Calling Verses Offering

There are many today who prefer to speak of the gospel as an offer rather than a call.  It is interesting, to say the least, that Scripture NEVER uses the word "offer" to describe the gospel.

We have no objection to the word "offer" as such.  In its older sense it only means that in the gospel there is a "showing-forth" of Christ.  The Westminster Larger Catechism, for example, defines an offer of Christ as a "testimony" that whosoever believes in Him shall be saved (64).

In its modern sense, however, the word "offer" suggests and is used to teach (1) that God loves all men and wants to save every one of them; (2) that He even makes an effort to save them; and (3) that He is, however, dependent on the will of the sinner whether the sinner is saved.  This is contrary to Scripture.

Scripture does not teach that God loves all men (Ps. 11:5, Jn. 13:1, Rom. 9:13) nor does it teach that He is trying to save all of them, i.e., to give them salvation (Is. 6:9-11, Rom. 9:18, II Cor. 2:14-16).  Certainly it does not teach that God in saving sinners can be frustrated by their unwillingness, or that He waits, cap in hand, as it were, for them to accept His salvation (Ps. 115:3, Jn. 6:44, Rom. 9:16, Eph. 2:8-9).  For these reasons we prefer not to speak of the gospel as a well-meaning offer.

On the other hand, the Biblical word "calling" is different.  It reminds us of the sovereignty of God.  He, as King, summons sinners to believe and obey the gospel.  It even intimates that He actually does bring some to salvation by His sovereign call.  When we remember that it is GOD who calls, it is not difficult to understand this.  He is the one who "calls those things which be not as though they were" (Rom. 4:17).

That call is heard in the preaching of the gospel.  It is made effectual unto salvation by the inward work of the Holy Spirit, so that some not only hear but also obey that call.  But we would emphasize that even in the preaching of the gospel it is God in Christ who calls, not the preacher.  The preacher is only an instrument.

That is the reason the ungodly are condemned for disobedience when they refuse to heed the call.  By their unbelief they do not refuse a mere man, but the living God Himself as He speaks through His only-begotten Son.  That is serious.

It is also the reason the preacher must bring nothing but Scripture.  Those who hear must hear God's Word, not the preacher's notions, philosophies, political commentaries, etc.  The preacher must even be careful that he does not obscure the sovereign God's call by adding all sorts of unnecessary begging or "hard-sell" tactics that leave the impression that God waits upon the sinners will.

It must be clear in the preaching of the gospel that God sovereignly demands faith and repentance of sinners - that He, the Almighty, the Judge of heaven and earth requires obedience and will punish disobedience.  By such preaching sinners are saved and God glorified.