That the tenders of the Gospel to the conversion of
sinners, is absolutely free, no way requiring, as absolutely necessary,
any qualifications, preparations, terrors of the Law, or preceding Ministry of
the Law, but only and alone the naked soul, as a sinner and ungodly to
receive Christ, as crucified, dead, and buried, and risen again, being made a
Prince and a Saviour for such sinners.>>
It seems to me that James
could have done a better job of it than merely emphasizing that God
"regenerates sinful men by the power of the Holy Spirit." Very few would
deny that fact, not even Dave Hunt. All Calvinists, to my knowledge, believe
that every ounce of efficient power in the new birth is the Holy Spirit's power.
But where does James say anything about the "means" in the new birth in his
Statement of Faith? He seems so primarily concerned about emphasizing the
necessary the pre-faith work of the Holy Spirit that he neglects to say
much, if anything, about the means which are in accompaniment. He would be much
more convincing if he would put more emphasis on the means, if he indeed affirms
their necessity.
Must not the Word, or Gospel, FIRST be preached to
lost sinners, similar to Ezekiel's first preaching the Word to the
dry bones? Or, is it like the anti-missionary Hardshells teach, there is no
necessity of the preaching of the Word or Gospel, for the Spirit may sovereignly
regenerate the elect whether they ever hear the Gospel or not?
I hope on
this subject that James will follow the example of John MacArthur who reexamined
his former view of "incarnational Sonship" and retracted it to affirm the
confessional view. Until he does a better job of emphazing means, it will be
difficult for confessional Calvinists to identify with his efforts to be an
apologist on behalf of Calvinism. As it now stands, he seems be more of an
"appallingist" than an apologist.
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