Every now and then, I hear through other people what the preachers and religious leaders around town are telling folks about me and the ministry of Grace Church. The most common statement is this - "Bro. Fortner has gone to seed on sovereign grace." Some of you have heard that statement. Folks say that all I preach is grace, grace, grace. I wonder what they would have me to preach, Would they have me to preach grace, works, grace, or works, grace, works, or Just works, works, works? Well I know what men would like for me to preach. And I know what God requires that I preach. The message of my lips will continue to be grace, grace, grace - GRACE IN THE BEGINNING - GRACE IN THE MIDDLE - AND GRACE IN THE END.
I am accused of going to seed on sovereign grace. I wonder what my accusers mean. DO YOU MEAN THAT I ASCRIBE TOO MUCH GREATNESS TO GOD? How can we ascribe too much greatness to him who is infinite in greatness? The God of heaven is sovereign supreme, almighty, incomprehensible, infinite, and higher than the heavens. It seems to me an impossible thing for a puny, insignificant man to ascribe too much greatness to him. DO YOU MEAN THAT I GIVE TOO LITTLE HONOR AND DIGNITY TO MAN? I know that men like to hear that they are basically good, and not evil. Men like to hear that, though they might have done a few things that were sinful, they are not to be blamed. After all, nobody is perfect. And most preachers gladly oblige them. But the Bible declares that man's heart is evil, and that his righteousnesses, that is the very best goodness he has, is as filthy rags before God. "Man at his best estate is altogether vanity." The Lord of God declares that "man" by nature, since the fall of our father Adam, is nothing but a loathesome worm, a filthy maggot before God. I hardly see how I can give too little honor and dignity to a wiggling maggot! DO YOU MEAN THAT I ASCRIBE TOO MUCH OF THE WORK OF SALVATION TO GOD AND TOO LITTLE TO MAN? I wonder, what part would you have me to ascribe to man? What part would you have me to give God credit for doing? I know that you give God a little credit for saving man. You do admit that God has something to do with salvation, though not very much. You declare that the whole business of man's salvation depends upon his free-will. I am afraid that you ascribe too much to man, and too little to God. The fact is, if you ascribe any part of salvation to man, you ascribe too much to him. The CAUSE of salvation is in God, not in man. The WORK of salvation is the work of God, not of man. The DETERMINING FACTOR of salvation is the will of God, not the will of man. "Salvation is of the Lord!" It is entirely the work of God. Our salvation was PLANNED BY GOD THE FATHER. In eternal election he determined who he would save, how he would save them, and when he would save them. Our salvation was PURCHASED BY GOD THE SON. All the blessings of Divine grace were purchased for all of God's elect by the blood of Christ. And our salvation was PRODUCED IN US BY GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT. He gave us life when we were dead. He produced repentance and faith in us. And he caused us to come to Christ.
So you say, "Bro. Fortner has gone to seed on sovereign grace." If you mean what I think you mean, you are right. I have gone to seed on ascribing to God all the glory for saving my soul. It sure beats going to seed on robbing God of his Glory and giving it to men. I sure wish I could persuade you to go to seed on exalting the grace and glory of God in saving sinners by Christ.
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