|
Listen to sermons at FreeGraceRadio.com
|
Sermon #2428 — Miscellaneous Sermons
Title: BASIC BIBLE DOCTRINE
Text: 2 Timothy 4:1-5 Subject: Gospel Doctrine Date: Wednesday Morning — July 25, 2018 Introduction:
The prophecy made by the Apostle Paul in our text has come to pass in our day. Around the world, particularly in our own country, and specifically in Danville, Kentucky religious people are at this hour gathered in solemn assemblies, in the name of Christ, to worship God. They will read the Bible, say their prayers, invoke GodÕs blessing, and give their money. They are devoted. They are sincere. But they are lost! They have faith; but theirs is a false faith. They have hope; but their hope is a delusion. Having been led and taught by blind and ignorant men, — ÒThey will not endure sought doctrine; but after their own lusts...they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears...They turn away their ears from the truth and (have been) turned into fables.Ó
I am not talking about Papists, Hindus, Buddhist, and Mohammedans. I am talking about men and women who profess to know, worship, trust, and serve the living God by faith in his Son Jesus Christ, through the power of the Holy Spirit. Our friends, relatives, and neighbors, having turned away from the truth have been turned unto fables.
You know what a fable is. It is a brief story, dreamed up by a man to teach a moral, ethical lesson, but factually it is a lie. Here are three common religious fables, dreamed up by men to teach people moral principles. They are universally embraced, proclaimed, and defended. These three fables will be presented throughout the city, across this country and around the world today as the very truth of God. But they are in fact lies which are damning to the souls of all who believe them.
1. ÒGod loves everyone.Ó — He does not! Nowhere does the Bible say or imply that he does. In fact, the Bible plainly tells us that God does not love everyone (Psalm 11:5; 7:11; Romans 9:13). ÒGod is love.Ó We rejoice in that. But GodÕs love is in Christ. In the Bible there is no assurance of GodÕs love given to anyone apart from faith in Christ.
2. ÒThe Lord Jesus Christ died to redeem and save all people.Ó — He did not! In a moment, I will show you more from the scriptures on this point. But, for now, let me simply state this fact — The Bible nowhere teaches or implies that Christ died for, redeemed, or came to save those multitudes who are at last lost in hell. Those for whom Christ died shall never die! The Son of God redeemed all whom he came to redeem, and he shall save all whom he came to save.
3. ÒThe Holy Spirit of God is doing all that he can to save all people.Ó — You know that is not true. There are multitudes to whom the Spirit of God has never even sent his Word. The Bible says nothing of the Spirit trying to reprove, trying to convince, or trying to regenerate. The Bible declares, — ÒIt is the Spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing.Ó
The whole religious world, to one degree or another, declares that salvation is accomplished by the will of man, the worth of man, and the work of man. But the Word of God declares that salvation is by the will of God alone, the worth of Christ alone, and the work of the Holy Spirit alone.
Now it is my responsibility, as the servant of God, to do what I can to stop the mouths of the religious gain-sayers and rescue perishing sinners from their pernicious lies. And Paul tells me that the way to do that is to simply, unceasingly preach sound doctrine (2 Timothy 4:1-2; Titus 2:1; 1 Timothy 4:6).
Proposition: No pastor is faithful to his calling, charge, and responsibility as GodÕs messenger to men who does not faithfully instruct men and women in sound doctrine, with distinctive clarity and in unmistakable terms. Sound doctrine is essential both to the salvation of sinners and to the spiritual stability and maturity of GodÕs saints (Ephesians 4:14; 1 Timothy 4:16).
This morning we are going to go back to the basics. I am not going to have anything new to say. Everything today will be elementary, foundational, essential gospel truth. I want to lay before you the foundation doctrine of the gospel, the fundamentals and essentials of the faith, — Basic Bible Doctrine. When you think about the fundamentals of the faith, I am sure your mind immediately goes to things like the verbal, plenary inspiration of Holy Scripture, the Bible account of creation, and the Deity and virgin birth of Christ. But those things are not the real issues of sound doctrine.
á Why argue about the inspiration of the Scriptures if we do not believe and preach those truths revealed in the Scriptures? If the Bible is not our only rule of faith and practice, it really does not matter whether it is inspired or not, does it? á Why argue about the Bible account of creation if we refuse to accept the Bible account of the new creation? Why fight over Darwinian evolution if we embrace the far more evil Arminian theory of evolution? — ÒGod gets salvation started and man completes the work.Ó á Why argue with men over the Deity of Christ and his virgin birth, if we are willing to embrace any doctrine that makes Christ a failure, robs him of his glory, and frustrates the purpose of his incarnation.
Some of you may be thinking to yourself, ÒIf these things are not the issues, what are they?Ó I want to show you. And I want to show you from the Word of God. I am going to give you today my own confession of faith. This is what I believe and preach, because this is what I have experienced. This is my doctrine. And this is the doctrine of Grace Baptist Church. But, more importantly, this is Basic Bible Doctrine. Upon these seven points there can be no compromise. GodÕs saints embrace, love, and rejoice in these things. Only GodÕs enemies oppose them.
I want everyone here to follow me through the Scriptures (Isaiah 8:20). If what I say this day is GodÕs truth you must bow to it and embrace it, or perish forever in hell. If what I have to say is not GodÕs truth it is because I am a lost man, without light from God. If that is so, you must never hear me again, lest you embrace a lie and perish with me in the last day. ThatÕs how important, basic and vital these issues are.
I. THE ONE TRUE AND LIVING GOD IS TOTALLY SOVEREIGN IN ALL THINGS (Psalm 135:6).
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! f 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... á No promise of God can be sure! á No prophecy of God can be absolute! á No word from God can be believed!
A. God is the sovereign creator of all things (Genesis 1:1). B. God is the sovereign ruler of all things (Romans 8:28; 11:36). C. God is the sovereign disposer of all things (Revelation 4:11). D. God is totally sovereign in the exercise of his saving grace (Romans 9:11-24).
II. ALL MEN AND WOMEN BY NATURE ARE TOTALLY DEPRAVED (Romans 3:9-19).
Do you know what happened in the Garden of Eden?
(Describe the Fall).
The doctrine of manÕs original sin and total depravity does not mean that all men are as sinful and Corinthiansrupt 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 manÕs total depravity, we are talking about spiritual death and moral inability (Romans 5:12; Ephesians 2:1-3).
Here are seven effects of AdamÕs fall upon the human race. These things are true of all men and women by nature. A. Man cannot see the kingdom of God (John 3:3). B. Man cannot understand the things of God (1 Corinthians. 2:14). C. Man cannot do anything pleasing to God (Romans 8:8). D. Man cannot hear the Word of God (John 8:43). E. Man cannot receive the Spirit and truth of God (John 14:17). F. Man cannot come to the Son of God (John 6:44). G. Man cannot call Christ Lord (1 Corinthians. 12:3). H. 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 ÒSalvation is of the Lord,Ó entirely. If ever you are saved you must be saved by grace alone. á Salvation is not determined by you. á Salvation is not dependent upon you.
Because we are sinners, we are all deserving of GodÕs everlasting wrath in hell. We are justly condemned. And unless God saves us by his almighty grace, we will forever die. ThatÕs the bad news. But here is the good news.
III. GOD ALMIGHTY, FROM OLD ETERNITY CHOSE SOME OF ADAMÕS FALLEN RACE TO SALVATION AND ETERNAL LIFE IN CHRIST, AND HIS LOVING CHOICE OF SOME WAS AN UNCONDITIONAL ELECTION OF GRACE (Ephesians 1:4; 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14; John 15:16).
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.
IV. IN THE FULNESS OF TIME THE LORD JESUS CHRIST DIED FOR AND EFFECTUALLY REDEEMED ALL GODÕS ELECT (Isaiah 53:8; John 10:11, 15, 26; Hebrews 9:12; Galatians 3:13). Nowhere in the Bible is it written 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. á It reduces the love of God to nothing. á It perverts the justice of God. á It is a mockery of the blood of Christ. Did Christ die in vain? á It makes man his own savior.
We believe, according to the Scriptures that Christ died for and redeemed GodÕs elect. His blood was not shed in vain. Our SaviorÕs 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 — ÒIt is finished!Ó
The issue of the gospel is not the bare fact that Christ died, but ÒHOW that Christ died for our sins, according to the ScripturesÓ (1 Corinthians. 15:3). This is how he died... á Sovereignty! — ÒI lay down my life!Ó á Substitution! — ÒFor the transgressions of my people.Ó á Satisfaction! — ÒI have found a ransom!Ó á Success! — ÒHe shall not fail!Ó
V. SALVATION IS WROUGHT IN GODÕS ELECT BY THE IRRESISTIBLE POWER AND GRACE OF GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT (Psalm 65:4).
A. Conviction is the work of the Spirit (John 16:8-11). B. Regeneration is the work of the Spirit (John 3:3). C. Calling is the work of the Spirit (2 Thessalonians 2:13-14). D. Faith is the work of the Spirit (Ephesians 1:19). á The instrument of grace is the Word of God. á The end of grace is salvation. á The cause of grace is the will of God.
VI. EVERY BELIEVER SHALL PERSEVERE IN FAITH, BECAUSE ALL WHO TRUST CHRIST ARE INFALLIBLY PRESERVED BY THE GRACE OF GOD (John 10:28; Philippians 1:6; 1 Peter 1:5).
Here are four bold challenges of faith (Romans 8:31-39). á ÒIf God be for us, who can be against us?Ó á ÒWho shall lay anything to the charge of GodÕs elect?Ó á ÒWho is he that condemneth?Ó á ÒWho shall separate us from the love of God?Ó
VII. ALL WHO ARE IN CHRIST ARE FREE FROM THE LAW (Romans 6:14, 15; 7:4; 10;4).
In Christ we are freed from... á All legal condemnation (Romans 8:1). á All legal service (Colossians 2:16-23). á All legal motivation (2 Corinthians. 4:18). á All legal fear (Romans 4:8).
Application
1. I call upon you who hear my voice to make your calling and election sure. — ÒBelieve on the Lord Jesus Christ.Ó Faith in Christ is both the fruit and the proof of — á GodÕs election! á ChristÕs redemption! á The SpiritÕs call!
2. I call upon you who believe to join me in the proclamation of the glorious gospel of the blessed God around the world.
3. And I call upon us all to give God alone all praise, honor, and glory for his great grace to us great sinners in his great Son!
Amen.
Don Fortner
|
Pastor FortnerÕs
|