In Steven Lawson’s latest book, The Gospel Focus of Charles Spurgeon,
Lawson argues that Charles Spurgeon’s fervent commitment to the
doctrines of grace “sharpened” his “gospel focus.” So what exactly did
Spurgeon believe about the five points of Calvinism? Using excerpts from
The Gospel Focus of Charles Spurgeon,
we’ll answer that question in what will be a five part series on the
blog. Our prayer is that these truths will sharpen your gospel
focus also.
Today we discover what Charles Spurgeon believed about the doctrine of Irresistible Grace.
Charles Spurgeon affirmed the doctrine of irresistible grace. This is
the sovereign work of the Holy Spirit, who convicts, calls, draws, and
regenerates elect sinners. This work unfailingly results in the faith of
all those chosen. All whom the Father chose in eternity past and all
those for whom the Son died are those whom the Spirit brings to faith in
Jesus Christ. None whom the Father elected and for whom Christ died
fail to believe. The Holy Spirit grants repentance and faith to these
elect sinners and ensures their conversion.
This irresistible call is distinct from the general call of the
gospel. The former is extended only to the elect and cannot be resisted.
The latter is extended to all who hear the gospel and is resisted apart
from the Spirit’s effectual call. Spurgeon explained: “The general call
of the gospel is like the common ‘cluck’ of the hen which she is always
giving when her chickens are around her. But if there is any danger
impending, then she gives a very peculiar call, quite different from the
ordinary one, and the little chicks come running as fast as they can,
and hide for safety under her wings. That is the call we want, God’s
peculiar and effectual call to his own.” This effectual call always
secures its desired effect—the salvation of God’s own. Continue at Nathan W. Bingham
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