Calvinist Flyswatter

What "gospel"?

WHAT "GOSPEL" NEEDS
TO BE "RECOVERED"?

I have been seeing comments for quite awhile by some of the Flounders, such as Tom Ascol, about "recovering the gospel."

What "gospel" are they talking about? This kind of talk reminds me of some the past self-proclaimed "restorers," "reformers," and "recoverers" who propagandized in the same manner, and they eventually produced sects and cults. For instance --

Alexander Campbell talked about "restoring the gospel." So did Joe Smith and Herbert W. Armstrong. Now we have the Flounders talking along the same lines.

I just wonder what they mean by the "gospel"? Are they talking about their little theological theoretical "system," or are they talking about the Gospel of salvation by faith in Christ, as expounded by the Lord in John 3:14-18?

If they are referring to the latter, then why are they wasting time and money on promoting anything other than that Gospel? It seems to me that they are more interested in promoting their theological "system" than in promoting the Gospel of Christ. They appear more interested in making proselytes to their theological "system" than they are interested in winning the lost by means of the Gospel of Christ.

But if they truly have the Gospel of Christ in mind, perhaps we can be of some help:

We publish a book of 35 sermons in English and in Spanish by C. H. Spurgeon exclusively on the Gospel. It's called "The Gospel According to C. H. Spurgeon."

I suggest to Tom Ascol and his "Reformed" brethren who are trying to "recover the gospel" that they get copies of this book and make use of it in their "recovery" efforts. Instead of wasting thousands of dollars on pedobaptist DVDs and so many "Reformed" conferences "preaching to the choir," I believe they would do much more for the cause of the Gospel if they invested in the distribution of Spurgeon's book -- especially to those who speak at their conferences, as they seem to need it most. So few of them demonstrate that they have a good grasp of the Gospel.

The fact is, we just recently provided 552 copies of the book to a Christian Radio ministry in Columbus, Ohio at a bargain price and the books were distributed at a special meeting of the ministers in that area.

We have been publishing and promoting these sermons by Spurgeon in various formats for nearly forty years, and I'm rather surprised that the "Reformed" brethren have not stumbled upon this Gospel by now, if they indeed are trying to "recover" the same Gospel as preached by Spurgeon.

I rather think they have less in mind, however, than that Gospel. It appears they are more obsessed with promoting their little theoretical "system" than the promotion of the more significant Gospel of Christ.

Spurgeon Gave Prominence to the Gospel, or
How to Attract a Congregation

I believe that the best, surest, and most permanent way to fill a place of Worship is to Preach the Gospel, and to preach it in a natural, simple, interesting, earnest way.

The gospel itself has a singularly fascinating power about it, and unless impeded by an unworthy delivery, or by some other great evil, it will win its own way. It certainly did so at the first, and what is to hinder it now? Like the angels, it flew upon its own wings; like the dew, it tarried not for man, neither waited for the sons of men. The Lord gave the Word; great was the company of them that published it; their line went forth throughout all the world, and the nations heard the glad tidings from heaven.

The gospel has a secret charm about it which secures a hearing: it casts its good spell over human ears, and they must hearken. It is God's own word to men; it is precisely what human necessities require; it commends itself to man's conscience, and, sent home by the Holy Spirit, it wakes an echo in every heart.

In every age, the faithful preaching of the good news has brought forth hosts of men to hear it, made willing in the day of God's power. I shall need a vast amount of evidence before I shall come to the conclusion that its old power is gone.

My own experience does not drive me to such a belief, but leads me in the opposite direction. Thirty years of crowded houses leave me confident of the attractions of Divine truth: I see nothing as yet to make me doubt its sufficiency for its own propagation. Shorn of its graciousness, robbed of its certainty, spoiled of its peculiarities, the sacred Word may become unattractive; but decked in the glories of free and sovereign grace, wearing the crown-royal of the covenant, and the purple of atonement, the gospel, like a queen, is still glorious for beauty, supreme over hearts and minds. Published in all its fulness, with a clear statement of its efficacy and immutability, it is still the most acceptable news that ever reached the ears of mortals. You shall not in my most despondent moments convince me that our Lord was mistaken when he said....

"I, IF I BE LIFTED UP,
WILL DRAW ALL MEN UNTO ME."

From The Sword and The Trowel, August 1883.

posted by Bob L. Ross @ 6:46 PM