Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar. Proverbs 30:5-6

WHAT FREE WILL DENIES

Before we can see what free will denies, we first have to know what is meant by free will. Free will says that a man’s destiny is dependent upon the choice he makes. His will is free to choose to allow God to save him, or reject God’s offer of salvation. His eternal destiny is determined by his free will.

If I believe my will is free, there are three things I deny. I deny that God is sovereign. I say His sovereignty does not extend to my will. That is a complete denial of His sovereignty. I deny that I am a sinner in the Biblical definition of the word. According to the Bible, men are dead in sins (Ephesians 2:1). That means they are completely unable to do anything to save themselves. Free will is a denial of that. Free will is a denial of free grace. You cannot believe in salvation by grace and free will. Free will is nothing less than salvation by works. The teaching of free will is a denial of the Gospel! Pastor Todd Nibert

It’s Easier to Wear A Cross than to Bear A Cross

This is the day of instant religion. It is the day of altar calls, public decisions, and accepting Jesus. There is little conviction, little or no repentance, and certainly no counting the cost. Men seem to want a refuge that requires no genuine commitment on their part and a religion which fits their lifestyle while also rewarding them with eternal happiness.

It is far less trouble to eat a wafer than to feed on the Bread of Life; less trouble to receive water on the brow than to seek the Fountain of Life; less trouble to walk an aisle than to walk the Calvary Road; less trouble to shake a preacher’s hand than to reach out like a beggar to the Redeemer; less trouble to tell the priest that you have sinned than to confess guilt before the throne; less trouble to be identified with the local denomination than to be identified with the crucified Christ; less trouble to wear a cross than to bear one!

What can we do for a generation that cries, “Peace, peace!” when there is no peace? What can we do? Preach the gospel of God’s grace in Christ! God may be pleased to open an ear, an eye, and a heart here and there. Pastor Henry T. Mahan (bulletin 1984)

The Absolute Sovereignty Of God

The sovereignty of God is absolute. To acknowledge this truth is at once to acknowledge that God has foreordained what- so-ever comes to pass; that nothing else can come to pass; that predestination is a fact; that God does rule in the kingdoms of men; that all human ties, bonds and relationships are divinely appointed and formed; that salvation rests solely, fully and only in God’s election; that salvation is by God’s grace and His grace alone; and that no part of man’s salvation is of Himself either in origin or execution. Where men get the idea that man’s will is the all determining factor or moving cause of his salvation is hard to see. Certainly they did not get it from the Bible.

Pastor Scott Richardson

GOD SPARED NOT

In 2 Peter 2:4-7; For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked.”

Several times in this passage of scripture, the word of the Lord says, “God spared not;” the righteous and holy judgment of God fell without any mixture of mercy on many. The angels that fell were judged and cast out. The rebels in Noah’s day were judged and with the flood of God’s wrath. The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were reduced to ashes for their sinful wickedness. But we also read of God’s mercy to some, Noah and his family were spared. The Lord delivered Lot.

The Lord knows how to justly deliver His people from the wrath to come without compromising His righteous character (2 Peter 2:9; 1 Thes. 1:9-10). The Lord our God justly delivers His elect from the wrath to come because He spared not the Lord Jesus Christ from the holy wrath of His anger against our sin (Isa. 53:10; Lam. 1:12; Zech. 13:7). Read this verse slowly; “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. (Romans 8:32-22).