The Three Points in Most Parts Reformed: A Reexamination of the So-Called Well-Meant Offer of Salvation

by Raymond A. Blacketer

Originally published in the Calvin Theological Journal, #35 (April 2000). It is reproduced with permission and can not be copied without permission of the staff of the Calvin Theological Journal. We express our appreciation for their willingness to have us copy the article and publish it here. May it help to clarify and to resolve some of the problems which arose back in 1924.

30 pages, ebook

First published April 1, 2000

Reviews

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A useful re-examination of the 1924 split between the Christian Reformed Church and the Protestant Reformed Churches over the issues of the well-meant offer and common grace. The author does an admirable job in exposing some of the weaknesses of the WMO but perhaps goes too far in thinking that the views of Louis Berkhof et al were wholly new and contrary to the Canons of Dort.

Furthermore, while he is more sympathetic to the CRC's view of common grace, he could have been clearer about the reasonable objections that the Hoeksemites bring against *Kuyperian* common grace. Even if you affirm a general love of God for all men, the Kuyperian notion of common grace raises additional problems in relation to total depravity.

I agree, however, that there was considerable extremism on both sides and that the direction of both denominations subsequent to the split has not been a good thing. Admittedly, the PRCA is much more faithful as a denomination than the CRC, but they too have veered off in directions contrary to Reformed orthodoxy and have done themselves no favours by the manner in which they have presented their views.