RADIO MESSAGE
The pastor and the people of Grace Baptist Church believe and preach the doctrines of God's free and sovereign grace in Christ: The Sovereignty of God, The Total Depravity of Man, Unconditional Election, Limited Atonement, and Irresistible Grace. These things are fundamental, essential truths of the gospel, plainly and clearly taught in the Word of God. Any preacher who does not preach them does not preach the whole counsel of God. Any church that does not stand for them has compromised the gospel. And Baptist Churches that do not teach these things have simply forsaken those principles for which Baptist have stood, for which they have suffered, and for which they have died throughout the ages.
We believe all of these things and preach them. We would not dare to dishonor our Lord by compromising any single aspect of these blessed truths. And here at Grace Church, we believe in the PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS. That is to say, all of God's elect shall endure to the end. They shall persevere in grace, faith, and holiness. Not one true believer shall ever perish. No saved person shall ever be lost. All of God's people are safe and secure in the arms of Christ. Every true believer is preserved by almighty grace. Hear the words of our Lord Jesus Christ - "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and THEY FOLLOW ME: And I give unto them ETERNAL LIFE: and they shall NEVER PERISH, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. I and my Father are one" (John 10:27-30). The Bible does not teach that every professer of religion is saved, or that everyone who thinks he is saved is saved, or that everyone who has experienced great religious conviction and moral reformation is saved. But the Word of God does teach that every person who is born again by almighty grace and truly believes on Christ in his heart is saved; and all who are truly saved are ETERNALLY SECURE IN CHRIST.
What is the basis of the believer's security in Christ? How can we be sure that all of God's saints will persevere unto eternal glory? We are confident in this matter, because GOD HAS SAID THAT IT IS TRUE. We need no other argument than the revealed Word of God. Let men reason and argue as they will, the Lord God our Savior says that his sheep shall NEVER PERISH! That is enough. God's IMMUTABLE COVENANT OF GRACE guarantees the eternal security of his people. He said, "My covenant shall I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips ... His (Christ's) seed shall endure forever" (Ps. 89:34, 36). The PURPOSE OF GOD MUST STAND. In eternity God purposed to save his people, and they shall be saved. Not one of those whom God purposed to save shall perish. Otherwise his purpose would be meaningless. THE BLOOD OF CHRIST will preserve all his redeemed people. Otherwise he could never see of the travail of his soul and be satisfied. THE ABILITY OF DIVINE GRACE says that none of the Lord's sheep shall ever perish. "I am the Lord, I change not therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed" (Mal. 3:6). The grace of God never changes. THE FINISHED WORK OF CHRIST is our security. Our justification, our peace, our pardon, our acceptance with God does not depend in any measure upon our righteousness, we have none, but rather upon the righteousness of Christ. We are saved not because of what we have done, but because of what he has done. The blood of Christ shall never lose its power. We are ACCEPTED IN CHRIST. He lived in our stead, fulfilling the holy requirements of God's law. He died as our Substitute, satisfying God's justice. He lives in heaven to intercede in our behalf. Concerning all the hosts of God's elect, our Lord Jesus Christ has said, "I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not" (Luke 22:32). And his praver for us, as our sin-atoning High Priest, is our security. Are you a believer? Do you trust Christ? Then take this word of comfort with you today - YOU SHALL NEVER PERISH!
Don Fortner, Pastor
Grace Baptist Church
Danville, Ky.