Seven Irrefutable Facts of Divine Revelation.

1. The one true and living God is totally sovereign in all things (Ps. 135:6). Either God is sovereign, or he isn’t. Either God almighty is indeed almighty, in total, absolute, sovereign control of all things, or he has no real control over anything. To say that God is sovereign in all things is to say that God rules all things. Before objecting to that fact, consider the alternative. If God does not rule everything, then something rules God! If God does not control everything, then something controls God! If God does not govern everything, then something governs God! If God is not totally, absolutely, universally sovereign, then it must be concluded that faith in God is nothing more than throwing a coin in a wishing well, because no promise of God can be sure, no prophecy of God can be absolute, and no word from God can be believed! God is the sovereign Creator of all things (Gen. 1:1), the sovereign Ruler of all things (Rom. 8:28; 11:36; 2 Cor. 5:18; Pro. 16:4), and the sovereign Disposer of all things (Rev. 4:11). And he who is God is totally sovereign in the exercise of his saving grace (Rom. 9:11-24).

2. All men and women by nature are totally depraved (Rom. 3:9-19). Either man is totally depraved, dead in trespasses and in sins, or he is not. If he is not, he is in no need of a Savior. If we are not totally depraved, utterly without life before God, all we need is someone to persuade us and nudge us in the right direction. The doctrine of man’s original sin and total depravity does not mean that all men are as sinful and corrupt in their behavior as they can be. God will not allow men in this world to be as wicked in deed as we all are in heart. When we talk about man’s total depravity, we are talking about spiritual death and moral inability, the utter depravity of every man’s heart and nature (Rom. 5:12; Eph. 2:1-3). Here are eight effects of Adam’s fall upon the human race. These things are true of all men and women by nature. (1.) Man cannot see the kingdom of God (John 3:3). (2.) Man cannot understand the things of God (1 Cor. 2:14). (3.) Man cannot do anything pleasing to God (Rom. 8:8). (4.) Man cannot hear the Word of God (John 8:43). (5.) Man cannot receive the Spirit and truth of God (John 14:17). (6.) Man cannot come to the Son of God (John 6:44). (7.) Man cannot call Christ Lord (1 Cor. 12:3). (8.) Man cannot believe on the Lord Jesus Christ (John 12:39-40). Total depravity means that you cannot be saved by your free will, or your works. Total depravity means that “Salvation is of the Lord,” entirely. If ever you are saved you must be saved by grace alone. Salvation is not determined by you. Salvation is not dependent upon you. Because we are sinners, we are all deserving of God’s everlasting wrath in hell. We are justly condemned. And unless God saves us by his almighty grace, we will forever die. That’s the bad news. But here is the good news.

3. God almighty, from old eternity, chose some of Adam’s fallen race to salvation and eternal life in Christ, and his loving choice of some was an unconditional election of grace (Eph. 1:4; 2 Thess. 2:13-14; John 15:16). Either God chose to save his people, or he didn’t. If he did not choose to save anyone, the salvation of any sinner must be a matter of total uncertainty. But that is not the case. If you read the Bible at all, you know that election is a Bible doctrine. And if you understand what the Bible teaches about election, you know that it is a precious Bible doctrine. The cause of our election was the love of God (Jer. 31:3). The time of our election was before the foundation of the world (Eph. 1:4). The only condition of our election was the will of God. “I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy.” The object of our election was our everlasting salvation in perfect holiness - Conformity to Christ (Eph. 1:4). The comfort of our election is the immutability of our God (Mal. 3:6).

4. In the fulness of time the Lord Jesus Christ died for and effectually redeemed all God’s elect (Isa. 53:8; John 10:11, 15, 26; Heb. 9:12; Gal. 3:13). Either the Lord Jesus Christ redeemed his people, or he didn’t. Either the Son of God redeemed all for whom he died, or his death is of no more meaning or consequence than the death of any other man. Nowhere in the Bible is it written, or even implied, that Christ died for everyone in the world, redeemed everyone in the world, or made atonement for everyone in the world. The doctrine of universal redemption is the most hideous, blasphemous doctrine ever spewed from the pit of hell. It reduces the love of God to nothing, perverts the justice of God, makes a mockery of the blood of Christ, saying that Christ died in vain for the multitudes who perish, and makes man his own savior. We believe, according to the Scriptures, that Christ died for and redeemed God’s elect. His blood was not shed in vain. Our Savior’s limited atonement was and is the effectual redemption of his people. The atonement of Christ is limited in scope, but not in efficacy. It was limited in design, but not in merit

5. Salvation is wrought in God’s elect by the irresistible power and grace of God the Holy Spirit (Ps. 65:4; 110:3). Either the Holy Spirit saves by his almighty call, omnipotent grace, and irresistible power, or he merely stands by in helpless frustration, hoping someone will accept Jesus. Either salvation is of the Lord, or it isn’t. Conviction is the work of the Spirit (John 16:8-11). Regeneration (the new birth) is the work of the Spirit (John 3:3). Calling is the work of the Spirit (2 Thess. 2:13-14). Faith is the work of the Spirit (Eph. 1:19). The instrument of grace is the Word of God. The end of grace is salvation. The cause of grace is the will of God.

6. Every believer shall persevere in faith, because all who trust Christ are infallibly preserved by the grace of God (Ecc. 3:14; John 10:28; Phil. 1:6; 1 Pet. 1:5). Either none of God’s elect shall ever perish, or none are safe. Blessed be God, all are safe! “If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him freely give us all things? Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? Who is he that condemneth? Who shall separate us from the love of God?” (Rom. 8:31-39)

7. All who are in Christ are free from the law (Rom. 6:14, 15; 7:4; 10:4). Either we are free from the law, totally and absolutely, or we are still in bondage to the law. — What does the Book say? “Ye are not under the law!” In Christ we are freed from all legal condemnation (Rom. 8:1), all legal service (Col. 2:16-23), all legal motivation (2 Cor. 4:18), and all legal fear (Rom. 4:8).