Question: In Chapter fourteen verse three it uses the statement “temporary believers” what does that mean?

My thoughts: Are the temporary believers those who say they believe in Christ when in fact they really don’t or is it meaning something else?

1689 London Baptist Confession Chapt 14 3._____ This faith, although it be different in degrees, and may be weak or strong, yet it is in the least degree of it different in the kind or nature of it, as is all other saving grace, from the faith and common grace of temporary believers; and therefore, though it may be many times assailed and weakened, yet it gets the victory, growing up in many to the attainment of a full assurance through Christ, who is both the author and finisher of our faith.

You are basically correct in saying that there are some who profess Christ for illegitimate motives. I’m sure you have heard of preachers who simply liked the idea of being a preacher and so get educated for the position and many years later are actually converted. In addition, I believe the writers of the confession are simply acknowledging the reality of ‘false’ professors – some who profess Christ and even show signs of being genuine believers do not endure – thus they are called ‘temporary’ or counterfeit believers. Temporary believers have not been regenerated. One reference in scripture is found in John 2:23-25 & John 8:30-33. This reality should cause us to examine ourselves to see if we are, in fact, possessors of genuine faith. The first part of paragraph 3 help us to see that it is not the amount of faith that we posses either ‘weak or strong’ but rather its ‘nature’ – that is implied by their reference to ‘temporary’ believers. We believe that true believers will endure to the end and show certain enduring evidences – that is the testimony of scripture and the confession writers are simply acknowledging that fact. Altar calls and other manipulative methods to get folks to ‘make decisions’ have contributed to the great numbers of folks who are called ‘Christians’ and yet never go to church. They are apparently not enduring

Consider also the common grace whereby the Lord blesses unbelievers. In the most basic sense, we know that the Lord Jesus Christ” upholds the universe by the word of his power ” (Heb 1:3) so by common grace the world still exists and unbelievers have temporary safety and in some cases, prosperity. But in a more specific sense we see that the influence of Christ’s Church will cause a culture, a nation, and even families to be better. We see the US not as a nation of believers but as a nation that has been profoundly influenced by the church. It’s not surprising that Americans will call themselves ‘Christians’ if only because of the freedom and blessings associated with true ‘Christian’ behavior and Christian attitudes like, ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’ Of course that influence is waning due to what I believe is the corrosive effect of Dispensationalism on the western church. As you know, Dispensationalism teaches that things will eventually get so bad that God will ‘rapture’ the church away and judge those unbelievers ‘left behind’. I believe this is why the church gave up on influencing the culture – why get into politics, education, or the arts, or any other ‘public’ work if judgment is imminent? The church has left the unbelievers to run our schools, our government, and the arts – what do we expect our culture to look like when unbelievers who do not love God’s law are the ones who shape culture? Nevertheless, because of common grace the culture will likely retain many aspects of Christian teaching for a time – respect for the dignity of human life and property, etc.

But of course, the confessional writers are likely addressing the issue of false professors in the church. I believe that some unbelievers will attend church regularly because they receive the benefits of friendship and charity and are so blessed. So also do children receive blessings simply because their parents are believers even though they are not believers themselves. One hopes that those blessings will eventually bear fruit unto repentance and salvation but that is in the Lord’s hands. It is sobering to ponder the greater judgment that will fall on those who have been ‘enlightened and have tasted the heavenly gift’ (Hebrews 6:4-6) and then ‘fall away’!

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