Christ Freely Offered

A DISCUSSION OF THE GENERAL OFFER OF SALVATION IN THE LIGHT OF PARTICULAR ATONEMENT

Originally written in 1975, Ken Stebbins' Christ Freely Offered is seen as one of the best defenses on the subject of the free offer of the gospel. Tackling both scripture and the historical-theological aspects, Stebbins engages with many of the main individuals involved in this subject including Herman Hoeksema, John Murray and Ned Stonehouse. This edition has been slightly updated by Stebbins, and will help readers come to a firm understanding of this subject as well as an insight into the decrees of God and the idea of Common Grace.

154 pages

Selected Endorsements:

• “Scripture tells us God works all things according to the counsel of his will (Ephesians 1:11), and he does all his pleasure (Isaiah 46:10). So is it proper to assume he delights in everything that happens—including the destruction of the wicked? Some would say yes. In fact, this is a notion that seems to be gaining influence in certain forums on the Internet. But God himself says he does not delight in the death of the wicked; he would rather see them repent (Ezekiel 18:23, 32; 33:11). How, then, do we reconcile God’s sovereignty with his appeals to hardened sinners? Are we supposed to proclaim the gospel as a plea for sinners to be reconciled with God? Does the gospel message include a well-meant proffer of forgiveness and salvation to all sinners in general, or only the elect in particular? Some would say these are the hardest questions related to the sovereignty of God and the doctrine of election. Ken Stebbins tackles the conundrum and helps sort it out with great care, biblical precision, and uncommon clarity. This is the most readable, easy-to-follow work on the subject I know. It was a tremendous help to me 25 years ago when I was still fairly new to the doctrines of grace. I’m pleased to see it back in print."
  • Phil Johnson | Executive Director, Grace to You

• “Calvinists are stewards of beautiful truths derived from Scripture. As such, we have the solemn responsibility to defend them from erroneous interpretation and application. Christ Freely Offered continues to be a helpful resource for those seeking a response against the Hyper-Calvinistic error that persists into our day. Especially helpful are the extensive and helpful discussions of major Reformed theologians on this issue."
  • Dr. Sam Waldron | President and Academic Dean, Covenant Baptist Theological Seminary

• "Ken Stebbins alerts us to the faulty steps in logic and the misreadings of Scripture that we can make when reflecting on God’s eternal decree. The mystery is that God delights in the repentance and faith of lost men and women while not including them all in his eternal (decretive) will of salvation. But the author shows from Scripture and the history of theology that Jesus Christ can and should be sincerely and indiscriminately offered in the Gospel message. In the middle chapter there is a helpful defence of the doctrine of God’s common grace that is germane to the subject. To those who are aware of the theological questions and who are looking for reliable answers we recommend this book."
  • Rev. Dr. Douglas Milne | Principal Emeritus, Presbyterian Theological College, Melbourne