FIVE
INDISPUTABLE, VITAL GOSPEL TRUTHS
"Hold fast the form of
sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ
Jesus." 2 Timothy 1:13
In
this day of compromise and religious apostasy, some who profess to believe the
glorious, God-honoring truths of the gospel are trying to excuse heresy in the
name of tolerance and looking for
some mutual ground upon which we can worship and work together with Arminians,
freewillers, and work-mongers. In the name of brotherly love they attempt to bring light and darkness together.
We must never yield to such
a spirit. It is not the spirit of God’s servants. “Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the LORD?” (II
Chron. 19:2; Psa. 139:21-22; Gal. 1:6-9). Here are five indisputable, vital
gospel truths. I began preaching these things thirty-one years ago. I am more
thoroughly convinced of them now than ever. I am often reviled and ridiculed as
an eccentric, divisive, and mean-spirited man because I insist tenaciously upon
these things. I have learned to properly despise the cavils of those who
despise my God. I am not looking for man’s approval, but for God’s (I Cor.
4:1-5). Therefore, these five gospel truths have been the backbone and strength
of my preaching from the beginning. God helping me, I shall not deviate from
them one hair’s breadth until my dying day.
TOTAL DEPRAVITY - Man by nature is
spiritually dead, morally depraved, lost under the curse of God’s law, and
altogether incapable of changing his ruined condition (Psa. 51:5; 58:3; Jer.
13:23; 17:9; Rom. 5:12; Eph. 2:1-3). Man is so far away from God that he cannot
get back to God, unless God himself brings him back.
UNCONDITIONAL ELECTION - God almighty
sovereignly chose a great multitude to whom he would be gracious and determined
to save them before the world began (John 15:16; Eph. 1:3-6; II Thess. 2:13-14;
Rom. 9:11-23). He loved us freely.
LIMITED ATONEMENT - The Lord Jesus
Christ suffered and died as a Substitute for God’s elect, his sheep, those who
are actually saved by his blood (Isa. 53:4-6, 8, 10; John 10:11, 14). He died
for those for whom he makes intercession (John 17:9, 20). He did not make it
possible for all men to be redeemed. He actually redeemed his people (Gal.
3:13). Let there be no compromise here! Either the Lord Jesus Christ has
effectually redeemed his elect by his death, or he is not God our Savior. There
is no middle ground.
IRRESISTIBLE GRACE - God the Holy
Spirit effectually calls every chosen, redeemed sinner, causing each to come to
Christ in faith (Psa. 65:4; 110:3; John 6:63).
PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS - Every true
believer, every saved soul shall continue in the grace of God, being preserved,
sealed, and kept by the grace and power of God himself. All who are saved by
grace are saved forever (Eccles. 3:14; Phil. 1:6; John 10:28). “They shall never perish!”
Grace Baptist Church of Danville - Grace For
Today Radio Message #627
2734 Old Stanford Road -
Danville, Kentucky 40422-9438
Donald S. Fortner, Pastor -Telephone 606-236-8235 - Email grace@mis.net