Thursday 23 October 2014

Moody on election

Calvinist Evangelist D. L. Moody
"The elect are the whosoever wills. The non elect are the whosoever wonts"  
(DL Moody)

I have covered DL Moody's “scented Calvinistic theology” (to quote CH Spurgeon) elsewhere on this blog and you are referred to the evidence presented there. If both ardent Calvinists, Spurgeon and Bonar (who were actually co-workers with Moody in evangelism) recognised his commitment to Bible Calvinism, then I will run with their judgement over 100 years later.

As a Five Point Calvinist, I am more than happy to endorse his observations on election as expressed above. Obviously much more could be said about this great doctrine, but for a simple gospel application, Moody's words are superb.  The elect are indeed the 'whosoever wills' because the elect will be found willing in the day of God's power (Psalm 110:3) Whom God foreknew, them He predestined and whom He predestines He calls (i.e. effectually) and they are the ones He justifies. The non elect, OTH, are those who wont i.e. they will not come to Christ that they might have life. (John 5:40) The "whosoever wonts" (to take Moody's phrase) are they of whom Calvin wrote in his exposition of John 5:40:

"He again reproaches them that it is nothing but their own malice that hinders them from becoming partakers of the life offered in the Scriptures; for when he says that they will not, he imputes the cause of their ignorance and blindness to wickedness and obstinacy. And, indeed, since he offered himself to them so graciously, they must have been wilfully blind; but when they intentionally fled from the light, and even desired to extinguish the sun by the darkness of their unbelief, Christ justly reproves them with greater severity." (John 5:40)
So well done Mr Moody for giving this deep doctrine a very practical and gospel orientated application. No wonder, Mr Spurgeon and Bonar and many Calvinists admired your work for God. We salute your memory.


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