I make no apology to anyone for preaching the gospel doctrines of God's free and sovereign grace in Christ. I preach these doctrines at home to our own congegation. And I preach them where ever I go. My reason, for doing so are very simple and clear: (1). THE GOSPEL OF GOD'S FREE-GRACE IS CONTRARY TO THE PRIDE OF SINFUL MAN. Man does not like to be told that he is a sinner, worthy of eternal damnation, without any righteousness whatsoever, and that he can do nothing toward his own salvation. (2). THE GOSPEL OF GOD'S SOVEREIGN GRACE GIVES ALL THE GLORY OF SALVATION TO GOD ALONE. It allows no flesh to glory in God's presence. It ascribes salvation in its entirety to the grace and power of God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. And (3). THE GOSPEL DOCTRINES OF GOD'S FREE SOVEREIGN GRACE ARE PLAINLY REVEALED IN THE WORD OF GOD. It is my responsibility, as a gospel preacher, to preach that which God has written in his Word. And certainly these things are taught in the Bible. DOES THE BIBLE NOT TELL US THAT GOD IS ABSOLUTELY, TOTALLY, AND UNIVERSALLY SOVEREIGN? Indeed it does. "God is in the heavens, he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased" (Ps. 115:3). God says, "My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure...I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass: I have purposed it, I will also do it"(Isa. 46:10-11). "I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion"(Rom. 9:15). DOES THE BIBLE NOT TELL US THAT ALL MEN ARE TOTALLY DEPRAVED AND SPIRITUALLY DEAD? Of course it does. "By one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for all have sinned"(Rom. 5:12). DOES THE BIBLE NOT TELL us THAT GOD AS UNCONDITIONALLY CHOSEN HIS ELECT TO SALVATION IN CHRIST? You know it does. "Knowing, brethern beloved, your election of God." "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you." "God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation." (I Thess. 1:4; John 15:161 II Thess. 2:13). DOES OUR LORD NOT PLAINLY TELL US THAT HE DIED ONLY TO REDEEM HIS ELECT? He certainly does. In John 10 he said, I will lay down my life for the sheep" (v 15), and then tells those who believe not that the reason for their continued unbelief is that they were not chosen and redeemed as his sheep(v. 26). DOES THE BIBLE NOT DECLARE THAT THE SAVING GRACE OF GOD IS IRRESISTIBLE? Most clearly it does, saying, "Blessed is the man whom thou CHOOSEST and CAUSEST to approach unto thee"(Ps. 65:4). DOES THE BIBLE NOT TEACH THAT ALL OF GOD'S ELECT WILL PERSEVERE UNTO THE END. Of course it does. Only a deliberately ignorant fool would deny the words of our Lord. "I give unto them eternal life, and THEY SHALL NEVER PERISH"(John I0:28).
All of these things are plainly taught in the Bible. You know it, and your preacher knows it. In fact, many preachers have said this to me, "I know that's taught in the Bible, but I can't preach it." When I ask them, "Why not?", these are the answers they give - "Those doctrines would split our church." If the Word of God will split the church, it needs to be split. Others say, "If I preached that in my church, they would fire me." I ask, "Are you a hireling, willing to sell your SOUL and the souls of those to whom you preach for a pot of beans, or are you the servant of God, devoted to his glory and the welfare of his people?"
I will tell you this - Any man who knows what the Bible teaches and refuses to preach it plainly is a hireling; and HIRELINGS CAN NEVER BE TRUSTED. THEY ARE NOT HONEST MEN.
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