phrase “and conveyed" is to be taken as an immediate explanation that the word “offered” must not be misconstrued as offer in the Arminian sense, but rather has the idea of “conveyed.” That this should be the case should not surprise us, as the Westminster divines were men who knew and spoke highly of the Canons of Dort. Dort had said that faith was not offered, and how could Westminster say that grace was offered without any qualification?

------------------------------------------------

(II)

More to come! (DV)

[Back to Creedal Index]