The Highway Forums General Discussion Theology Discussion Forum Hyper-calvinist

1) Spurgeon's interpretation of 1Tim 2: 4, 5 in that sermon is indeed one that is not in agreement with historic Calvinism. In fact, it is contradictory to what Spurgeon himself preached and taught elsewhere on the doctrine of limited atonement.

2) Because he errs, IMHO, in his understanding of the "all men" in 1Tim 2:4, that does not make him an Arminian nor does it give a warrant to those who disagree with his understanding of that passage to charge him with being an Arminian. Nor is there any warrant to charge ALL who disagree with Spurgeon's understanding of the "all men" as being hyper-Calvinist.

3) It is without doubt true that God "desires", i.e., His decretive will the salvation of the elect only and that from eternity. But it is also true that God's preceptive will is that all men without discrimination come to repentance and believe upon Christ unto salvation. In this sense it can be said that God "desires/wills" the salvation of all who hear the gospel. However, it is suggested that God willed who was to be saved by He also has a genuine emotive desire that ALL be saved without exception, then this is certainly to be rejected. One cannot have a tension in God which is contradictory. Simply, God cannot will that a certain number of sinners be saved in Christ (aka: Election) and that the remainder should be damned (aka: Reprobation) but then be said to have a passionate desire that the reprobate be saved and thus delivered from His own decree to condemn them. For if God truly desired the salvation of all men, without exception, then all men would be infallibly saved. For that which God "wills" is that which God does. (Isa 46:9, 10)

4) Arminians are more than happy to refer people to this particular sermon that Spurgeon preached and exclaim, "He is "one of us". Hyper-Calvinists are quick to point out the error Spurgeon makes, as they are want to do to everyone so quickly it seems, and exclaim, "He was an Arminian". Of course, neither camp is correct as I pointed out before. One error does not give one a warrant to put someone into the camp of one's opponent. Spurgeon may have been wrong indeed but he was definitely no Arminian. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/rolleyes2.gif" alt="" />

In His grace,