Paul considered it as involved in what he had already said, and especially in the predictions of the ancient prophets, that it was the will of God that all men should call upon him. This being the case, he argues to prove . . . Continue reading →
Free Offer of the Gospel
Hyper-Calvinism, Rationalism, and Anti-Predestinarians
By definition, hyper-Calvinism is that doctrine which goes beyond (hyper) Calvin. Often, however, it is used incorrectly by critics of predestination to describe anyone who believes in reprobation. If teaching reprobation makes one hyper-Calvinist, then Calvin would be one himself, and that . . . Continue reading →
What I Learned From Polycarp About Pearls, Swine, And Modern Evangelicals
In the fall semester I teach two courses on the ancient church. One is a seminar in which we read the Apostolic Fathers (a somewhat arbitrary collection of texts from the second century) as well as other important writers from the period. . . . Continue reading →
Dort On Salvation For The Elect
The Synod of Dort believed that God accomplished salvation only for the elect. Continue reading →
Remonstrants Take Away The “Free” In The Offer Of The Gospel
The Reformed disagreed with the Remonstrants on their view of whether the offer of the Gospel is really “free.” Continue reading →
When We Are Tempted To Save Ourselves
When you feel doubts about being God’s child because you have not shown God that obedience that you owe to him, know that the devil is very near you. He will attempt to falsify the gospel by convincing you that you must . . . Continue reading →
Blessed Through Israel: God’s Promise Of Free Grace
Acts 15, and Luke’s account of the Jerusalem Council reminds us that the apostolic church placed its confidence for all of its life and missionary endeavors clearly in the gospel of free grace and justification sola fide. Paul’s gospel was revealed to . . . Continue reading →
Heidelminicast: We Believe In The Free, Well-Meant Offer Of The Gospel
The Reformed churches confess the well-meant and free-offer of the gospel. Continue reading →
How The Free Offer Of The Gospel Helps Us Understand The Warning Passages
So, we are to indiscriminately proclaim the Gospel of Christ to all without distinction. It is a genuine offer of the Gospel. We know that none hearing the Gospel have the ability in themselves to believe unless God regenerates them, but that . . . Continue reading →
New In Print—The Synod Of Dort: Historical, Theological, And Experiential Perspectives
2018–19 was the 400th anniversary of the great Synod of Dort. It was not that long ago, but given global events, it might seem like a lifetime ago. In commemoration there was renewed attention to Synod and the Canons of Dort resulting . . . Continue reading →
What God Is Telling Us Through The Corona Virus
Whenever there is a dreadful, large-scale event, e.g., a terrorist attack or the outbreak of disease, someone is sure to announce that this is God’s judgment on the world for our sins. Without a doubt, by nature, after the fall, we all . . . Continue reading →
Canons Of Dort (28): Our Sovereign God Administers His Gospel Freely And Humans Are Responsible For Free Choices
As the confessional Protestant churches understood the Scriptures, the only universal revelation to all persons in all times is the natural revelation of God and of his moral law. This natural law was insufficient to save anyone but it was sufficient to . . . Continue reading →
Canons Of Dort (21): The Atonement Is Not Universal But The Offer Of The Gospel Is
At the heart of the debates with the Remonstrants, as Gomarus said, between the Reformed and the Remonstrants was the gospel and its efficacy. Does the gospel announce that Christ has made salvation possible for those who do their part or does . . . Continue reading →
Audio And Video: Unconditional Election And The Free Offer Of The Gospel In The Canons Of Dort
Canons Of Dort (16): Scripture Teaches Both Definite Atonement And The Free Offer Of The Gospel
Rationalism is a word that gets tossed around rather casually at times. It is used without careful definition. E.g., sometimes Lutherans accuse the Reformed of rationalism because we do not accept their Christology or doctrine of the Supper. They accuse us of . . . Continue reading →
AGR: With Chis Gordon On The Free Offer Of The Gospel
At the international Synod of Dort (1618–19) the Reformed churches across the Netherlands, the British Isles, and Europe confessed: “As many as are called by the gospel are sincerely called. For God has most earnestly and truly declared in His Word what . . . Continue reading →
Resources On The Free Or Well Meant Offer Of The Gospel
The Three Points of Synod Kalamazoo (1924) Common Is Not Neutral (On The Three Points Of Synod Kalamazoo) The Synod of Dort On The Serious And Promiscuous Call Of The Gospel John Murray on the Free Offer of the Gospel Joseph H. . . . Continue reading →
For God So Loved The World
To many, the topics of common grace and atonement would seem to be mutually exclusive, as if we should either hold to common grace or to definite atonement, but not to both. There are, however, good biblical and theological reasons for holding . . . Continue reading →
The Synod Of Dort On The Sincere And Promiscuous Offer Of The Gospel
Moreover, the promise of the gospel is that whosoever believes in Christ crucified shall not perish, but have eternal life. This promise, together with the command to repent and believe, ought to be declared and published to all nations,2 and to all . . . Continue reading →
Calvin On Luke 2:10: God Invites All Indiscriminately To Salvation
For God had promised Christ, not to one person or to another, but to the whole seed of Abraham. If the Jews were deprived, for the most part, of the joy that was offered to them, it arose from their unbelief; just . . . Continue reading →