Seeing that I can't delete the duplicate I might as well put it to some good use ...
The following startling point is made from pages 83 through 87 of Dr. Chafer’s book:
… the passage reveals, as well, that it is the same grace which has brought salvation to all men that teaches “us”. The word “us” it should be observed does not refer to the wider class of “all” men mentioned before; The importance of this distinction is evident; for whatever grace proposes to teach, its teachings are addressed only to those who have been saved by grace. [note the past tense] This qualifying aspect of the teachings of grace is not limited to this one passage although that would suffice; it is an out-standing characteristic of the whole body of grace teachings as they appear thought the New Testament. These teachings being addressed to Christians only, are never intended to be imposed upon the Christ-rejecting individual or the Christ-rejecting world. This facet should not be emphasized too forcibly. The word of God makes no appeal to the unsaved for a betterment of life. There is but one issue in this dispensation between God and the unregenerate man, and that is neither character nor conduct; it is the personal appeal of the Gospel of the Grace of God. Until the unsaved receive Christ who is the gift in grace, no other issue can be raised. Men may moralize among themselves, and establish their self-government on principles of right conduct; but God is never presented in the unfoldings of grace as seeking to reform sinners. Every word regarding the quality of life is reserved for those who are already rightly related to Him on the greater issues of salvation.
Could it be demonstrated that God has made the slightest moral appeal to the unregenerate other than that which is implied in the Gospel invitation, then it must be admitted that should that moral appeal be complied with by any individual, that individual would haved moved nearer to God. The works of man would become meritorious and thereby a third class of humanity would be created standing somewhere between those who are “under sin” and those who are “in Christ”. In this age, no such intermediate group of people is possible. If such a class existed they could not be saved; for they would no longer fit objects of grace. [we recall that God concluded all under sin that all may be eligible for Grace in Gal 3:22]. Men are either lost and condemned “under sin” or wholly and eternally saved by grace in Christ Jesus. The common practice of presenting the great standards of Christian living indiscriminately to mixed congregation by preaching and to the general public through public print [note the age of this statement … what about TV?] is a tragedy of infinite proportions. If the unsaved are present when the teachings of grace are discussed, there should be a Gospel appeal made by which the unsaved are classified and excluded from any share in those teachings. Apart from this appeal it is impossible to save the unregenerate from receiving the impression that God is now seeking their reformation before He seeks their regeneration. Nothing is more wholesome for the unsaved than lovingly to be reminded that they, according to the Word of God, have no part in the Christian life, and that they are shut up to the acceptance of Christ. Saving results are sure to follow the continued, clean-cut, discriminating preaching of the Word in its right application to both the saved and the unsaved. It is alarming to the unsaved to be warned that they are lost until they receive Christ and such faithful preaching being the Truth of God, is owned and used of the Spirit of God.
Nothing need be said here of the crime against high heaven which is committed by men who are purposely urging moral betterment on the unsaved in lieu of the Gospel of Grace. The unrevoked anathema of God rests upon them; ‘But though we or an angel from heaven preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again. If an man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed (Gal. 1:8,9). There is a possibility, however, that through carelessness or ignorance, some, whose intentions are good, may make the same fatal error in presenting God’s Truth. As certainly as the exercise of pure grace is the supreme divine purpose unto the eternal glory, so certainly to hinder an understanding of that grace, or to mislead on soul by a misstatement, is the supreme blunder.
How momentous is the practice of preaching and of personal work both for those who hear and those who speak! Well might the high crime of dealing damnation to the souls of men in the name of Christian preaching be treated from a mere humanitarian viewpoint with a thousand-fold greater penalty than the crime of dealing deadly poison to the bodies of men. Sinners are saved by grace. It is Satan’s device to complicate this simple fact with the lesser issues of Christian living.
[square bracket notation is mine]
The following startling point is made from pages 83 through 87 of Dr. Chafer’s book:
… the passage reveals, as well, that it is the same grace which has brought salvation to all men that teaches “us”. The word “us” it should be observed does not refer to the wider class of “all” men mentioned before; The importance of this distinction is evident; for whatever grace proposes to teach, its teachings are addressed only to those who have been saved by grace. [note the past tense] This qualifying aspect of the teachings of grace is not limited to this one passage although that would suffice; it is an out-standing characteristic of the whole body of grace teachings as they appear thought the New Testament. These teachings being addressed to Christians only, are never intended to be imposed upon the Christ-rejecting individual or the Christ-rejecting world. This facet should not be emphasized too forcibly. The word of God makes no appeal to the unsaved for a betterment of life. There is but one issue in this dispensation between God and the unregenerate man, and that is neither character nor conduct; it is the personal appeal of the Gospel of the Grace of God. Until the unsaved receive Christ who is the gift in grace, no other issue can be raised. Men may moralize among themselves, and establish their self-government on principles of right conduct; but God is never presented in the unfoldings of grace as seeking to reform sinners. Every word regarding the quality of life is reserved for those who are already rightly related to Him on the greater issues of salvation.
Could it be demonstrated that God has made the slightest moral appeal to the unregenerate other than that which is implied in the Gospel invitation, then it must be admitted that should that moral appeal be complied with by any individual, that individual would haved moved nearer to God. The works of man would become meritorious and thereby a third class of humanity would be created standing somewhere between those who are “under sin” and those who are “in Christ”. In this age, no such intermediate group of people is possible. If such a class existed they could not be saved; for they would no longer fit objects of grace. [we recall that God concluded all under sin that all may be eligible for Grace in Gal 3:22]. Men are either lost and condemned “under sin” or wholly and eternally saved by grace in Christ Jesus. The common practice of presenting the great standards of Christian living indiscriminately to mixed congregation by preaching and to the general public through public print [note the age of this statement … what about TV?] is a tragedy of infinite proportions. If the unsaved are present when the teachings of grace are discussed, there should be a Gospel appeal made by which the unsaved are classified and excluded from any share in those teachings. Apart from this appeal it is impossible to save the unregenerate from receiving the impression that God is now seeking their reformation before He seeks their regeneration. Nothing is more wholesome for the unsaved than lovingly to be reminded that they, according to the Word of God, have no part in the Christian life, and that they are shut up to the acceptance of Christ. Saving results are sure to follow the continued, clean-cut, discriminating preaching of the Word in its right application to both the saved and the unsaved. It is alarming to the unsaved to be warned that they are lost until they receive Christ and such faithful preaching being the Truth of God, is owned and used of the Spirit of God.
Nothing need be said here of the crime against high heaven which is committed by men who are purposely urging moral betterment on the unsaved in lieu of the Gospel of Grace. The unrevoked anathema of God rests upon them; ‘But though we or an angel from heaven preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again. If an man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed (Gal. 1:8,9). There is a possibility, however, that through carelessness or ignorance, some, whose intentions are good, may make the same fatal error in presenting God’s Truth. As certainly as the exercise of pure grace is the supreme divine purpose unto the eternal glory, so certainly to hinder an understanding of that grace, or to mislead on soul by a misstatement, is the supreme blunder.
How momentous is the practice of preaching and of personal work both for those who hear and those who speak! Well might the high crime of dealing damnation to the souls of men in the name of Christian preaching be treated from a mere humanitarian viewpoint with a thousand-fold greater penalty than the crime of dealing deadly poison to the bodies of men. Sinners are saved by grace. It is Satan’s device to complicate this simple fact with the lesser issues of Christian living.
[square bracket notation is mine]
