The truth defended in this book is sovereign, particular grace in the preaching of the gospel. The book contends that this truth is fundamental to the theology of the Reformed faith in its entirety, that is, to scripture's gospel of salvation by grace alone and to the authoritative confession of the gospel by the Reformed Creed, the Canons of Dordt.
Hyper-Calvinism and the Call of the Gospel
refutes the charge against the truth that is hyper-calvinism. This is the charge that the doctrine of particular grace in the preaching of the gospel is, or necessarily leads to, the error of preaching only to the elect, including calling only the elect to repent and believe.
The book exposes and condemns the heresy that the promiscuous preaching of the gospel with its unrestricted call to all hearers to repent and believe is, in fact, the saving grace of God to all who hear the preaching, reprobate ungodly as well as elect. This error teaches that the saving grace of God in the preaching depends on the acceptance of an offered salvation by the sinner himself.
John H. Gerstner writes in the foreword, "This is certainly an interesting, informative, lively, learned discussion of the essence of the gospel call to all mankind. In my opinion Professor Engelsma carefully defines and convincingly avoids hyper-Calvinism himself and clears his denomination, the Protestant Reformed Churches, of so teaching."