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| Mr. Spurgeon, you are unaware of a far worse slander lurking right behind you. |
There is a far worse slander than the one cautioned by Mr. Spurgeon! This meme on the "Preach the Gospel" page has been shared 1201 times when I downloaded it to put it here.
"I do believe we slander Christ when we think we are to draw the people by something else but the preaching of Christ crucified." ~ Charles H. Spurgeon
Dear admirers and lovers of Mr. Spurgeon,
May I say a few words of caution. It is a far greater and grievous slander, and near blasphemous, if you think the preaching of Christ crucified will draw the people who are still in their native state of sin and death.
May I say a few words of caution. It is a far greater and grievous slander, and near blasphemous, if you think the preaching of Christ crucified will draw the people who are still in their native state of sin and death.
At best such a view betrays a complete ignorance of the TWO distinct drawings spoken of in the Scriptures; at worst it robs God of His glory as the sole and sovereign agent in drawing spiritually dead sinners to Christ, and elevates preachers to be co-workers with God in eternal salvation. Then their grand "solas" are nothing more that shibboleths and empty slogans.
The first drawing is the direct and immediate activity of God, whereby He freely and sovereignly draws an elect out of his native state of sins and death to that of grace and eternal salvation in Christ Jesus.
The second drawing is by the instrumentality of the gospel ministry, whereby those already freely drawn by God to grace and eternal salvation are called to believe on the good news of their salvation.
The gospel ministry brings the good news of the salvation to them whom God Himself has accomplished in Christ at the cross, and has applied to individual elect, thus making them capable of receiving the gospel message and be drawn to the gospel of their salvation.
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."
John 6: 39 And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he HATH GIVEN me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.
John 6: 39 And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he HATH GIVEN me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.
John 6:37 has "Father GIVETH" - present tense. This speaks of the effectual calling of each elect unto eternal salvation at God's own appointed and approved time. These are irresistibly and soveriegnly drawn and united to Christ, therefore, SHALL COME to Christ. Only these God-drawn-to-Christ alone can be drawn to Christ through the preaching of the gospel. "Him that cometh" speaks of the coming to Christ in response to the hearing of the gospel.
The gospel can't draw those still dead in trespasses and sins. They must first be drawn out of that state; the new birth from above must happen first. Then they are capable of being drawn to Christ through the gospel ministry.
John 6:39 has "he HATH GIVEN" - perfect tense. This speaks of the completed giving of the elect to Christ before the foundation of the world.
The new school calvinists are gospel regenerationists. Spurgeon's words confirm them in their fable.
Spurgeon was a great admirer of John Gill and owned him as his mentor. But the lovers and admirers of Spurgeon despise Dr. Gill. Can you explain the irony???
The above was posted here:
