This book sets forth and defends the Reformed doctrine of the call of the gospel against the hyper-Calvinistic restriction of the call, on the one hand, and the Arminian universalizing of grace in a “well-meant offer,” on the other hand. This issue is very much alive in Calvinistic circles today.
“In eight closely reasoned chapters, Engelsma presents his case by covering such things as hyper-Calvinism (which he correctly defines as a denial of human responsibility); the well-meant offer of the gospel (which he points out is not to be confused with the promiscuous call of the gospel to sinners to repent and believe, which he favors); Calvin’s doctrine of the call of the gospel; Turretin’s doctrine of the will of God; Kuyper’s doctrine of particular grace,...and the so-called universalistic texts...”—Vox Reformata
“In eight closely reasoned chapters, Engelsma presents his case by covering such things as hyper-Calvinism (which he correctly defines as a denial of human responsibility); the well-meant offer of the gospel (which he points out is not to be confused with the promiscuous call of the gospel to sinners to repent and believe, which he favors); Calvin’s doctrine of the call of the gospel; Turretin’s doctrine of the will of God; Kuyper’s doctrine of particular grace,...and the so-called universalistic texts...”—Vox Reformata
He has been pastor of the Loveland, CO Protestant Reformed Church for 11 years, from 1963 to 1974. Pastor of the South Holland, IL Protestant Reformed Church for 14 years, from 1974 to 1988. He was appointed to the Protestant Reformed Seminary in Grandville, MI in 1988 as professor of Dogmatics and Old Testament studies, which position he holds at present. He is editor since 1988 of the semi-monthly Reformed magazine, the "Standard Bearer." He has authored several books.
In addition to frequent lecture and preaching tours in North America, Prof. Engelsma has lectured and preached throughout the British Isles on behalf of the British Reformed Fellowship, which is devoted to the spread and defense of the Reformed faith in the United Kingdom. He lives in Grand Rapids, MI with his wife and is the father of 9 children.
He was made emeritus professor at the Synod of 2008. He continues to teach catechism classes and lecture. He is also working on additional books on doctrine.
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