Q. 84. How is the kingdom of
heaven opened and shut by the preaching of the holy gospel?
A. Thus: when according to the
command of Christ it is declared and publicly testified to all and every believer, that, whenever they receive the
promise of the gospel by a true faith, all their sins are really forgiven them
of God, for the sake of Christ’s merits; and on the contrary, when it is
declared and testified to all unbelievers, and such as do not sincerely repent,
that they stand exposed to the wrath of God and eternal condemnation, so long
as they are unconverted; according to which testimony of the gospel God will
judge them, both in this and in the life to come.
(I)
Herman Hoeksema (1886-1965)
[It must be thoroughly understood] that the issue is
not the general preaching of a particular gospel. We have no objection to
Lord’s Day XXXI. We do not object to proclaiming to an entire audience that
whosoever believes in the crucified Christ will be saved … In our controversy
the issue is not whether the preacher must
offer something. The issue is whether he may preach, that God in His great love and passion for sinners seeks their
salvation, not only of the elect, but of all mankind in general … The
latter is the teaching of the First Point.
… [The] article states; “When according to the
command of Christ, it is declared and testified to every believer” etc. It is not discussing all and every one in general,
but only the believers, and all of them.
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(II)
More to come! (DV)
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