20 August, 2016

FAQ - Our Main Concerns About Common Grace and the Well-Meant Offer



Q. 1. “What are your main concerns regarding the theory of common grace?”

Our biggest concern is that we do not believe the Bible teaches it. Our argument against common grace also concerns the holiness of God’s name. This initial error of a love of God for the reprobate is [also] being used by many (including professed Calvinists) to erode the antithesis (Gen. 3:15), to soften total depravity, to compromise particular atonement, to preach a desire of God to save the reprobate, to silence and (then) deny unconditional reprobation and election, to refuse to condemn Arminianism, and to enable fellowship with unbelievers. (Rev. Angus Stewart)

There are three main objections of ours to the doctrine of common grace. It is not confessional; it destroys the antithesis; and it threatens the doctrine of particular saving grace in Christ alone. (Prof. David J. Engelsma)

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Q. 2. “What are the basic errors of the theory of common grace?”

The basic errors of the proponents of common grace is that they identify earthly prosperity with grace and blessing and they explain this life apart from the cross (which testifies that the only removal of wrath is the cross of Christ) and without regard for the eternal state, heaven or hell. (Prof. David J. Engelsma)

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Q. 3. “Is not the topic of common grace a mere non-essential? a minor, secondary or unimportant matter?”

It is evident that this teaching is no peripheral matter, of concern only to some Christians at a certain period in the history of the church. Rather, this teaching raises questions that touch on the very heart of the gospel of grace. Does God love all men? Does God desire that all men be saved? Does God in the preaching try to accomplish the salvation of everyone? Is it the nature of preaching that it is an offer? If indeed God loves all and desires the salvation of all, why do some of them perish? Are God’s love and grace defeated? What does this teaching do to the scriptural doctrine of election and reprobation? What becomes of the doctrine of irresistible grace? The significance of the subject has recently been shown by developments in the Christian Reformed Church. In 1962-1964, Harold Dekker, professor of Missions in Calvin Theological Seminary, in a series of articles in The Reformed Journal, grounded his defense of universal atonement in the teaching of the well-meant gospel offer which the Christian Reformed Church adopted in 1924 in the first point of common grace. Of late, the subject of the free offer has been receiving much attention from Baptists who embrace some of the main tenets of Calvinism. These men express their views in several magazines: The Sword and Trowel, The Banner of Truth, and Reformation Today. Recently, the editor of Reformation Today, Erroll Hulse, published a booklet, The Free Offer: A Defense of Common Grace and the Invitation of the Gospel. They defend the free offer and castigate those who deny it as “hyper-Calvinists.” (Prof. David J. Engelsma, The Standard Bearer, vol. 50, no. 2 [Oct. 15, 1995], p. 62)








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