Theory of a well-meant offer.

 Well-Meant Offer of the Gospel

The theory of a well-meant offer, that is, God’s offer of salvation to all humans with the desire that all humans be saved, and the heresy of universal atonement are inseparably linked. If God in the preaching desires all to be saved out of a love for them all, Christ must have died for all.

 Theologians are now pressing this truth upon nominally Reformed theologians and churches that have committed themselves to the well-meant offer. The theory of a well-meant offer necessarily implies universal atonement.

The heresy is that God loves all (with a saving love–the love that gave Jesus to the cross). The misunderstanding, if such it is, and not worse, is that one can promiscuously preach Christ, draw the elect to God, and assure elect sinners of their salvation only by preaching the well-meant offer. In fact, the gospel presents Christ to all; (externally, but seriously) calls all hearers to come to Christ for salvation; and promises salvation to all who come in a true faith. To preach promiscuously “whoever believes will be saved” does not need nor does it depend upon universal atonement. Those who will believe are the elect in the audience, whom God will draw by His inner, efficacious call as the gospel is preached.

To state the issue bluntly, preaching “whoever believes will be saved” does not require, or imply, universal atonement. It requires, and implies, atonement for whomever repents and believes. And these are the elect.

#universalatonement #gospel