Zechariah 8:7-8

ACCORDING TO THE ELECTION OF GRACE

Almost everyone who claims to be a Christian believes in some sort of election. They MUST, because election is a prominent word in God’s Word. But the election taught in the scripture is not based on works, merit, nor man’s will, but God elected all His people according to His will, purpose, mercy, and grace. Left to ourselves we would not love God, seek God, or come to Christ (John 5:40-44). Even so, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace (Romans 11:5), it is now and always will be because 1. God chose us! 2. God chose us in Christ. 3. God chose us from eternity. 4. God chose us to be like Christ. 5. God chose us according to His own will. (John 1:12-13 and Romans 9:16)

Pastor Henry Mahan

Please take the following words of wisdom to heart: One reason why the church of Christ at this present moment has so little influence over the world is because the world has so much influence over the church. Your duty as a Christian is to stand fast in your place and stand out for God, hating even the garment spotted by the flesh, resolving like one of another time, “Let others do as they will; as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

Pastor Scott Richardson

SAVED BY GRACE

Every person who knows that they are a sinner loves salvation by grace. The only way salvation is possible is by grace. The nature of man demands that salvation be by grace. Man is totally depraved, cannot keep God’s law, cannot and will not repent and believe on the name of Christ, and cannot love God. Therefore, if sinful men will be saved, salvation must be by grace. The nature of God also demands that salvation be by grace. God is holy and just. God requires perfection, not only outward perfection, but inward perfection of heart, thought, and motive. God will by no means clear the guilty (Ex. 34:7). Therefore, if God will save a sinner, salvation must be by grace through the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ. Thank God for His saving grace that saves a wretch like me!

Peter said in II Peter 1:8, “If these things be in you and abound (these things are mentioned in vs. 5-7 – faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and charity), they make you that ye shall be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Conversely, if these things are not in us, we are barren and unfruitful in the knowledge of Christ. If these things are not in me, my faith is in theory only. A theoretical faith believes God is sovereign, yet always worries. When I say I believe in forgiveness but hold a grudge; when I say I believe in grace but yet hold people to the law; when I say I am content with Christ and yet I am continually coveting and craving the things of this world; when I say I believe I am the chief of sinners, yet I am easily offended; if I say I believe the doctrines of grace, yet can tolerate that which in contrary to them, then my faith is in theory only. I am barren and unfruitful in the knowledge of Christ. My faith is not that faith of which the Lord Jesus is the author and the finisher.

Pastor Todd Nibert