Our 144th consecutive week of episodes comes to an end today with a question from a podcast

listener named Benjamin, who writes in Pastor John, in his defense of Calvinism, Charles

Spurgeon said this, quote,

There is no such thing as preaching Christ and him crucified unless we preach what nowadays

is called Calvinism. I do not believe we can preach the gospel if we do not preach

justification by faith without works. Nor unless we preach the sovereignty of God in

his dispensation of grace. Nor unless we exalt the electing, unchangeable, eternal,

immutable, conquering love of Jehovah. Nor do I think we can preach the gospel unless

we base it on the special and particular redemption of his elect and chosen people

which Christ wrought out upon the cross. Nor can I comprehend the gospel which lets

saints fall away after they are called and suffers the children of God to be burned

in the fires of damnation after having once believed in Jesus.

Now back to Benjamin's question, he asks,

Now I love Spurgeon, he is one of my most valued teachers. But it seems as though this

would render if true ineffective the gospel that Armenians preach.

Pastor John, what is your opinion? Can an Armenian preach the gospel effectively Christ

in him crucified?

Okay, I love Spurgeon too. And as he was unpacking those points about the foundations and the

riches and the heights of gospel, true, that was saying amen. However, my answer is

can an Armenian preach the gospel effectively? Yes, he can. Now notice Benjamin did not

ask can an Armenian preach the gospel fully? He didn't ask can an Armenian preach the

gospel without implicit or explicit theological defects. He didn't ask can an Armenian preach

...