Systematic Theology, by Louis Berkhof - New Leaven

y faith. But, in order that this coming to Christ may not be understood in a superficial
sense, as it is often represented by revivalists, the true nature of the repentance and the
faith required should be clearly set forth. It must be made perfectly clear that the sinner
cannot of himself truly repent and believe, but that it is God who worketh in him “both
to will and to work, for His good pleasure.”
c. A promise of forgiveness and salvation. The external call also contains a promise of
acceptance for all those who comply with the conditions, not in their own strength, but
by the power of the grace of God wrought in their hearts by the Holy Spirit. They who
by grace repent of their sins and accept Christ by faith receive the assurance of the
forgiveness of sins and of eternal salvation. This promise, it should be noticed, is never
absolute, but always conditional. No one can expect its fulfilment, except in the way of a
faith and repentance that is truly wrought by God.
From the fact that these elements are included in external calling, it may readily be
inferred that they who reject the gospel not merely refuse to believe certain facts and
ideas, but resist the general operation of the Holy Spirit, which is connected with this
calling, and are guilty of the sin of obstinate disobedience. By their refusal to accept the
gospel, they increase their responsibility, and treasure up wrath for themselves in the
day of judgment, Rom. 2:4,5. That the above elements are actually included in the
external calling, is quite evident from the following passages of Scripture: (a) According
to Acts 20:27 Paul considers the declaration of the whole counsel of God as a part of the
call; and in Eph. 3:7-11 he recounts some of the details which he had declared unto the
readers. (b) Examples of the call to repent and believe are found in such passages as
Ezek. 33:11; Mark 1:15; John 6:29; II Cor. 5:20. (c) And the promise is contained in the
following passages, John 3:16-18,36; 5:24,40. 41
2. THE CHARACTERISTICS OF EXTERNAL CALLING.
a. It is general or universal. This is not to be understood in the sense in which it was
maintained by some of the old Lutheran theologians, namely, that that call actually
came to all the living more than once in the past, as, for instance, in the time of Adam, in
that of Noah, and in the days of the apostles. McPherson correctly says: “A universal
call of this kind is not a fact, but a mere theory invented for a purpose.” 42 In this
representation the terms “general” or “universal” are not used in the sense in which
they are intended, when it is said that the gospel call is general or universal. Moreover,
41 Cf. also the Canons of Dort II, 5,6; III and IV, 8.
42 Chr. Dogm. p. 377.
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