Discussing the Well-Meant Offer
QUESTION
The question I have is: What makes the offer of salvation effectual? It is offered to all by human agents under the authority and command of God. God does not make the offer in any way but through humans, including Christ, when he was on earth. We therefore offer on the basis of God's command and the opportunity to partake in his saving plan for people. What happens in their hearts and minds to actually bring them effectually to salvation is not in our control. The video explains that what has to happen for the offer to be effectual, Christ has to intercede for them, not only do we need to intercede and offer the gospel and opportunity to repent and believe. You are mixing up what the Scripture simply states is our role, the Well Meant Offer, and God's role (in this case, Jesus' intermediary work) and trying to fit them together logically when the Scripture simply says both are true. Best to stick with what the Scripture says and live with the tension. (Anonymous)
RESPONSE
Thanks for your interest in spiritual matters and for taking the time to interact. You make a number of comments. Let me see if I can address each of them:
The question I have is: What makes the offer of salvation effectual?
I do not believe that is the question at all, simply because the gospel is NOT an offer of salvation extended to all of humanity. The gospel is the proclamation of the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ on behalf of his people (Matthew 1:21) attended by the assurance that those who believe this testimony HAVE eternal life (John 6:47) and the admonition to walk in obedient discipleship (John 14:15). This is a matter of the very fundamentals of gospel ministry and it is essential that we understand the nature of the gospel message if we are to properly handle the truth in our gospel endeavors. I would invite you to examine What is the Gospel? as well as The Gospel is NOT a Well-Meant Offer to all of Humanity.
With respect to what makes the work of salvation effectual, I believe the bible’s testimony is abundantly clear that God’s people are perfected by “one offering” (Hebrews 10:14), are redeemed by His blood (Hebrews 9:12), are made righteous by “one obedience” (Romans 5:19), and have their sins purged by a work performed “by himself” without any assistance whatsoever (Hebrews 1:3). It is the intercessory work of Christ that makes salvation effectual and we have ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with that work, because we are saved “not by works of righteousness which we have done.” (Titus 3:5) Indeed this is the very hope proclaimed in the gospel.
It is offered to all by human agents under the authority and command of God.
It is NOT an offer. I would agree that it should be proclaimed to all who are willing to listen, but it is not offering them eternal life, it is proclaiming what Christ has accomplished and assuring those who believe this testimony that they have eternal life and are among the Lord’s people as evidenced by their faith.
God does not make the offer in any what but through humans, including Christ, when he was on earth.
The gospel is not an offer, thus all assertions made regarding the nature, means, or audience for the “offer” are essentially barking up the wrong tree, IMO.
We therefore offer on the basis of God's command and the opportunity to partake in his saving plan for people.
God has not commanded us to extend “offers” of eternal salvation to all of humanity, but rather to proclaim the finished work of Christ on behalf of his people. God’s eternally saving plan was utterly fulfilled by Christ’s work. Gospel ministry is the ambassadorship which heralds an actual salvation accomplished by Christ on behalf of his people who believe this testimony by faith, not an offer of a potential salvation extended to all of humanity provided they will respond in faith.
To draw this matter out more explicitly, if faith is the gift of God (Ephesians 2:8, Philippians 1:29), and “all men have not faith” (II Thessalonians 3:2), it follows that God has not given to all men the capacity of faith which is required to believe the so-called well-meant offer of the gospel. This observation alone proves that the gospel is not a well-meant offer of salvation to all of humanity, because if God has not given the faith required to accept the offer to all men, then a gospel offer would be extending an offer, the reception of which is based on a capacity that God well-knows that he did not give to all of humanity - which would be the very height of insincerity.
What happens in their hearts and minds to actually bring them effectually to salvation is not in our control.
What happens in their hearts and minds to bring men eternal life is the new birth, the immediate, monergistic, quickening power of God alone (Ephesians 2:1). It is absolutely NOT in our control, neither does our gospel ministry play any role in this monergistic act of God, none whatsoever (John 5:25).
The video explains that what has to happen for the offer to be effectual, Christ has to intercede for them, not only do we need to intercede and offer the gospel and opportunity to repent and believe.
Herein lies the problem with John Piper’s theology - the work of the Lord Jesus Christ does not require anything from us in order to be effectual; it is effectual (Hebrews 1:3, 9:12, 10:14). Because Christ’s work is both effectual and particular (John 10:11,26), it follows that it cannot be OFFERED to all of humanity as a matter of both explicit revelation and logical necessity. It is for this reason that I refer to Piper’s NeoCalvinistic theology as form of Christian irrationalism. Moreover, repentance and faith are not prerequisites to make the work of eternal salvation effectual, they are evidences of regeneration and thus proof that a child of God is a beneficiary of the covenant promises (Galatians 4:6).
You are mixing up what the Scripture simply states is our role, the WMO, and God's role (in this case, Jesus' role in his intermediary work) and trying to fit them together logically when the Scripture simply says both are true.
Let me be very clear about this - the work of the eternal salvation of God’s people was purposed, performed, and completed by God alone without any assistance or involvement from man whatsoever (Ephesians 1:4-5, Romans 5:19, Hebrews 1:3). There is one mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus (I Timothy 2:5). It follows that our work in gospel ministry is that of proclaiming Christ’s accomplishment to those who have the ears to hear it - God’s covenant people, not extending conditional offers of eternal salvation to all of humanity. Stated plainly, since Christ did not die for all of humanity, there is simply no way to extend your so-called WMO of salvation to all of humanity, because apart from the intercession and atonement of Christ, there is ABSOLUTELY NO BASIS to make the offer. The biblical basis and logic of that assertion is relentless and unavoidable and it is the reason that NeoCalvinism’s Well Meant Offer is an unscriptural contrivance.
Best to stick with what the Scripture says and live with the tension.
What you describe as a “tension” is nothing short of a bald logical contradiction sitting right in the very heart of your doctrine of salvation. I believe that matter should cause you to revisit your belief that the gospel is a WMO. I believe that this is required to resolve this contradiction. A video entitled Tim Conway’s NeoCalvinism Examined draws some of these logical contradictions out more explicitly.
Thanks again for your taking the time to interact with my video. While we may not come to see eye-to-eye on such matters, I none-the-less want to praise your desire to pursue spiritual things in this Laodicean age and would encourage you to continue studying the word of God as it will be of enormous benefit to your life, irrespective of whether or not you ever agree with me.
FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS
I agree that Christ has accomplished the work completely, but I have always understood that the gospel is to be proclaimed to all mankind and that the work of regeneration takes place when the Word of God and the Holy Spirit act upon a persons mind and heart to produce repentance and faith. It seems that we agree here, but correct me if I am wrong.
Second, do you believe that in order for the Lord to call some unto himself the Gospel has to be proclaimed by human agents? Do you think their is a calling that is non-effectual as well as effectual? I believe in effectual calling as Romans 8:28-30 teaches. I have always believed that there is a calling to repentence and faith by the evangelist that is ineffectual. In Acts 2:40 seems to show that Peter continues his proclamation of the gospel by not only bearing witness to what Christ has done but exhorting unbelievers to "Save yourselves from this crooked generation" This is a calling given to all. Peter is pleading with them all to repent and believe. Is that not an offer that if they repent that they will receive forgiveness of sins? This seems to be an ineffectual offer, whereas the Holy Spirit effectually calls only some through Peters proclamation. Acts 2:41 (those whom were described in verse 39)?
I have to go now, but I am open to more dialogue. I will reread the book of Acts and see how the Apostle's presented the gospel to people to see if it ever seems like an “offer".
FOLLOW UP RESPONSE
Welcome back. I’ve been enjoying our discussion. You make a number of comments. Let me see if I can address them below…
I agree that Christ has accomplished the work completely, but I have always understood that the gospel is to be proclaimed to all mankind and that the work of regeneration takes place when the Word of God and the Holy Spirit act upon a persons mind and heart to produce repentance and faith.
I would not deny that the gospel should be “broadcast” or “proclaimed” to any who are willing to listen. This is because we do not know who are God’s elect and so we proclaim the gospel to any who are willing to listen. Where I disagree with you is in your statement that “regeneration takes place when the Word of God and the Holy Spirit act upon a persons mind and heart to produce repentance and faith.” While I will recognize that this is a very common teaching, I believe that sentences throws a whole bunch of items items into the hopper and insists that they are all integrally involved and essentially simultaneous with one another. I believe that is a coarse interpretation of the mechanics of our salvation in time, of the order of the events involved therein, of the nature and purpose of the gospel, and the nature and purpose of the effectual call. This could get quite lengthy so let me just quickly state what I believe in this respect and maybe we can focus on the statement with which you would take issue:
Man in his natural state is depraved and incapable of receiving spiritual truth in that condition (I Corinthians 2:14, Romans 3:10-18).
In his natural condition man lacks the spiritual capacity of faith required for gospel reception (Romans 1:17).
One must have the “ears to hear” in order to receive spiritual messages such as the gospel. (Matthew 11:15, John 8:47).
Regeneration precedes the exercise of faith in time (I John 5:1).
Regeneration is monergistic and imparts eternal life (Colossians 2:13).
Regeneration is immediate, that is, it takes place apart from any means or medium such as the preached gospel. I would invite you to examine my video entitled “Total Depravity Requires Immediate Holy Spirit Regeneration” which builds a biblical case for this admittedly minority position. (http://theearstohear.blogspot.com/2012/12/total-depravity-requires-immediate-holy.html)
The gospel message is not a regenerating force in this world, but a revelation to those with hearts prepared by regeneration to receive it and be blessed by it. (II Timothy 1:10, Acts 16:14)
The effectual call has NOTHING to do with the gospel call, but is rather an eternally saving and quickening call (John 5:25, Ephesians 2:1) which precedes and enables any act of gospel reception by faith (John 5:24), indeed it must since the faith to receive gospel truth is a fruit of the indwelling holy spirit of God (Galatians 5:22).
Repentance and Faith are evidences of regeneration, not prerequisites to obtaining eternal salvation. They are ever and only performed in sincerity by those who are already in possession of eternal life, and never performed in order to obtain eternal life. Depravity makes that an impossibility (Romans 3:10-18)
The gospel should be proclaimed to all who are willing to listen (Mark 16:15).
It seems that we agree here, but correct me if I am wrong.
I think it’s fair to say that we agree on some things, but not on the mechanics involved in regeneration or on the nature of the gospel message.
Second, do you believe that in order for the Lord to call some unto himself the Gospel has to be proclaimed by human agents?
No. I do not believe that human agency has anything to do with the “calling” of Romans 8:30. I have written a short article examining one reason why it is untenable to assert that this “call” is the gospel call. I believe that the effectual call wherein eternal life is imparted is regeneration and is represented as being an immediate work of God apart from any human assistance by passages like John 5:25, and Ephesians 2:1.
Do you think their is a calling that is non-effectual as well as effectual?
Once one has a proper definition of the “effectual call” - which is God’s immediate quickening of his covenant people - then it follows, of necessity, that there is no such thing as an “ineffectual call” because God’s quickening fiat is always 100% effectual. It is true, however, that God does not “effectually call” all men because God did not purpose to save all men (Ephesians 1:4-5, Matthew 25:41), neither did Christ die for all men (John 10:11,26).
Having said all of that, I do believe there is such a thing as “the gospel call” and I do believe that it can be either effectual or ineffectual, but this is not the life giving and saving grace of God, but rather information (light) imparted to God’s people for their edification and to form the foundation upon which they are to build lives of obedient discipleship (Ephesians 1:17-19, John 14:15) So to be perfectly clear, I would say that:
The effectual call (Romans 8:30) is regeneration and has nothing to do with the gospel.
There is no such thing as an ineffectual call, because God’s grace always accomplishes its purpose.
There is such a thing as the gospel call (II Thessalonians 2:14) and it can be either effectual or ineffectual, based on whether or not we obey the teachings found therein.
I believe in effectual calling as Romans 8:28-30 teaches. I have always believed that there is a calling to repentence and faith by the evangelist that is ineffectual.
It is certainly true that evangelists preach “repent” and many do not repent. So if that’s what you mean by ineffectual gospel calling, then I would agree. That said, I would ask you to biblically consider the following question - if the “call” of Romans 8:30 occurs for all of God’s elect family, and it requires the gospel call in order to transpire, then how do you account for the OT saints who did not have the explicit NT gospel revealed to them at that time (Ephesians 3:5) or the infants dying in infancy who are saved in the bible apart from receiving any gospel call whatsoever (Jeremiah 31:15-17, Matthew 2:16-18)? These are formidable problems, IMO, and they undermine the notion that the “call” of Romans 8:30 has ANYTHING to do with the gospel call.
In Acts 2:40 seems to show that Peter continues his proclamation of the gospel by not only bearing witness to what Christ has done but exhorting unbelievers to "Save yourselves from this crooked generation" This is a calling given to all. Peter is pleading with them all to repent and believe.
I agree with that, but to whom is Peter speaking when he admonishes them to “save themselves from this untoward generation”? He is speaking to those who replied “Men and brethren what shall we do?” (Acts 2:37) Those whom he admonished to be Baptized as a result of their professed belief of gospel truth. (Acts 2:38) These men are those who BELIEVE his message and those who believe are those who HAVE everlasting life. (John 6:47) He is not telling them to repent in order to obtain the eternal life they already have by faith, he is telling them to repent in order to live in accordance with this new found truth and in so doing save themselves from the ignorance and sin that would other wise attend their lives.
It occurs to me that there is another affirmation that the gospel call is not the effectual call found in this very text. Peter says that the promise is to “as many as the Lord shall call” (Acts 2:39). Now we know that the promise of eternal life is not valid for as many as hear the gospel call because so many reject it in unbelief and thus the promises based on belief have no application to them whatsoever. It follows that Peter’s reference is to the immediate call of the Holy Spirit in regeneration (John 5:25) and not to the call of the gospel.
Is that not an offer that if they repent that they will receive forgiveness of sins?
No. It is not an offer of that type. It is an admonition, made to a group of believers, that they should walk in gospel obedience to be saved, not from eternal damnation, but from “this untoward generation” - which means from the practice and consequences of sin in this life. Having said that, there is a sense in which one “receives forgiveness of sins” through repentance and belief, it is not in a vital sense but in a cognitive sense. What I mean by that is that repentance and faith do not bring eternal life, because the spiritual capacities of eternal life are required in order for someone to take such spiritual actions; I mean that in repenting and believing, we bring our lives into conformity with the truth and in so doing begin to experience the blessings of the eternal life we already have through obedience. It is in that sense that we “receive the forgiveness of sins” through repentance and faith.
This seems to be an ineffectual offer, whereas the Holy Spirit effectually calls only some through Peters proclamation. Acts 2:41 (those whom were described in verse 39)?
I believe it is impossible to reconcile the theological issues apart from an explicit recognition that the gospel call is completely separate from the effectual call. The former is a synergistic work, the latter a monergistic work (I Corinthians 15:10, Ephesians 2:1). The former imparts light, the latter life (II Timothy 1:10). The former requires our obedience, the latter only Christ’s obedience (Acts 2:40, Romans 5:19). The former saves from this untoward generation, the latter from the eternally damning effects of sin (Acts 2:40, II Corinthians 5:21).
I have to go now, but I am open to more dialogue.
I understand, life calls. I have enjoyed our discussion and want to encourage you to continue studying the word of God. Whether or not you ever come to agree with me on these matters, I can assure you that it will be enormously profitable for you to continue to seek the Lord through his word and to endeavor to put what you find taught there into practice in your daily life.
I will reread the book of Acts and see how the Apostle's presented the gospel to people to see if it ever seems like an “offer”.
That’s a good thing to do. I think that an intriguing question to ask is - if everyone in Christendom today is constantly speaking of “gospel offers” why is it that the bible never once uses the term “offer” with respect to the gospel message? There was an offer that saved God’s people eternally, but it was not the offer of Christ to us for acceptance or rejection, it was the offering of Christ to the Father and it perfected forever them that are sanctified. (Hebrews 10:14)
- Elder Daniel Samons