Small Talk [1.5]

I was reading a friend's blog, and he was very adamant that the offer of the Gospel is not free -- that is, it costs you your life. Let me go on-record here to say bluntly that I agree with what he has said in the way he has said it. There's not question about the cost of discipleship. No question.

Here is what Ryle says about the offer of the Gospel, to make clear what I mean when I say something like "the free offer of the Gospel":

the doctrine of Election was never meant to prevent the fullest, freest offer of salvation to every sinner. In preaching and trying to do good we are warranted and commanded to set an open door before every man, woman, and child, and to invite every one to come in. We know not who are God's Elect, and whom he means to call and convert. Our duty is to invite all. To every unconverted soul without exception we ought to say, God loves you, and Christ has died for you. To everyone we ought to say, Awake, repent, believe, come to Christ, be converted, turn, call upon God, strive to enter in, come, for all things are ready. To tell us that none will hear and be saved except God's Elect, is quite needless. We know it very well. But to tell us that on that account it is useless to offer salvation to any at all, is simply absurd. Who are we that we should pretend to know who will be found God's Elect at last? No! indeed. Those who now seem first may prove last, and those who seem last may prove first in the judgment day. We will invite all, in the firm belief that the invitation will do good to some. We will prophesy to the dry bones, if God commands us. We will offer life to all, though many reject the offer. In so doing we believe that we walk in the steps of our Master and His Apostles.

Every person ought to have this offer made to them, and there are no preconditions which they must first engage either to hear it or receive it. The "free offer" is not an offer in which there is no consequences of receiving this Gospel: the free offer is unbounded, and generous, and open-handed, and ample, and sufficient, and given to all.

So as we engage in small talks about the Gospel, let's not imply something which is not intended by anyone. I believe that the Gospel is costly -- it changes everything, from the way I choose to dress to the way I spend my money to the way I must treat other people waiting in line at the store. But the Gospel is presented to all men -- all. As in "everyone you meet".