Heterodoxy Hall of Shame
(From Outside the Camp Vol. 7, No. 3)
"It is my contention that often we are not preaching the gospel to sinners properly. I fear that we are
failing in this great matter with disastrous consequences. This is the place where the finger of accusation
must come to rest. Are we really preaching the gospel to sinners? ... That question ought to tax us. Are
we preaching 'right'? Are we addressing sinners properly? Frequently, I think not. ... I see a practical, or
incipient, hyper-Calvinism and a paralysis creeping upon us. ... Inevitably, this must tend to reduce
conversions. ... I contend that often we are failing to preach the gospel in a soul-saving way. ... And our
failure lies both in the content of our sermons and in their style and delivery. ... It is clear that God delights
in the salvation of sinners. It is proper to say that God takes pleasure in their salvation. But to say that
does not go far enough; it falls short of the scriptural teaching on the free offer. The point is: Does God
actually desire the salvation of sinners? Does he want sinners to be saved? And further, Does God desire
the salvation even of those who are reprobate? ... I assert that this is the heart of the matter. Does God
desire the salvation of all men? The answer is, yes! Therefore we must, in our preaching, declare
indiscriminately to all our hearers that God desires to see them saved. Further, we are preaching the
gospel to sinners properly, only when we are convinced of the truth of such a desire in God and say so very
clearly. We can only persuade sinners to be reconciled to God when we are persuaded that God not only
delights in their salvation, but he actually desires it."
- David Gay, in "Preaching the Gospel To Sinners" (1 & 2), The Banner of Truth, Jul. & Aug-Sept. 1994
(emphasis in original).
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Heterodoxy Hall of Shame