No Blame – Dort 3.9
The fact that many who are called through the ministry of the gospel do not come and are not brought to conversion must not be blamed on the gospel, nor on Christ, who is offered through the gospel, nor on God, who calls them through the gospel and even bestows various gifts on them, but on the people themselves who are called. Some in self-assurance do not even entertain the Word of life; others do entertain it but do not take it to heart, and for that reason, after the fleeting joy of a temporary faith, they relapse; others choke the seed of the Word with the thorns of life’s cares and with the pleasures of the world and bring forth no fruits. This our Savior teaches in the parable of the sower (Matt. 13).
-Synod of Dor, 3/4.9
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If you will not come to Christ it is no fault of the gospel, Christ, or God. It will be your own. Either you will reject the gospel outright — assured of your own ability to please God with the wreckage of your life. Or you will play with the gospel like watching a movie — allowing it to entertain you and move you only so far before you return it for next week’s new release. Or you will receive the gospel only so far as it requires nothing back from you — eventually leaving it for some other product that promises better results. In all these instances you will have left the gospel and refusted to come. The fault and guilt of your unbelief will be your own.
Sobering thoughts.
