“Among the gods there is none like unto Thee, O Lord; neither are there any works like unto Thy works. All nations whom Thou hast made shall come and worship before Thee, O Lord; and shall glorify Thy name. For Thou art great, and doest wondrous things: Thou art God alone” (Psalm 86:8-10). ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
OUR CREED
Why does this local church exist? Why does the Lord maintain this work in the midst of a perverse, religious world? Paul wrote that the church is a “pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:15-16). It is ever our delightful duty to proclaim, promote and preserve the truth of God. What, then, is our creed?
1. The Scriptures alone. We do not bow to manmade writings to guide us in doctrine and practice. There are no denominational rules to govern this church. We look to “the Word of Truth,” the inspired Scriptures as the sole foundation of all that we believe and do.
2. Christ alone. There is but one Savior, one Sacrifice for sins, one Mediator, one God-Man, one Law-Keeper, one Door, one Way to God, one Truth, one Life, one Righteousness and one Name under heaven whereby we must be saved - that Name is Jesus Christ the Lord. We declare His person - He is the Son of God and the Son of Man. We declare His successful redemption of all those given to Him in the everlasting council of peace. And we declare His exaltation - He is the resurrected, sovereign Lord Who does His will throughout His vast creation.
3. Grace alone. The grace of God, not the works or will of the sinner, is the cause of salvation. All who are saved were chosen in grace, redeemed in grace, called in grace, justified by grace, preserved by grace and shall be glorified by grace. “For by grace ye are saved” (Ephesians 2:5).
4. Faith alone. There is but one evidence of having been regenerated by the Spirit of God - faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. He is our hope, our joy and our all. His gospel is our message, His glory is our goal, His righteousness is our comeliness, love for Him is our motivation for service and His people constitute our family.
“From that time many of His disciples went back, and walked no more with Him” (John 6:66). The truth was too hard for them, it was not to be borne with. “It is a hard saying, who can hear it?” A true disciple sits at the feet of his Master and believes what he is told even when he cannot quite comprehend the meaning or see the reasons for what his Master utters; but these men had not the essential spirit of a disciple and consequently when their Instructor began to unfold the innermost parts of the roll of truth, they would not listen to His reading of it. They would believe as far as they could understand, but when they could not comprehend, they turned on their heel and left the school of the great Teacher. Besides, the Lord Jesus Christ had taught the doctrine of the sovereignty of God and of the need of the Spirit of God that men should be led to Him. “For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray Him. “And He said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father” (John 6:65-66). Here our Lord uttered a bit of old-fashioned free-grace doctrine, such as people nowadays do not like. They call it “Calvinism,” and put it aside among the old tenets which this enlightened age knows nothing of. What right they have to ascribe to the Genevan reformer a doctrine old as the hills I do not know. But our Lord Jesus never hesitated to fling that truth into the face of His enemies. He told them, “Ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you” (John 10:26). “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw Him” (John 6:44). Here He tells them plainly that they could not come unto Him unless the Father gave them the grace to come. This humbling doctrine they could not receive, and so they went aside. – C. H. Spurgeon ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
First Baptist Church 881 Van Dyke Road, P.O. Box 155, Almont, Michigan 48003 810-798-8888 Jim Byrd, Pastor
Sunday Schedule: 8:30 a.m. Television Broadcast over Cable Channel 97 in Almont, Imlay City and Dryden 9:45 a.m. Bible Classes 10:30 a.m. WORSHIP SERVICE
Wednesday: 7 p.m. Bible Study and Youth Groups
Pastor Byrd’s messages are accessible on www.freegraceradio.com, cassette and video tape, CD and DVD www.sermonaudio.com/fbcalmont email: fbc@airadvantage.net
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