At the center of man-made religion is man’s choice. They say such things as “God’s done all He can do, He’s made salvation available, now it’s up to you, it’s your choice.” They often use Joshua’s words to the Israelites, “Choose you this day whom you will serve..” (Joshua 24:15) But Joshua spoke those words to that earthly nation of people under a legal covenant which was based on “do this and live, don’t do it and die.” Their choices time and time again showed that man can never be saved based on his choices because by nature he always chooses evil. Left to himself he will always make the wrong choice! He will never choose God and His way of salvation. The salvation of God however, is based on His choice. As a matter of fact, Israel as a nation was His earthly people only because of His choice. “The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people:” (Deuteronomy 7:7) They were a type of His spiritual people which He often describes as His “elect.” Election means to choose. God’s choice determined who He would save, selected who would be His people and who He gave to Christ. Paul describes them writing to the believers in Thessalonica. “But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:” (2Th 2:13) It is the very same when he writes to the church at Ephesus: “According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:” (Eph 1:4) David rejoiced in this blessed truth: “He shall choose our inheritance for us, the excellency of Jacob whom he loved.” (Psalms 47:4) Also: “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.” (Psalms 33:12) “For the LORD hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation.” (Psalms 132:13) Since this is true, God gets all the glory in our salvation and we sing this hymn: “Sons we are through God's election, Who in Jesus Christ alone, By eternal destination, Sov'regin grace we here receive.” And also, “Tis not that I did choose Thee, For, Lord, that could not be; This heart would still refuse Thee, But Thou hast chosen me;”

Gary Shepard

THE CHURCH OF YOUR CHOICE?

I have often heard the advertisements of the religious lost saying, “Attend the church of your choice.” The church of man’s choice will never be the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ which He gathers on earth. The church which He describes by the apostle as “in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.” (1 Tim. 3:15) The true church is held up by the truth and also holds up the truth. It is characterized by truth and is the assembly of those who worship God in spirit and truth. God’s chosen worship where He has chosen and it is even His choice as to whom they hear the truth from: “And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.” (Acts 15:7) It’s not the “church of your choice,” it’s the church of God’s choice. The Danites gathered themselves together to worship a man-made God at Dan and chose men to be their priests but Judges records this solemn fact: “ And they set them up Micah's graven image, which he made,” BUT.. “all the time that the house of God was in Shiloh.” (Judges 18:31” The house of God is not a religious organization or building.. It is the gathered assembly of His people where the gospel of His glorious grace in Christ crucified it preached and believed and by which He is adored and worshiped.

Gary Shepard

The man or woman who is not content to be saved and go to heaven solely upon the basis of the blood and righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ gives full evidence of their utter depravity. This is the only way of salvation that is thoroughly God honoring, Christ exalting and man debasing. Surely he is the vilest of the vile who would dare to set forth and trust any other means of acceptance before a just and holy God than this, Jesus Christ and Him crucified. Jim Byrd

A man sent from God to preach the gospel of grace is neither an inventor of new doctrine nor an editor of old doctrine. He is a faithful proclaimer of the Lord’s doctrine, just as it is, to sinners, just as they are.