Weekly Dose Of Lloyd-Jones

As we engage in evangelistic work, it is of vital importance that we ask ourselves before we begin: What am I out to do? What am I going to attempt? What do I want to achieve? What is my real objective? I suggest that there is only one true answer to these questions, and it is this: I am anxious that souls should be reconciled to God, because, being in a state in which they dishonour God, they are in danger of perdition. That is the purpose of all evangelistic work-to bring those souls into a state of reconciliation with God. That is the object. It is not merely to get boys to make a decision; it is not simply to get them to live another way of life; it is not simply to get them to join a class or a church. Your object in presenting the gospel to them is to put them right with God.*

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God (2 Co 5:17–21).

Soli Deo Gloria!

For His Glory,
Fernando

*D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Knowing The Times (Edinburgh: Banner of Truth, 1989), p. 6-7

Refuting Arguments Against Calvinism: Calvinism Hinders Evangelism

It has often been said, that taking Calvinism to its logical conclusion will lead to a hindrance of Evangelism.

The logic is as follows:

1) Calvinism teaches that God has an elect people
2) Calvinism teaches that those elect people WILL definitely come to God
3) Therefore, there is no point in preaching.

While both the first point (Romans 8:28-30;Ephesians 1:4;Matthew 24:31;Matthew 22:14, and second point (John 6:44;Romans 8:30;Acts 13:48), are obviously true, the deductive conclusion is false. It fails to account for the means that both the bible, and Reformed Theologians, have said is the way God has ordained for men to be saved, and that is-- by the preaching of the Gospel (Romans 10:15;Romans 1:16).

Not only is this not consistent with what Reformed Theologians have taught, it is also inconsistent with history. Men such as Jonathan Edwards, George Whitefield, Charles Spurgeon, Samuel Davies, were all Calvinistic, yet, if we read their sermons, and look at history, we will see that they were evangelistic. Well known missionaries such as David Brainerd, John G. Paton, Henry Martyn, and William Carey, also believed in sovereign grace.

L.R Shelton, when speaking of one of the reasons Calvinism gives fire for Evangelism said this:

"First, we know that God has a people who will hear the Gospel and be saved, according to II Tim. 2:10. "Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory." Isn't that wonderful! Every saved person wants to see God's people brought in. There is a fire and enthusiasm in your heart that you can't let go. The Apostle Paul was one of the truest Calvinist's, from the standpoint of doctrine, who ever lived. When he went forth to preach, he knew that God's elect would hear him; whether he was in prison, whether he was standing before kings or queens, whether he was out there facing a mob, or whether he was just there facing one or a few, he knew God's elect would hear him, and he could endure all things for the elect's sake. Contrary to the concept of Arminian's, in the heart of every true Calvinist there is a burning desire to see God's elect get saved."

Ergo, we can see that the charge that Calvinism hinders evangelism is false. On the contrary, it encourages evangelism!

-awretchsaved