"If The Trumpet Give An Uncertain Sound"
I Cor. 14:8
This
religious generation in which we are living has been tricked, deceived, and
lied to by their leaders. The time has come for the servants of God to speak in
plain English and tell men the truth. "If the trumpet
give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to battle?" If
the gospel is to be preached and understood by men, these three questions must
be answered:
WHAT HAPPENED IN THE GARDEN? Was man
totally ruined by the Fall, or was he just partially
handicapped? The Scripture says, "In Adam all died." The sin of Adam
brought about the total ruin and spiritual death of our race, so that the
natural man has no ability or desire to bring himself back into fellowship with
God.
WHAT HAPPENED AT
HOW IS SALVATION ACCOMPLISHED? Is it the
gift of God, or is it of man? The Scripture says, "Salvation is of the
Lord." Is salvation by works, or by grace? The Scripture says, "By
grace are ye saved." Is eternal life an offer of grace, or an operation of
grace; an invitation, or a gift? The Scripture says, "The gift of God is
eternal life." Is the gospel a generous proposal, or a proclamation? Is it
good advice, or good news? It is the proclamation of good news: "It is
finished!" Is salvation by choice, or by revelation? It is a revelation:
"Flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in
heaven." "When it pleased God...who called me by his grace to reveal
his Son in me." Is salvation the result of man's
will, or the result of God's will; is it accomplished by God's choice or by
man's choice? The Scripture says, "It is not of him that willeth, nor of
him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy." Are repentance and faith
moral persuasions, accomplished by the gifted preacher, or are they holy
dispositions created in the heart by God Almighty? The Scripture says these are
gifts of God (
Don Fortner