Monday, February 9, 2009

Election

I have my own private opinion that there is no such thing as
preaching Christ and Him crucified, unless we preach what is
nowadays called Calvinism. It is a nickname to call it Calvinism;
Calvinism is the gospel, and nothing else. I do not believe we can
preach the gospel...unless we preach the sovereignty of God in His
dispensation of grace; nor unless we exalt the electing, unchangeable,
eternal, immutable, conquering love of Jehovah; nor do I think we
can preach the gospel unless we base it upon the special and
particular redemption of His elect and chosen people which Christ
wrought out upon the Cross; nor can I comprehend a gospel which
lets saints fall away after they are called.

-Charles Spurgeon


The doctrines of our election, and free justification in Christ Jesus
are daily more and more pressed upon my heart. They fill my soul
with a holy fire and afford me great confidence in God my Saviour.

I hope we shall catch fire from each other, and that there will be a
holy emulation amongst us, who shall most debase man and exalt the
Lord Jesus. Nothing but the doctrines of the Reformation can do
this. All others leave freewill in man and make him, in part at least, a
saviour to himself. My soul, come not thou near the secret of those
who teach such things...I know Christ is all in all. Man Is nothing: he
hath a free will to go to hell, but none to go to heaven, till God
worketh in him to will and to do his good pleasure.

Oh, the excellency of the doctrine of election and of the saints' final
perseverance! I am persuaded, til a man comes to believe and feel
these important truths, he cannot come out of himself, but when
convinced of these and assured of their application to his own heart,
he then walks by faith indeed!

-George Whitefield