Pinkish
Leaks
The
life-giving voice of Christ, and
The
converting call of the gospel ministry.
Can
you distinguish them?
This
is a popular quote, from Arthur Pink's
"The Ordained Lamp"
"That
which regulates God in His providential dealings concerning the Gospel—opening
doors or shutting them, sending one of His ministers to a place or withdrawing
him—is whether or not there be some of those for whom Christ died in that
particular locality: for the "sheep" shall hear His voice (John
10:16).
Paul
was bidden by the Lord to remain at Corinth, for, said He, "I have much
people in this city" (Acts 18:10). On the other hand, God suffered him not
to go into Bithynia (Acts 16:7).
Where
there is no Gospel preaching for a protracted period, it is an indication that
none of God’s elect are there."
====
Quoted
on a friend's page, it has enjoyed 82 Likes and 27 Shares! So, it's popular.
But
I DON'T agree with Mr Pink.
1.
"That which regulates God... is whether or not there be some for whom
Christ died in that particular locality..."
-
No, that which regulates God is none other that His sovereign and own good
pleasure.
-
Pink's notion presupposes that ALL elect without distinction will have the
gospel ministry divinely directed to them. That's just a fable.
2.
The statement that His sheep will hear His voice is NOT the same as saying ALL
His sheep will hear His voice through the gospel ministry. Mr Pink implies the
latter.
-
Pink assumes that wherever there are God's elect, the gospel ministry will be
divinely sent to them. He believes all the elect are capable of hearing the
gospel, and all will hear the gospel.
3.
Pink is WRONG in conditioning hearing the voice of Christ through the gospel
ministry. John 6:39 proves NOTHING that all the elect will hear the voice of
Christ THROUGH the gospel ministry.
4.
A man insisted, "But the elect, eventually, will always respond to the
gospel or they were not elect."
I
would love some proof from the Scriptures for that assertion. He is saying,
like Mr Pink, ALL ELECT, without exception. will always eventually hear the
gospel, and respond to the gospel. Just prove that from the Scriptures.
All
the elect in their native state of sin and death, without exception, will
INDEED hear the life-giving voice of Christ, the life-giving voice of the
eternal Word, and be given eternal salvation. However, not all such will hear,
and respond to the gospel. Some don't have the ABILITY to hear or respond to
the gospel.; some don't have the OPPORTUNITY to hear the gospel.
The
life-giving voice of Christ in SUMMONING a man dead in trespasses and sins to
eternal life, and converting voice of a preacher calling a child of God
(already called to eternal life by Christ) to believe the truth of his
salvation are two distinct, and independent activities.
The
former is entirely monergistic, solely by divine power and activity in giving
eternal life to a man dead in trespasses and sins; the latter is synergistic
through the preaching activities of men in bringing God's children to know the
truth of their salvation ALREADY freely accomplished by the Triune God.
A biblical distinction is the essence of sound theology.
Sound bites only mislead and confuse.
------------
4
comments
Bill
Taylor
Amen
and amen!
Ante
Zivkovic
Very
good.
Jorge
Quierrez Jr.
Amen
Sing
F Lau
I
feel sick seeing that such Pinkish fables are liked and shared by so many!
2Tim
4
3
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after
their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
4
And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto
fables.
