Canons of Dordt (36)

Many privileges have been given to us. Do we really appreciate them? The Lord made a difference where there is no difference from our side. It is God's good pleasure that He gave the light of the gospel to shine among us. It is not because we are better or more deserving than others. May that humble us before the Lord. However, we should also realize our great responsibilities. We have known the way. The Lord Jesus said that it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for those who knew the way but have not walked in it.

Of this responsibility of being called by the gospel we also read in the Third and Fourth Heads, Article 8.

As many as are called by the gospel are unfeignedly called. For God hath most earnestly and truly declared in His Word what will be acceptable to Him; namely, that all who are called, should comply with the invitation. He, moreover, seriously promises eternal life and rest to as many as shall come to Him and believe on Him.

The gospel has been preached to us. Many do not hear this call anymore or have never heard it. Many hear a message that is called the gospel but which is nothing but religious entertainment and man-centered and man-pleasing "feel good" religion.

We may well appreciate still hearing a faithful preaching of sin and grace, of law and gospel, of death in Adam and life in Christ, of a rich Christ and a poor sinner, but also how these two come together.

A sincere calling

This article speaks about the gospel call. This call is sincere and comes to all the hearers. Our fathers state, "As many as are called by the gospel are unfeignedly called." They emphasized this point against the Remonstrants, who argued as follows: If there is a doublé predestination, an election as well as a reprobation, how can God then sincerely call those who are reprobates? They said that the teaching of man's total depravity takes away his responsibility. They argued that the teaching of sovereign grace leads to false passivity. Thus this is already an old accusation, though we also hear it today. Surely the doctrine of free grace can be misused, but cannot every scriptural truth be twisted or misused by those who wish to do so?

The Remonstrants taught that the invitation of the gospel cannot be sincere unless one presumes that all those who hear this invitation have the ability to believe if they wish. The offer of grace, they believe, can be accepted by the decision of man, made by his own free will, a decision of faith, which is in man's power to use or not.

The religious world today is full of this teaching. It is the teaching of a powerful man and a weak God. Man is able to accept or to refuse in his own power, and all God can do is urge or try to persuade him; further, God has to wait to see what man is pleased to do. What they do not see is that this position robs God of His honor and glory and makes salvation dependent upon the willingness of man.

It is pleasing to Him

Oh, that reasoning of our corrupt mind has caused so much error already. It is the fruit of our pride in which we dare to question the Lord about His sovereign dealings with man. The apostle says in Romans 9:20, "Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God?" No, we cannot and we do not need to understand God's dealings, but He should be admired and worshipped.

We read in Matthew 20:16, "For many be called, but few chosen." We have to maintain the teaching of man's total inability and of the necessity of the irresistible work of God's grace in the hearts of sinners who are all by nature enemies of God.

Yet the Lord proclaims in the gospel that He has no desire in the death of the wicked, but that he would turn unto Him and live. He calls sinners by His Word and says, "Look unto Me and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else." Man is called to faith: "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved" (Acts 16:31). Did not the Lord Jesus Christ Himself preach this in Mark 1:15, "Repent ye, and believe the gospel"?

A preacher should not only say that man is dead in trespasses and sins, but he has to proclaim that there is a living Christ who by His power quickens dead sinners. "Wherefore He saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light" (Ephesians 5:14).

It is not so that God sends the gospel call only to those who have a broken heart and a contrite spirit, to His chosen people. How could we ever be disobedient to the gospel if that gospel call had not come to us? This is "an unfeigned," sincere call, our fathers said. Did not the Lord Jesus exclaim with grief, in Matthew 23:37, "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!"?

What He promises

God proffers peace and pardon to rebels and enemies. He calls and invites to salvation. He says that it is "acceptable," or literally "pleasing to Him," that those who are called comply with this invitation. In the original it says, "Come to Him," and flee to Him for the cleansing of all sin. God does not call those who are ready or qualified. He calls those who are dead, those who are enemies, "Be ye reconciled to God."

He is grieved by the rejection of this proclamation of grace. It pleases Him when sinners obey and come.

He promises in John 6:35, "He that cometh to Me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on Me shall never thirst."

Christ Himself speaks in Proverbs 8:4, "Unto you, O men, I call; and My voice is to the sons of man." Therefore if we belong to mankind and are not animal or plant, then we are called when we live under the gospel. What are we doing with that calling? The Lord warns us in Psalm 95:8, "Harden not your heart, as in the provocation."

What a wonder if we may come. If we do so, we will not be disappointed. God's promises guarantee this. The Lord Jesus Himself said in John 3:16, "That whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

Our fathers said, "He, moreover, seriously promises eternal life and rest to as many as shall come to Him and believe on Him." That is according to Scripture. We read in John 3:36, "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him." This is the sincere invitation of the gospel, the calling to come to Him as a poor and wretched sinner.

Let us not try to reason away the seriousness of this call by pointing to the inability of man. The Catechism also addresses this in Lord's Day 4, Question 9, "Doth God then do injustice to man, by requiring from him in His law, that which he cannot perform?" The answer is clear: "Not at all, for God made man capable of performing it."

The Lord comes to us with the command to repent and to believe the gospel, to forsake the ways of wickedness and to return unto Him. "This is the way, walk ye in it" (Isaiah 30:21). "Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding" (Proverbs9:6).

The prophet says in Isaiah 55:6, "Seek ye the LORD while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near." He is near when He knocks at the door of our heart in the sincere call of the gospel.

How necessary it is to learn to obey. Then we will also experience our total inability to take but one step in the right direction. Then it will drive us onto our knees with the prayer, "Lord, wilt Thou graciously give what Thou commandest. Draw me and we will run after Thee, turn me and I will be turned." Then the command will become a prayer.

Conclusion

May also you, dear young people, hear this call—not only with your ears but with your heart—and arise and turn to your Creator, and flee for refuge to Him who has said, "Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out."

He is so worthy to be served and honored. His yoke is easy; His burden is light. Ask God's children, and they will say that His service is a service of love, and if they are on the right place, they would like to call to everyone, "Come, and go with us, and let us worship and serve Him."

(Rev. Vogelaar is pastor of the Kalamazoo, MI, congregation.)

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