The Place of Gospel Preaching in the Purpose of God
Psalm. 107:20
Eternal
election is the work of God the Father in salvation. The particular, effectual
redemption of the elect, is the work of God the Son in salvation. And effectual
calling, or irresistible grace, is the work of God the Holy Spirit in
salvation. Sinners cannot be saved without the Father’s sovereign election, the
Son’s blood redemption, and the Spirit’s effectual call. Every chosen sinner
was redeemed at Calvary. Every chosen, redeemed sinner shall be called by the
Spirit. And every chosen, redeemed, called sinner comes to Christ in faith and
has eternal life. There is no possibility that any sinner can be chosen by God
the Father, redeemed by God the Son, and called by God the Holy Spirit, and yet
perish in hell at last! To teach such nonsense is blasphemy! Such blasphemy
exalts Satan above God, the free-will of man above the omnipotence of God, and
makes the triune God an utter failure in his purpose, work, and grace. It
cannot be embraced or tolerated by anyone who knows God.
I have shown you repeatedly
that no one is saved apart from or without the sovereign election of God the
Father, the special, effectual redemption of God the Son, and the irresistible
call of God the Holy Spirit. We rejoice to sing with the inspired psalmist, “Blessed is the man whom thou choosest and
causest to approach unto thee!”
I have also shown you
repeatedly that no one is ever saved in this gospel age apart from the
preaching of the gospel. Do not let the hard shells and hyper-calvinists
deceive you in this matter. The issue is not whether or not God can save his
people without the use of means. The issue is whether or not he will. We know
that he will not because he has revealed this fact plainly in his Word. Faith
comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God (Rom. 10:17). It pleased God to
save his elect by the foolishness of gospel preaching (1 Cor. 1:21). All who
are begotten of God are begotten of him by the gospel (James 1:18). All who are
born again are born again by the incorruptible seed of God’s Word, which is
preached to them by the gospel (1 Pet. 1:23-25).
These things are so plainly
revealed in Holy Scripture that there is no excuse for error regarding them.
Those who teach that God saves sinners apart from the preaching of the gospel
fly in the face of Holy Scripture. It is therefore no surprise to see them
favor emotionalism, experiences, dreams, custom, and religious tradition above
the Word of God.
The preaching of the gospel
is God’s chosen, ordained means of grace, by which he calls chosen, redeemed
sinners to life and faith in Christ by the irresistible power and grace of his
Holy Spirit. John Gill describes the
value and utility of gospel preaching beautifully. “Christ stands in the gospel-ministry,
at the door of men’s hearts, and knocks and calls. Having the key of the house
of David, he opens the heart by the power of his grace, and lets himself in. In
this way, and by this means, the Spirit and his graces are received. Men are
called both to grace and glory by the gospel.”
AMEN.
Grace For Today Radio Message #547
Grace Baptist Church of Danville
- Danville, KY 40422 - 9438 - Donald S. Fortner, Pastor