THE DOCTRINES OF GRACE

Everyone in religious circles say that salvation is by grace. "By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God." But few are willing to deny any merit whatever to man. Few are willing to subscribe to and expound the doctrines of grace. We believe that salvation is altogether the work of God's almighty grace, from beginning to end.

THE GOD OF HEAVEN IS ABSOLUTELY SOVEREIGN IN ALL THINGS (Ps. 115:3). God is sovereign in Creation, in Providence, and in Salvation. He says, "I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy." "So then, it is not of him that willeth, or of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy."

ALL MEN, BY NATURE, ARE TOTALLY DEPRAVED AND UNABLE TO SAVE THEMSELVES, OR TO CONTRIBUTE ANYTHING TOWARDS THEIR SALVATION (Rom. 3:10-20; 5:12; Eph. 2:1-3). Man is born a sinner, with a heart that is naturally in rebellion to God. Man by nature is so far off from God that he cannot and will not return of his own accord. All men are under the curse of the law, in need of a Substitute. And though the Substitute has been provided for sinners, they cannot and will not seek him unless he draws them.

GOD HAS A PEOPLE WHOM HE HAS CHOSEN FOR HIMSELF IN CHRIST JESUS (Eph. l:3-4; II Tim. 1:9). Yes, election is a Bible doctrine. Therefore, we believe it and preach it. God's election of his people in Christ is free, unconditional, eternal, and immutable. He chose us in Christ Jesus before the world began, not because of what he knew would be in us, but because he loved us.

JESUS CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD, HAS REDEEMED ALL OF GOD'S ELECT BY HIS OWN PRECIOUS BLOOD. (II Cor. 5:21). Christ did not try to redeem his people. He redeemed them. Every soul for whom he died is redeemed, and shall be with him in glory. Any other doctrine of the atonement makes the blood of Christ of none effect.

THE HOLY SPIRIT EFFECTUALLY CALLS SINNERS TO CHRIST (John 6:44, 63). The Holy Spirit sovereignly regenerates those sinners whom God has chosen and for whom Christ died. He creates faith in the heart, and draws them to Christ by an irresistible, invincible grace.

AND ALL TRUE BELIEVERS WILL PERSEVERE UNTO ETERNAL GLORY (John 10:28-30). Not one of God's elect shall perish. Not one of God's called ones shall be missing in heaven. Every true believer is saved eternally.

This is what I mean when I say that I preach the Doctrines of Grace.