THE FREE OFFER OF THE GOSPEL

—Rev Ralph ErsKine

The person to whom Christ is offered in the gospel is no other than a lost sinner. Christ came to seek and to save those that were lost: I mean not only those who are sensible of their lost state, but those in a lost state whether they be sensible of it or not. If the gospel comes to them, the offer of Christ comes to them. “To you, O men I call, and my voice is to the sons of man.” We are warranted to preach the gospel to every rational creature (Mark, xvi, 15). The offer of Christ comes to you. Why, may not sin exclude us from the offer? By no means, for Christ came to save sinners (1 Timothy, i, 15). If sinners were excepted, all mankind would be excepted, for all have sinned.

But is it to gross sinners? Yes, to gross sinners, “Come now and let us reason together, saith the Lord, though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” (Isaiah, i, 18). To murderers of the Lord of glory was the offer made. (Acts ii, 41). But are mockers and scoffers under the offer? Yes, as you may see from Proverbs, i, 22–23. But what if a person care not for the offer, and thinks himself happy enough without Christ, is Christ offered to such a person as this? Certainly He is:— “Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread: and your labour for that which satisfieth not. Hearken diligently unto me, and eat that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.” (Isaiah lv, 2). But if a man be convinced neither of sin nor misery, nor see any need of Christ, is Christ offered to him? Yes, undoubtedly, He is: “I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire that thou mayest be rich, and white raiment that thou mayest be clothed.” (Revelations, iii, 18). Let them venture to shut the door of the gospel offer who will, we must open it in God’s name to all who hear his gospel and tell them that Christ is offered to them that He may be received by them; and if there were no offer, it would not be their duty to receive, and so unbelief would not be their sin … We need be at no pains to hinder sinners from coming to Christ, to receive the offer, for they are unwilling enough of themselves. Besides that, they will never have a good qualification till they come to Him, and receive Him, and all good in Him; all grace and glory, all holiness and happiness. Thus you see to whom the offer of Christ is made in the gospel.

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