"I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things form the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight. All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one who the Son wills to reveal Him. Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:25-28)
Oh, that our pastor of this day and age would preach like this. There was once a time where such words were not uncomomn in Protestant churches, but now to make a claim like this is too call into question the goodness of God. Yet, are these not the words of our Lord? The quotation says, " You have hidden these things...for so it seemed good in Your sight." Surely Christ knew of His Father's actions and is quite able to speak of them clearly. The Gospel has the power to save the whole world, but it is intended for only the elect. The one whom the Father has not chosen will not will not come. So, logically Christ went on to give a list of who would come and speak only to them...no there is no logic in that at all. For Christ has clearly said, "Come to me, all you..." Christ left the command that we preach the Gospel to all men, whether we think they are reprobate or not. The question is not, "What is the Lord's most secret plan that He has not revealed"; but, "What has the Lord already commanded in His written word." Yes, some will come and the rest will not, but who are they who will come. In stead of trying to determine which of our audince is the elect and which is not, we should do as our Lord and speak to them all. The Bible clearly speaks of a definite atonement, but it equally commands the open proclaimation of the Word to all men. Oh, that this generation would proclaim the Gospel as Christ did!
Sola Gratia,
ReformationMan