(I)
Rev. Herman
Hoeksema
[Source: A Power of
God Unto Salvation, Or, Grace Not An Offer, p. 47]
No one
can obtain or become partakers of the saving and justifying faith by his own
efforts or free well, or by the ability of flesh and blood, unless God implants
His grace in the heart by the Holy Spirit and by the preaching of the gospel,
in whom and whenever He wills, in such a way that one can receive all these benefits offered and
assured unto salvation by the external preaching of the divine Word and by the
sacraments instituted by Christ. Of which John the Baptist says: “A man can
receive nothing except it be given him from heaven.” Even as our Lord Christ
Himself has said: “No one can come unto me, except my Father which hath sent me
draw him.”
But
these keys belong to the special office and ministry, or an observing of the
power of Christ and of His Holy Spirit, which is entrusted to the church of
Christ and its officebearers, even unto the end of the world, not only
(although this is of first importance) in order that they should proclaim the
holy gospel through the preaching, that is, in order that they should preach
this Word of true comfort and this glad and new tidings of peace in regard to the grace which God offers. But
also in order that they should proclaim and point out to the believers and to
the unbelievers, to the former the grace and to the latter the wrath of God in
general, and publicly to each and every one in particular.
The first paragraph emphatically
teaches that the benefits offered in the preaching of the Word and in the
sacraments cannot be embraced except only by the grace of God. This surely
already points out that also in this confession “offer” (offere) is used simply in the sense of presenting, setting forth,
showing.
In the second paragraph the word
has the same meaning, not in the idea of showing that one is willing to give
something to everyone, so that the acceptance still depends upon the
willingness of the person to whom it is offered, but in the sense of “presenting.”
The Gospel is glad new tidings in regard to the grace which God offers. But do
not fail to notice, that even as He offers or presents He also grants; namely,
to all who believe in the crucified Christ, which faith, however, He only can
and must give, and which He only gives to His elect. It is exactly for that
reason that the paragraph ends by making a distinction between the preaching to
the believers and to the unbelievers, to the former God’s grace and favor are
proclaimed, to the latter His wrath and sore displeasure.
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Check out the fine collection of quotes in the following
article entitled "The Meaning of 'Offero' and 'Offer'":
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(III)
More to come! (DV)
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