David H J Gay

Amyraut & Owen Tested: and Found Wanting David H J Gay

Publisher Marketing: I have completely re-set my 'Particular Redemption and The Free Offer' to make it easier for the reader. I keep the same description as for that volume: The Bible teaches: (i) Christ died only for the elect; (ii) God offers Christ to all. This looks like a first-class contradiction. Many think they have found a way to avoid it. Arminians deny the first statement; hyper-Calvinists, the second. But still the Bible teaches both. Most Calvinists take another route. They use the formula: 'Christ's death - sufficient for all, effective only for the elect'. In this, some follow Moise Amyraut and say that Christ died provisionally for all, but effectively only for the elect. Others follow John Owen and say that although Christ's death is sufficient for all on account of who he is, nevertheless it was intended and effective only for the elect. In this way, both think they justify the free offer in light of particular redemption. But both are wrong. The Bible does not try to solve the seeming paradox. It never uses 'the sufficiency formula'. It simply states that Christ died for the elect, but even so it commands all sinners to repent and believe - promising them Christ and salvation if they do. While this book does not promise an easy read, it will repay careful study. And the subject is worthy of such. Above all, its author's aim is to glorify God by stimulating the wider, more passionate, and less-inhibited preaching of the free offer to sinners by those who rightly hold to particular redemption. Michael Haykin: 'Impressive in its discussion of theological perspectives and fully competent in its handling of Scripture, here is an excellent resource for thinking through the nature of biblical evangelism and how it relates to the scriptural theme of the sovereignty of God in salvation, especially as the latter relates to the death of Christ. May those who are tempted to cool their passion for the salvation of sinners in light of convictions about Christ's redeeming work read this book and have that passion re-ignited by the fiery light of God's truth'."