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.”

Don Fortner