Even as the elect cannot boast of their merit before God, even so the ungodly cannot complain, since God is entirely free to choose or to forsake whomever He wills, being obligated to no one outside of His promise to bestow His grace; and has power to deal with His own as He wills, showing no injustice to the ungodly, since they deliberately separate themselves from Him, sin against His command, misuse His gifts and despise the offered grace of the gospel.
(I)
Rev. Herman
Hoeksema
[Source: A Power of
God Unto Salvation, Or, Grace Not An Offer, p. 47]
[Here] is plainly stated that
there is no general, well-meant offer of the Gospel [in the sense that the Lord
should declare to all that He desires their salvation]. Distinction is even
made between promises and offer. God is obligated to no one outside of His promises. Thus His own
promises do bind Him. The offer does not. And why not? Because the promises of
God offered in the Gospel (in the grace which is presented) are particular. God
promises in the Gospel, the presentation of which comes to the hearers without
distinction, never anything but what is only for the believers, that is, for
His elect people. It is true that by the presentation of God’s grace, by the
promise of eternal life with the command to repent and believe, the ungodly and
unbelievers are condemned because exactly in the light of this offer their sin
and unbelief are revealed. But God’s people are powerfully drawn by this
presentation out of darkness into His marvelous light, and they alone.
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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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