Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Sovereign Grace Baptist Church-Part Two

Last time, we said one of the 4 characteristics of which characterize a sovereign grace church is that it adheres to ''the doctrines of the apostles.'' That The Doctrines of Grace are these doctrines are shown by these Scripture references. 1. God Almighty is absolutely sovereign in all things, specifically in predestination, creation, providence, and salvation [Romans 8;28-30; 11;33-36]. 2. Everything that comes to pass in time was predestined by God in eternity and is brought to pass by God in providence for the salvation of His elect [Romans 8;28- 30; Ephesians 1;11]. 3. God sovereignly chose some of Adam's fallen race to eternal life in Christ, before the world began [Ephesians 1;3-6; 2 Thessalonians 2;13-14]. 4. The Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, died for and redeemed those sinners, chosen to salvation, in eternity, and called to life and faith in Him in time [Hebrews 9;12; Revelation 5;9]. 5. God The Holy Spirit regenerates and calls every chosen, redeemed sinner to life and faith in Christ by the irresistible power of His grace through the preaching of the Gospel [Romans 1;16-17; 10;13-17; I Corinthians 1;21-23; James 1;18; I Peter 1;23-25]. 6. Every Sinner born again by God's free, sovereign, irresistible grace, is kept in life and faith in Christ, by the same grace, unto eternal glory, being sealed in Christ, by The Holy Spirit [Ephesians 1;13-14]. 7. All Who are born of God, being redeemed by Christ, are forever and entirely free from the law [Romans 6;14-15; 7;4; 10;4]. Yet, There is much more to A Sovereign Grace Baptist Church, than adherence to these points of orthodox doctrine. We hold to, adore, and preach these doctrines, as the works, and grace, and blessings of God in Christ. WE RECOGNIZE THAT, THE GOSPEL IS NOT A THEORY, BUT A PERSON, AND THAT PERSON IS OUR GLORIOUS SAVIOUR, THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. To preach The Word of God is to preach the gospel [I Peter 1;25]; and to preach the gospel is to preach Christ [Acts 20;17; I Corinthians 2;2]. This is What it is, to continue steadfastly in the Apostles' doctrine. It is to continue steadfastly in the preaching and worship of the Lord Jesus Christ, as He is set forth in the Apostles' Doctrine. 37 times in the Book of Acts, you will find the words, ''preach, '' ''preaching,'' ''Preached'' used. Every time, the subject is Jesus Christ. THAT IS NOT GOSPEL PREACHING, OR APOSTOLIC, OR BIBLICAL PREACHING, WHICH DOES NOT HAVE CHRIST, FOR ITS SUBJECT.

No comments:

Post a Comment