Dietrich Bonhoeffer

"Costly grace is the treasure hidden in the field; for the sake of it a man will gladly go and sell all that he has. It is the pearl of great price, to buy which the merchant will sell all his goods. It is the kingly rule of Christ, for whose sake a man will pluck out the eye which causes him to stumble, it is the call of Jesus Christ at which the disciple leaves his nets and follows him."

From The Cost of Discipleship

RAY COMFORT AVATAR

Evangelist Ray Comfort, ever willing to "become all things to all 'men,'" and bring the good news to every corner of creation.

Picture created by Michael Boyd using www.avatarizeyourself.com

Let Us Repent and Believe: The Sum of Saving Knowledge

Let Us Repent and Believe: The Sum of Saving Knowledge

EIGHT REASONS WHY CALVINISTS BELIEVE IN EVANGELISM

Colin Maxwell, itinerant evangelist in the Free Presbyterian Church, created this web site when he pastored the F.P.C. in Cork, Northern Ireland. It contains some of the best articles on evangelism and Calvinism I have read on the internet. Here, I have reposted his article on Calvinism and Evangelism. I encourage those who love the Reformed Faith and have an interest in reaching the lost with the Gospel to read this article and explore the links to other features on the site. When I first discovered it two years ago, I spent about 3 hours  reading, and went back for more the following day.__Craig

Eight Reasons Why Calvinists Believe in Evangelism  (By Colin Maxwell)
  
1) Because God has commanded it. The gospel is to preached to every creature (Mark 16:15) This is why Calvinists have been to the forefront of missionary endeavour. The man acknowledged as "the Father of Modern Missions" was William Carey… and William Carey was a Calvinist. If a missionary (strictly speaking) is someone who leaves his homeland to preach the gospel elsewhere, then John Calvin qualifies as a missionary. Spurgeon said of him: "John Calvin…is looked upon now, of course, a theologian only, but he was really one of the greatest of gospel preachers. When Calvin opened the Book and took a text, you might be sure that he was about to preach "Through grace are ye saved, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God." (MTP 14:216) Even if we had no other reason, we would still evangelise…because it is a clear command from God.

 2) Because we believe that God has ordained the means of bringing many sons to glory as well as the end. Hyper Calvinists believe He has ordained the end but not the means, non Calvinists/Arminians believe that He has ordained the means but not the end… Calvinists alone consistently take the balanced view that He has ordained both. If we don't evangelise…someone else rightly will. Calvinists believe as much in man's responsibility as they do in God's sovereignty. 

3) Because God has done something wonderful for the whole world and wants every one to know about it. He is not willing that any should perish and that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9) He has no pleasure in the death of the wicked (Ezekiel 33:11) He would have all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:4) He invites the 'Whosoever will' to come and drink of the water of life (Revelation 22:17) How can we not evangelise? Surely when we bear these things in mind, we must (if applicable) reproach ourselves and say: We do not well: this day is a day of good tidings, and we hold our peace: if we tarry till the morning light, some mischief will come upon us: now therefore come, that we may go and tell the king's household. (2 Kings 7:9)

4) Evangelism gives Calvinists the glorious opportunity to praise the God whom they believe unconditionally elected them to salvation. We love to preach the gospel in all its fullness. Just to recount the old, old story of Jesus and His love thrills our soul and leads us to praise His name. We glorify God when we proclaim the gospel. 

5) Evangelism gives us the opportunity to unburden our souls for the lost. We cannot be silent while souls around us are bound for hell. We believe the gospel ourselves and therefore we speak (2 Corinthians 4:13) Many of us were brought savingly to Christ because someone else was burdened for us and prayed for us and witnessed to us. Any man who names the name of Christ, Calvinist or not, should have the burden to win others. It is an evidence of grace when we want others to experience it for themselves. If there is no burden for the lost, we are left to wonder does the professing Christian (of whatever school) believe there is a Day of Judgement…an immortal soul and an eternal hell? 

6) Evangelism gives us an opportunity to serve God. The fields are white unto harvest and yet the labourers are few. There is a great reward awaiting for soul winners (Daniel 12:3) …but even if there wasn't, we would still labour just for the sheer joy of being in God's work and spreading His word. 

7) Evangelism gives us an opportunity to bear reproach for the name of Christ. Paul witnessed to the gospel with much contention (1 Thessalonians 2:2) and whilst such is irksome to the flesh, yet the spiritual man rejoices every whit. Such were the Apostles (Acts 5:41) Obviously we do not set out to annoy, but we recognise that the natural heart is going to kick hard against the message of Christ. If we have to bear reproach in our evangelism…then amen! "So be it" 

8) Far down our list, but there nevertheless, we evangelise because it nails the lie often uttered against us that Calvinism kills evangelistic endeavour. Why should it? The doctrine of predestination is the only grounds of evangelism. If God did not predestine folk out of their sins to be saved, then no one would be saved. The non Calvinist says that if there were no faith, then there would be no predestination because the latter (which is God's work) is totally and absolutely dependent on the former which is due ultimately to man's decision. The Calvinist says that if there were no predestination, then there would be no faith because the latter (which is man's responsibility) flows from the former. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17) and the word of God comes to sinners through gospel preachers (Romans 10:13-16)
 
With the exception of the last point, every Christian (Calvinist or not) has a reason for evangelism. Evangelism is the common lot of every child of God, no matter what his understanding of the outworking of the decree of God may be. Both Whitefield (Calvinist) and Wesley (Arminian) preached together and rejoiced in each others great work. This is the way it ever should be.

Click here to go to Colin Maxwell's web site and find other articles.

Free Drawing: LUTHER GOLD

Trish Ramos will be giving away five copies of LUTHER GOLD, a collection of choice quotes from the Reformer, compiled by Ray Comfort. Winners will be announced on Monday, February 22. Go to Trish's blog, Fish With Trish, to enter the drawing. Did I mention that the books are autographed? (NOT by Martin Luther, but by Ray Comfort:)

God Justifies the Wicked

The righteousness of God is a command that condemns us all, but the righteousness from God is a gift that saves all who believe. This gospel announces that sinners "are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith" (Rom. 3:24-25). God imputes (credits) our sin to Christ and Christ's righteousness to us. "Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Rom. 5:1). This is the simplest news to grasp and yet the most difficult news to accept. Paul considered this doctrine to be so central that he regarded its explicit denial as "anathema" --that is, an act of heresy that the Galatian church was on the verge of committing (Gal. 1:8-9). For Paul, a denial of justification was tantamount to a denial of grace and even to a denial of Christ, "for if justification were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose" (Gal. 2:21).

_Michael Horton__ from The Gospel-Driven Life
 
(Last October I posted a "paraphrased quote" from Michael Horton. I went back to revise the post and get his exact quote, and ended up expanding the entire post. So...here it is "not-really-again" in its new and improved version. _Craig)

How Vast Beyond All Measure

I read this on a blog and wanted to share it here. Thanks to Rebekah Fox.

How vast beyond all measure

How deep the Father's love for us
How vast beyond all measure
That He would give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure
How great the pain of searing loss
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the chosen One
Bring many sons to glory

Behold the man upon a cross
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers
It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that IT IS FINISHED

I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection
Why should I gain from His reward?
I can not give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom.

__Stuart Townend