Article: The Gospel is Not an Offer

[GraceAmbassador]

"Since virtually all expositors have no concept of the difference between 'Original Sin' as taught by Augustine (in his enslavement to neo-Platonist philosophy) and 'Total Depravity' (Total Inability) as taught in the revealed scriptures, the doctrine of the imputation of Adam's sin to the entire human race is alive and well. Those who deny Adamic imputation to elect and reprobate alike are not even viewed as 'the least of these my brethren' by 'Reformed' scholars, pastors, and churches: they are cast out as heretics.

Bob:

It is interesting that you would say that, because, I have a book of CHARTS of Christian doctrines and how they are believed by different groups, a book that I can't find if I needed to be alive, probably lost in many of my moves, has a CHART of the Headship of Adam and one of the charts INCLUDES the fact that there is a group within the Reformed camp (?) who believes that Adam ONLY represents the elect and that the imputation of sin to Adam is not alike with the reprobates, (thus denying that the imputation to the elect are alike). I wish I could find the book, but, to our comfort, this doctrine is not totally strange and shunned by ALL Reformers.

It took me a few days to respond to this interesting point because I was looking for the blessed book and I can't find it... But, by memory, it does bring the possibility above, and, as NORMAL.

Milt

[gerhard]

On the matter of God hiding the gospel--if God be sovereign this is a TRUE hiding and not a mere concealment of something that would otherwise be an opposite reality. In other words, God's will is done on Earth as it is in heaven. The non-elect are hardened in such a manner that they CANNOT believe--reprobation is the substance and essence of their souls. They are created solely for the purpose of bringing God glory in their damnation.

Both elect and non-elect may be "hardened in such a manner that they CANNOT believe" according to God's sovereign will. "Lost" in 2 Cor. 4:3,4 is in reference to those who have been blinded by the god of this world. In scripture, the blind and the lost may be and often are elect persons. They are begotten in Christ through the gospel when it pleases God (1 Cor. 4:15).

[Robert R. Higby]

Thanks Milt!

Such a position is rare because it challenges Augustinianism. We certainly know how much 99% of 'Reformed' teachers will defend Augustine as their revered mentor come hell or high water, come what May, or come anything else!

Unless and until the Lord starts causing predestinarians to question the orthodoxy of Augustine and Tertullian, there will be NO CHANGE in the status quo.

--Bob

[Robert R. Higby]

Gerhard: Both elect and non-elect may be "hardened in such a manner that they CANNOT believe" according to God's sovereign will. "Lost" in 2 Cor. 4:3,4 is in reference to those who have been blinded by the god of this world. In scripture, the blind and the lost may be and often are elect persons. They are begotten in Christ through the gospel when it pleases God (1 Cor. 4:15).

According to my convictions, there is nothing more perverse than equating ANYTHING regarding God's elect loved from eternity with the non-elect hated from eternity. The nature of the sin of both and the 'hiding' of the truth from both is infinitely different. Of course, it is certainly true that both are created in iniquity--albeit for VERY different purposes. It is also certainly true that God purposes to hide the gospel truth from the elect FOR A TIME. But there is no other similarity.

[GraceAmbassador]

Thanks Milt!

Such a position is rare because it challenges Augustinianism. We certainly know how much 99% of 'Reformed' teachers will defend Augustine as their revered mentor come hell or high water, come what May, or come anything else!

Unless and until the Lord starts causing predestinarians to question the orthodoxy of Augustine and Tertullian, there will be NO CHANGE in the status quo.

--Bob

Agreed Bob!
The evidence of what you say above is that those who venerate Augustine are now SHUNNING fellowship with those who simply warn them that Augustine WAS NEVER a Reformed person and that he continued to being a Roman Catholic to the end of his life, and, warn them that the Roman Catholics SCOFF at Reformed people for, IGNORANTLY believing that Augustine was converted to the Reformation.

Those kids at the Christian Tulip page at Facebook, blocked me because I attempted to warn them of both the above! I did not say one word BAD about Augustine and his theology; I only warned them that he continued to being a Roman Catholic and proposed that, if he had lived through the Reformation, would certainly have opposed it; they blocked me and deleted my post! RIDICULOUS! Now Augustine is the determining factor for fellowship to those guys at Christian Tulip! I am ashamed and embarrassed by them!

Milt

[GraceAmbassador]

Some presbies are no different than the Charismatics: In the Charismatic movement, if you SPEAK IN TONGUES you can be the devil in person; they will fellowship with you without restriction or checking anything else. Presbies: if you venerate Augustine, even if you are the devil in person, then you will be received honorably in their fellowship without restriction or checking anything else.

If you are against speaking in tongues, you can be the Apostle Paul resurrected in their midst and the Charismatics will SHUN YOU! If you are against AUGUSTINE, by any measure, or even if you just give credit to Augustine for whatever it is that he has credit and nothing else, then YOU WILL BE SHUNNED and cast out of their fellowship.

Sorry to be off topic!

Milt

[solegrace]

According to my convictions, there is nothing more perverse than equating ANYTHING regarding God's elect loved from eternity with the non-elect hated from eternity. The nature of the sin of both and the 'hiding' of the truth from both is infinitely different. Of course, it is certainly true that both are created in iniquity--albeit for VERY different purposes. It is also certainly true that God purposes to hide the gospel truth from the elect FOR A TIME. But there is no other similarity.

Well said and, precisely to the point.

[GraceAmbassador]

Perhaps we can find the origin of the FREE OFFER doctrine among some of the people mentioned in this article, which also brings some very interesting refutation for such a "watering down" of the Gospel message.

http://churchmousec.wordpress.com/

Disclaimer: My suggestion of the article above does not imply that I endorse the Reformed Anglican or Episcopalian Church. I do however declare that I enjoy reading the writer of the article and his desire to preserve foundational doctrine.

Milt

[trav]

While reading an article by Sean Gerety titled "Janus Alive and Well: Dr. R. Scott Clark and the Well-Meant Offer of the Gospel" I found something in his article that I just had to share; he says this while critiquing John Murray: " Not surprisingly, Murray in his defense of the well-meant offer inhabits the same exegetical landscape as the Arminian, the only exception being is that the Arminian has the distinct advantage of not contradicting the rest of his theology simply because he premises salvation on the sovereignty of man rather than on the sovereignty of God. According to the Arminian God can be said to sincerely desire the salvation of all men simply because believing the Gospel is premised on the free and undetermined will of man. To the Arminian God is just a helpless and impotent observer longing for the fruition of something that He knows will never come to pass.".

[Robert R. Higby]

That was a very good article by Geraty: http://www.trinityfoundation.org/journal.php?id=278

I'm really pleased with the quality of most material the TF continues to publish, it certainly exceeds virtually everything in the 'reformed web', if you get my drift.