The Gospel Without the Doctrine of 'Free Will'

Introduction: The spurious and biblical doctrine of ‘free will' and God's sovereignty stated

1. What the biblical gospel does include.
   1). A command to all to repent and believe.
   Man's inability does not negate his responsibility and duty.
   Jn 3:18,19; 6:29; 1Pet 2:8.

2). The gospel includes a promise of acceptance if sinners come to Christ.
Ps 86:5; 145:18; Isa 55:2,3; Rom 10:9; Jn 4:10. God's election of men unto salvation does not alter the freeness of the gospel offer.

3). God issues an invitation to all sinners expressive of his kindness.
2 Cor 5:19; Matt 23:37; Luke 19:44. It is contempt for God's goodness that increases men's condemnation.
God's sovereignty and the apostle Paul's love seen in Acts 26:29. We must take care in what context we set forth the love of God to sinners - it is in sending the gospel to the hell deserving, not in blanket expressions of ‘God loves you'.

2. What is contrary to biblical Calvinism.
   1). It is not scriptural to say to sinners indiscriminately ‘Christ died for you'.

2). Holding back the truth of God's sovereignty and election is not scriptural.
Jn 6:65; 3:5-8; Man's total inability to be preached to the unconverted.

3). It is unbiblical to equate conversion to Christ with any external act, (decision cards, altar calls etc).

4). There are unbiblical phrases best avoided.

5). We are not to try and make the gospel more relevant than it already is.

3. The fact of the visible church is not to be ignored.
   The fact of mixture in the church is not to affect prayer to God so as to curtail any expressions not true of hypocrites/the unconverted.