Hyper-Calvinism doctrine The beliefs which have been termed "Hyper-Calvinism" may be seen in historic writings of numerous Calvinistic ministers and in the
Gospel Standard Articles of Faith (See Articles 24, 26, 27, 28 and 29). The Hyper-Calvinism of these articles arose in part as a reaction to the
Amyraldism of men like
Richard Baxter. According to
J. I. Packer, Baxter "devised an eclectic middle route between Reformed, Arminian, and Roman doctrines of grace: interpreting the
kingdom of God in terms of contemporary political ideas, he explained Christ's death as an act of universal
redemption (penal and vicarious, but not substitutionary), in virtue of which God has made a new law offering
pardon and
amnesty to the
penitent.
Repentance and faith, being obedience to this law, are the believer's personal saving righteousness."
The Gospel Standard Articles of Faith and statements by ministers Denial of sufficient grace in the atonement for all personsArticle 28 states a rejection of the general redemption view of
Richard Baxter and a denial that there is a residue of
grace in Christ for
non-elect persons if they will only accept it. The
Baptist minister Daniel Whitaker reasoned against "Baxterianism" and defined it as the teaching that Christ died intentionally for the elect only, but sufficiently for the rest. He believed that the Baxterian view allowed a possible and probable salvation for non-elect persons from the sufficiency of the death of Christ.
John Stevens, also a
Baptist minister, affirmed that the
atonement is "insufficient" to save those whom Christ never intended to save. He reasoned that Christ has never benefited any person "unintentionally" and that his meritorious worth should not be divided or confounded.
Denial of indiscriminate offers of the gospel to all personsArticle 24 states a confession that invitations of the gospel are only for sensible sinners who are made aware of their need for Christ. Article 27 states a denial that the non-elect are ever enlightened by the Holy Spirit to receive grace. Article 29 states a confession that the gospel is to be preached in all the world without indiscriminate offers of the gospel to all. The English
Baptist pastor
John Gill denied that there are universal offers of grace made to any, but that grace and salvation are published and revealed in the gospel. The English
Anglican Church pastor
Robert Hawker contended that Jesus only invited the weary and heavy laden. He believed that it is in "direct contradiction to
scripture" to invite all. He also reasoned that an attempt to offer Christ is "little short of blasphemy" and those who make invitations to allure the carnal world to faith and repentance know not the scriptures nor the power of God.
Denial of duty-faithArticle 26 states a confession that the natural man should not be given exhortation or duties to "spiritually and savingly" repent and believe. Article 26 has been a subject of controversy concerning what was intended. In his book "What Gospel Standard Baptists Believe", J.H. Gosden clarifies that this article is not meant to minimize the sin of unbelief. He understood this article to be a denial that man is duty bound to believe "each individual is himself" included in the redemption work of Christ and he affirmed that man is "inexcusable in his unbelief" against God's revealed word and works. The
Baptist pastor William Styles reasoned that duty-faith blends the
covenant of works with the
covenant of grace and makes faith a work of the law. W. Kitchen reasoned in a
Strict Baptists magazine that duty-faith would imply a universal design in the atonement by calling on all persons to exercise a faith which grants them to believe Jesus gave himself for them.
Orthodox Calvinistic doctrine While "Hyper Calvinism" reasons that the sufficiency of the atonement extends no further than its efficiency, "Orthodox Calvinism" reasons that Christ suffered sufficiently for the whole world, but efficiently only for the elect.
John Calvin John Calvin denied that the sins of the
reprobate have been expiated, but he maintained that Christ died sufficiently for the whole world and only efficiently for the
elect. He affirmed that Jesus makes his favor "common to all" and offered "indiscriminately to all", though not "extended to all"; for all do not receive him. He also stated that it is their unbelief which prevents anyone from receiving benefit from the death of Christ. With reference to God's desire concerning the reprobate wicked, Calvin condemns the view of Georgius the Sicilian that "God Would have all men to be saved" and continues by saying "It follows, therefore, according to his understanding of that passage, either that God is disappointed in His wishes, or that all men without exception must be saved … why, if such be the case, God did not command the Gospel to be preached to all men indiscriminately from the beginning of the world? why [did] He [suffer] so many generations of men to wander for so many ages in all the darkness of death?"
Confessions and catechisms The
Canons of Dort affirm an abundant sufficiency in the death of Christ of "infinite worth and value" for the whole world. The word
offer or
free offer was used in the
Westminster Standards and the
Westminster Larger Catechism leaves no room for doubt that the phrase "grace offered" is used in reference to persons who "never truly come" to Christ. In his "Question & Answers on the Shorter Catechism",
John Brown addressed and answered questions concerning
the free offer of the gospel; he reasoned that God commands every person that hears the gospel to "take his gift Christ out of his hand", that Christ offers himself "Fully, freely, earnestly, and indefinitely" to all persons that hear the gospel "without exception", that this offer is for every person's case "as if he was named in it" and that to embrace the offer of Christ is to be persuaded that "Christ in the promise is mine." ==Opposition to the doctrine==