Proclaiming the Universal Offer of Christ

 

Summary

In our exploration of "The Whole Christ," we revisited the small Scottish village of Auchterarder, where a pivotal theological question emerged in the early 18th century: "Is it sound and orthodox to teach that we forsake sin in order to our coming to Christ?" This question sparked a significant controversy, drawing attention to the essence of the gospel and how it should be proclaimed. The Marrow Controversy, as it came to be known, centered on the teachings found in "The Marrow of Modern Divinity," a book that profoundly influenced Thomas Boston and his contemporaries.

The core issue at hand was how to offer Christ to sinners without falling into the traps of legalism or antinomianism. The gospel, as we understand it, is not merely about personal experiences or testimonies of conversion. It is fundamentally about Jesus Christ Himself and His redemptive work. The gospel is the good news that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again, offering forgiveness and reconciliation with God.

A significant challenge faced by the Marrow Men was the question of how to preach Christ to all, given the doctrine of election. Critics argued that offering Christ freely to everyone seemed inconsistent with the belief that Christ died exclusively for the elect. However, the Marrow Men, drawing from the teachings of figures like Ezekiel Culverwell and John Preston, emphasized that the gospel is a universal offer. Christ is sufficient to save anyone who comes to Him in faith, and the preacher's role is to proclaim this truth to all, trusting the Holy Spirit to work in the hearts of the hearers.

The Marrow Men rejected the notion that repentance or any other qualification was necessary before one could come to Christ. They understood that salvation is entirely a work of God's grace, and it is through faith in Christ that one receives all the benefits of salvation, including repentance, justification, and sanctification. This understanding liberated them from the burden of determining who the elect were and allowed them to offer Christ freely to all.

Key Takeaways:

- The gospel is not about personal experiences or testimonies but about Jesus Christ and His redemptive work. It is the good news of Christ's death, burial, and resurrection, offering forgiveness and reconciliation with God. [03:41]

- The Marrow Men emphasized the universal offer of the gospel, asserting that Christ is sufficient to save anyone who comes to Him in faith. The preacher's role is to proclaim this truth to all, trusting the Holy Spirit to work in the hearts of the hearers. [08:53]

- Salvation is entirely a work of God's grace, and it is through faith in Christ that one receives all the benefits of salvation, including repentance, justification, and sanctification. There are no qualifications necessary before coming to Christ. [18:17]

- The Marrow Men rejected the notion that repentance or any other qualification was necessary before one could come to Christ. They understood that salvation is entirely a work of God's grace, and it is through faith in Christ that one receives all the benefits of salvation. [21:59]

- The proclamation of the gospel is not about offering Christ to the elect but offering a crucified Christ to the world. The preacher's task is to offer Jesus Christ freely to anyone and everyone who will come and take the water of life and drink freely from the Lord Jesus Christ. [14:12]

Youtube Chapters:

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:17] - Introduction to Auchterarder
[00:44] - The Auchterarder Creed
[01:19] - The Marrow of Modern Divinity
[01:59] - Proclaiming the Gospel
[02:33] - The Question of the Elect
[03:06] - What is the Gospel?
[03:41] - The Essence of the Gospel
[04:13] - Offering Christ to All
[05:32] - The Critics' Argument
[06:10] - The Influence of The Marrow
[07:11] - Ezekiel Culverwell's Insight
[08:17] - The Promise of Salvation
[09:23] - The Gospel and Its Blessings
[10:48] - John Preston's Controversial Words
[11:53] - Paul's Preaching Method
[13:00] - The Preacher's Role
[14:12] - The Logical Syllogism
[15:20] - Lingering Theological Confusions
[17:07] - The Warrant to Come to Christ
[18:54] - Samuel Rutherford's Statement
[20:17] - The Work of the Holy Spirit
[21:28] - The Offer of Christ to All
[22:35] - Faith and Salvation

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: "The Whole Christ"

Bible Reading:
1. 1 Corinthians 15:1-3
2. 2 Corinthians 5:18-19
3. Isaiah 55:1

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Observation Questions:

1. What was the central theological question that emerged in the village of Auchterarder, and how did it spark the Marrow Controversy? [00:44]

2. According to the sermon, how did the Marrow Men view the role of the preacher in offering Christ to sinners? [08:53]

3. What was the critics' argument against the Marrow Men's approach to preaching the gospel, and how did the Marrow Men respond to it? [05:32]

4. How does the sermon describe the essence of the gospel, and what is the preacher's task in relation to it? [13:00]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the sermon explain the relationship between the gospel and personal experiences or testimonies? Why is it important to distinguish between the two? [03:06]

2. In what way did the Marrow Men believe that offering Christ freely to all was consistent with the doctrine of election? [08:53]

3. How does the sermon interpret the role of repentance in coming to Christ, and what implications does this have for understanding salvation? [17:07]

4. What does the sermon suggest about the potential dangers of requiring qualifications before coming to Christ, and how does this relate to the concept of grace? [14:45]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your understanding of the gospel. How does it align with the sermon’s emphasis on Jesus Christ and His redemptive work rather than personal experiences? [03:06]

2. The Marrow Men emphasized offering Christ to all without preconditions. How can you apply this approach in your own conversations about faith with others? [08:53]

3. Consider the idea that salvation is entirely a work of God's grace. How does this perspective influence your view of your own faith journey and the journeys of others? [18:17]

4. The sermon challenges the notion that repentance is a prerequisite for coming to Christ. How does this change your understanding of what it means to invite others to faith? [17:07]

5. How can you ensure that your sharing of the gospel focuses on Christ Himself rather than the benefits or experiences that come from knowing Him? [09:23]

6. Reflect on a time when you felt unworthy to come to Christ. How does the message of the Marrow Men encourage you to approach Christ with confidence? [21:28]

7. Identify one person in your life who might feel they need to "qualify" before coming to Christ. How can you share the message of grace with them this week? [19:49]

Devotional

Day 1: The Gospel Centers on Christ's Redemptive Work
The gospel is not about personal experiences or testimonies but about Jesus Christ and His redemptive work. It is the good news of Christ's death, burial, and resurrection, offering forgiveness and reconciliation with God. The essence of the gospel is not found in our subjective experiences but in the objective truth of what Christ has accomplished. This truth liberates us from the burden of trying to earn God's favor through our actions or feelings. Instead, we are invited to rest in the finished work of Christ, who has already secured our salvation through His sacrifice. [03:41]

"For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures." (1 Corinthians 15:3-4, ESV)

Reflection: How can you shift your focus from personal experiences to the redemptive work of Christ in your daily walk with God?


Day 2: The Universal Offer of the Gospel
The Marrow Men emphasized the universal offer of the gospel, asserting that Christ is sufficient to save anyone who comes to Him in faith. The preacher's role is to proclaim this truth to all, trusting the Holy Spirit to work in the hearts of the hearers. This universal offer challenges us to see the gospel as a message for everyone, regardless of their background or current state. It calls us to be bold in sharing the good news, knowing that it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes. [08:53]

"For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age." (Titus 2:11-12, ESV)

Reflection: Who in your life needs to hear the universal offer of the gospel today, and how can you share it with them?


Day 3: Salvation by Grace Through Faith
Salvation is entirely a work of God's grace, and it is through faith in Christ that one receives all the benefits of salvation, including repentance, justification, and sanctification. There are no qualifications necessary before coming to Christ. This understanding frees us from the pressure of trying to earn our way to God and allows us to embrace the gift of grace with open hearts. It reminds us that our relationship with God is not based on our performance but on His unmerited favor. [18:17]

"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways have you been trying to earn God's favor, and how can you rest in His grace today?


Day 4: The Rejection of Pre-Qualifications for Coming to Christ
The Marrow Men rejected the notion that repentance or any other qualification was necessary before one could come to Christ. They understood that salvation is entirely a work of God's grace, and it is through faith in Christ that one receives all the benefits of salvation. This perspective encourages us to approach God just as we are, without fear of rejection or the need to clean ourselves up first. It assures us that Christ's invitation is open to all, regardless of where we are in our spiritual journey. [21:59]

"Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price." (Isaiah 55:1, ESV)

Reflection: What barriers have you placed on yourself or others when coming to Christ, and how can you remove them today?


Day 5: Proclaiming Christ to the World
The proclamation of the gospel is not about offering Christ to the elect but offering a crucified Christ to the world. The preacher's task is to offer Jesus Christ freely to anyone and everyone who will come and take the water of life and drink freely from the Lord Jesus Christ. This call to proclaim Christ to the world challenges us to be inclusive in our evangelism, recognizing that the gospel is for all people. It invites us to be ambassadors of Christ, sharing His love and truth with everyone we encounter. [14:12]

"And he said to them, 'Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.'" (Mark 16:15-16, ESV)

Reflection: How can you actively participate in proclaiming Christ to the world in your community this week?

Quotes


The gospel at the end of the day is Jesus Christ Himself and all that Jesus Christ has done. Remember how Paul puts it in 1 Corinthians 15:1-3. Here's what is of absolutely first importance, that Christ died according to the Scriptures, that Christ was raised, that Christ has died for our sins and therefore in Jesus Christ there is forgiveness. [00:03:41]

And so the business of the preacher is not to try and work out who in the congregation was elect and who wasn't elect. How could he possibly do that? The business of the preacher was to offer Jesus Christ to everyone, and allow, as it were, the Holy Spirit to do His work through the preaching of the gospel to bring the Lord's people to Himself. [00:08:53]

The proclamation of the gospel is not offering Christ to the elect. The proclamation of the gospel offers a crucified Christ to the world. So, what was wrong with the other kind of thinking? Well, it worked with a kind of logical syllogism. The logical syllogism was this: the major premise, the blessings of saving grace are given only to the elect. [00:14:12]

And the net result of that was a multitude of people left asking the question, "Have I repented enough yet? Have I been sufficiently sorry for my sin to receive grace?" And what was happening was that people were confusing the way in which the Spirit often works in our lives with the warrant of the preacher to offer the gospel. [00:17:59]

The preacher's task is to offer Jesus Christ freely to anyone and everyone who will come and take the water of life and drink freely from the Lord Jesus Christ. "You need," the Marrow Men were saying, "to preach Christ in such a way that there are no qualifications that need to be fulfilled in my life to fit me for coming to faith. [00:18:54]

Samuel Rutherford, who was an earlier figure in the Scottish church, and a very great man of God, a theologian, a pastor, a Christian hero, put it rather strikingly once, he said. Listen. "The reprobate" -- the non-elect -- "the reprobate have the same warrant to come to Christ as do the elect." [00:20:17]

And it was this that released Boston and his friends from this intolerable question, "How am I going to find out who the elect are and say to them, 'You've forsaken sin enough now to come to faith in Jesus Christ?'" "No," they said, "there's nothing in between. There's no qualification. There's no mark that needs to be reached. [00:21:28]

Sinners all stand before Jesus Christ, hopeless and helpless, and we offer Jesus Christ to each of them and to every one of them, in order that they may come and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, because their salvation is not found in the extent to which they have felt sorry for their sin. [00:22:35]

And so, it's through faith in Jesus Christ that true repentance takes place. It's through faith in Jesus Christ that true justification is received. It's through faith in Jesus Christ that sanctification begins. It's through faith in Jesus Christ that adoption is immediately mine. [00:22:59]

He says, "You must first have Christ Himself before you can partake of those benefits by Him." Or the Scots Confession that had been written by John Knox and his friends in 1560. "By this faith we grasp Christ with the graces and blessings promised to Him." [00:23:48]

And then in very small letters you might add, "And the Marrow Men did," because they understood with Calvin that this is the gospel. It's proclaiming Jesus Christ with all His benefits, proclaiming Jesus Christ clothed with the gospel." What a blessing it is to know that. [00:24:17]

The gospel tells us, 'Go and tell every man without exception that here is good news for him.' Christ is dead for him. And if he will take Him and accept of His righteousness he shall have Him." Now, in the interest of full disclosure, many scholars of the Puritan era believe that Preston believed in what's called hypothetical universal atonement. [00:10:48]

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Transcript
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