Sovereign Grace Chapel, located
at 135 Annabel Lane in Beaver, West Virginia, invites you to
listen to a gospel message concerning Jesus Christ our Lord. If you have a Bible this morning,
I would ask you to pick up that Bible and have it ready to follow
along. I will do something a little different this morning. I do
not have a single text to begin with. So grab that Bible and
be ready to follow along if you would. I have been trying to
preach the gospel of God's free reigning grace for 35, 36 years
now. And generally, I found it to
generally be the case, not every case, but when someone hears
I'm a preacher, there is generally one question that's asked. This
is very common. The question is generally this. What denomination are you? I
don't know, there's no way I could count or remember how many times
I've heard that question. What denomination are you? Now,
I want you to hear me this morning. Listen to what I have to say.
I don't say this to be harsh or cruel by any means, but that
question is not the correct question. But I understand the reason for
the question. The question is really asked.
Most people ask that question. What denomination are you? It's
actually asked for this reason. Give me a moniker, give me a
title, give me a denomination, give me a phrase, give me a word,
so I can immediately judge whether I want to listen to you or not.
If I say I'm a Baptist and someone is a Methodist, they will immediately
say, well, but I'm a Methodist. I don't really need to listen
to that person. What is sad is this, and I mean
this with all the sincerity that God has given me. Why is it that
men and women, boys and girls, when they find out someone is
a preacher, or even if they hear someone professes to believe,
why is the question not this? What do you preach about Christ?
Why is it then when people find out I'm a preacher, why do they
not ask the question, what do you preach about Christ? When
someone hears that another person professes to believe. Well, what
do you believe? What denomination are you? What
do you believe about this subject or that subject? Why is it that
men and women do not ask this question, what do you believe
about Jesus Christ? Again, I say, I understand why.
Most people ask the question, what denomination are you? so
that they can immediately determine whether they really want to listen,
to pay heed to, or just listen to what a person has to say.
Well, scripture, that is the God-breathed writings, scripture
never requires, it never requires a denominational name. It never
does. Most who profess to preach will
acknowledge this. as the scriptures never requires
a denominational name. Yet, religiousness, religiousness
in this world demands people pigeonhole especially a preacher. They want to know what denomination
you hold to. Nevertheless, nevertheless, since
many want to know and many have asked me. They find out, especially
when they find out I preach and my messages, some of them are
on TV. This question has been asked
over and over and over. What denomination are you? Well,
I will attempt to answer that. I will attempt to answer that.
Do you have that Bible handy? I hope you do. You have that
Bible handy? Get it out now. Turn that Bible
to 1 Peter chapter three to begin with. And I will, if time permits
me, I will have four statements to make, and we will look at
scripture in light of all these statements. If I were to say
to you, if I were to say these words, baptism doth also now
save us, someone may question or asks the question, well, are
you Church of Christ? Those who hold to the Church
of Christ denomination believe strongly in baptism. Are you
Church of Christ? You just said baptism doth also
now save us. Well, I want you to hear the
central passage of the scripture on what men and women call Christian
baptism. Now, it doesn't tell us the mode
of baptism, grant you, but it does tell us what baptism is
and what baptism is not. Turn to 1 Peter 3. Hope you have
that Bible. 1 Peter 3, verse 21. The like figure. He's talking
about it is a corresponding type. Just like he says in verse 20,
there were eight souls saved by water. That's in the days
of Noah. Now, the water did not save Noah and his family. The
ark. Literally speaking, the ark saved Noah and his family,
but the waters bore up that ark and that water drowned thousands,
if not millions, if not billions of people. But he says, Peter
says, verse 21 of verse Peter 3, the like figure. Baptism is
a figure, the like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save
us. Then we see clearly Peter's explanation. Not, that is, baptism is not
the putting away of the filth of the flesh. That's not what
baptism does. Baptism is not about physical
cleansing of the body, nor is it about some spiritual cleansing
of the soul. It's not the putting away of
the filth of the flesh. So then what is baptism? Here's
what baptism is, but the answer is That is the response, the
seeking response, but the answer of a good conscience toward God. That's what baptism is. So let's
read it in its full. The like figure, whereunto even
baptism doth also now save us. not the putting away of the filth
of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God.
Then Peter continues on with his thought by the resurrection
of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is our salvation,
who, that is Christ, is gone into heaven and is on the right
hand of God, angels and authorities and powers being made subject
to him. It is the sovereign Christ who
saves. And baptism, baptism is the answer. It is the response of a conscience
that God Almighty has made good in regeneration and conversion
by the gospel. Baptism is the response of that
good conscience. You see, The scripture says,
baptism doth also thou save us. But the Church of Christ denomination
makes baptism a sacrament. Do you hear what I just said?
They may not use the word, but that's their doctrine. I am not
a Church of Christ. I am not of the denomination
of the Church of Christ. But I believe what this book
says in its truth. And let me say this to you, any
man or woman, Any boy or girl who refuses what is called Christian
baptism, they refuse to be immersed in water in the name of the Father
and the Son and the Holy Ghost, manifests rebellion against God
and thus manifests they do not have a good conscience. So I am not. Church of Christ. That is not my denomination.
I do not, I cannot teach that baptism is a sacrament. That is, baptism can actually
justify you. before God, that baptism can
actually reconcile you to God. This book does not teach that,
that baptism actually washes away your sins. It does not teach
that. As a matter of fact, Peter says
it does not. Baptism is the answer, the response
of a good conscience toward God. Now, here's another thing. If
I say God chose and predestinated a people If I say those words,
some would ask the question, well, are you of the primitive
Baptist denomination? Turn to Ephesians chapter one. If I say God chose and predestinated,
Some would ask, well, are you not a primitive Baptist? Do not
primitive Baptists teach that? Now, let's look at the central
passage on this subject. Ephesians chapter one. I'll begin
in verse three. Ephesians one, verse three. Blessed
be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. who hath blessed
us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ. And how did he do that? Look
at it. According as he hath chosen us
in him that is in Christ before the foundation of the world.
that we should be holy and without blame before him in love. Do you see it? That's what it
says. Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children
by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made
us accepted in the beloved. Well, if I believe that, doesn't
that make me a primitive Baptist? No. That makes me, if I believe
this, one who believes the truth of the scriptures. You see, sadly,
I do not say this joyfully, sadly, many primitive Baptists deny
the remainder of this passage, and the remainder of this passage
goes on, this is what else it says, goes on to say in Ephesians
1 verse 11, in whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being
predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all
things after the counsel of his own will, that we should be to
the praise of his glory who first trusted in Christ, in whom ye
also trusted. That is, these people who were
chosen, that is, elected and predestinated even before the
foundation of the world. But it says, in whom ye also
trusted after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of
your salvation, in whom also after that ye believed, ye were
sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise. You see, many primitive
Baptists deny this, the remainder. Some teach that there are some,
at least some, who are elected and predestinated, but they are
never converted by the gospel. This is not the doctrine of scripture. Thus I am not a primitive Baptist,
at least not of that ilk. You see, this book teaches that
those whom God chose and those whom God predestinated, he chose
them to be saved by the preaching of the gospel. And he chose them,
he predestinated rather, them unto the adoption of children
by Jesus Christ to himself And that, according to scripture,
is where they cry out within their innermost being, Abba,
or Papa, Father. They cry out to God in a living
union with Jesus Christ. I am not a primitive Baptist. I'm not Church of Christ, I am
not primitive Baptist. Now, I'm not trying to pick on
certain denominations, but you and I know, you know, if you're
honest with yourself, if you're honest with yourself, and if
I'm honest with you, we know that different denominations
hold to different facts or doctrines or things to which they hold
to be the truth. A believer, A born again believer
believes all the truth of God. Let me go on. Let me give you
a third thing. If I say that a man or a woman needs rest,
that is a man or a woman, young or old, doesn't matter what your
race is, doesn't matter what the color of your skin is, it
does not matter what your background is, a man or a woman, young or
old, boy or girl, they need rest. Someone then may ask me the question,
well, are you a Seventh-day Adventist? Seventh-day Adventists lay great
stress upon the rest of the Sabbath, the keeping of the Sabbath day.
Let me say that there are those who profess to be Christians
that teach that God changed the seventh day rest, that is the
seventh day Sabbath, and changed it to the first day, that is
Sunday. And that is nowhere taught in
the scriptures. But am I a Seventh-day Adventist
because I say that a man or woman needs rest? Well, I want you
to turn to the central passage which teaches about this Sabbath
rest, that is, this rest. Turn to Hebrews chapter four. Here's the central passage. Hebrews
chapter four. Let us therefore fear, lest a
promise be left us of entering into his rest. That means Sabbath. of entering into his rest, any
of you should seem to come short of it. For unto us was the gospel
preached, as well as unto them, but the word did not profit them,
not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. For we which
have believed do enter into rest, or that is Sabbath, do you see
it? We which have believed, not we which gather on Saturdays,
or we which gather on Sundays. It has nothing to do with a specific
day. It has to do with a specific
person. For we which have believed do
enter into rest. As he said, I have sworn in my
wrath, if they shall enter into my rest, although the works were
finished from the foundation of the world. That is to say,
somebody's going to enter into this rest. But some did not. But some did not. But God ordained
it. God ordained this rest. And God
meant for some to come into this rest before the foundation of
the world. Look, it goes on. For he spake
in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise. And this is
talking about the creation. And God did rest the seventh
day from all his works. Why did God rest? God did not
rest because he was tired. God rested because he was done. God did rest the Sabbath day
from all his works. And in this place again, if they
shall enter into my rest. He's not talking about keeping
a Sabbath day, so-called Levitical or Christian Sabbath day. And
in this place again, if they shall enter into my rest, seeing
therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they
to whom it was first preached entered not in, not because they
didn't keep the sixth day, or the seventh day, or the first
day, or the second, it doesn't matter, not because of that,
but because of unbelief. Again, he limiteth a certain
day, saying in David, today, after so long a time, as it is
said, today, if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts. For if Jesus had given them rest,
then would he not afterward have spoken of another day. Look at it. There remaineth,
therefore, a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered
into his rest, he hath also ceased from his own works as God did
from his. Let us labor, therefore, to enter
into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of
unbelief. Let me give you this. Listen
to me. Hear my words now. This labor is a labor of attitude. It is not a labor of actions. No, I'm not a Seventh-day Adventist,
but I do believe in God's rest, and I do believe that a man or
a woman a boy or a girl, young or old, they must enter into
that rest. And how do they enter that rest? By faith in Jesus Christ. That's the doctrine of Holy Scripture. So, no, I'm not of the Church
of Christ denomination. I am not of the Primitive Baptist
denomination. And no, I am not a Seventh-day
Adventist. But let me give you another one.
If I were to say to you, a man or a woman, a boy or a girl,
young or old, rich or poor, bond or free, if I were to say to
you, a man needs a priest, If I were to say, a man, a woman,
needs a priest, someone may then ask me this question, well, are
you a Roman Catholic? I want you to stay where you
are, Hebrews chapter four. This is the central passage upon
the priesthood. As a matter of fact, the whole
book of Hebrews has much to say about the priesthood. It has
much to say about the priesthood under the Levitical law, and
it has much to say about the priesthood of Jesus Christ. And
it has nothing to say about a man-made, man-ordained priesthood. Nothing
whatsoever. Here's the central passage. Let's
go on in Hebrews 4, where it was talking about this rest.
Verse 12. For the word of God is quick
and powerful. and sharper than any two-edged
sword, piercing even to the defiling asunder of soul and spirit, and
of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts
and intents of the heart." Now you may say, what about this
priesthood? You talk about priesthood. Yes, we're going to see about
priesthood. But first of all, let's see, the word of God must
come in and cut you both ways. God Almighty uses his preached
word. It pleased God. By the foolishness
of preaching, to save them that believe. It does not in the scripture
say anywhere it pleased God by you going into the confessional
to confess your sins to a priest and God will save you. The book
of God does not teach that. God's word, the preaching of
Jesus Christ must come in and conquer your soul. Let's go on.
Verse 13 of Hebrews four, neither is there any creature that is
not manifest in his or God's sight, but all things are naked
and open under the eyes of him with whom we have to do. And
look at it, here it is, here we're getting to it. I say this,
a man or a woman needs a priest. They need a priest, they must
have a priest. Look, seeing then that we have a great high priest. that is passed into the heavens,
Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession, our
profession of Him. It doesn't say hold fast to your
profession, hold fast professing Christ, that's what it says.
Let us hold fast our profession, now look at it, for we have not
an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our
infirmities, which is to say, that's put in the negative, it
is to say by the writer of Hebrews, we have, that is those which
have believed, those which have entered into God's Sabbath, that
is God's rest, those who have believed Christ, because Christ
is the gospel. The gospel is the message of
God, according to Paul in Romans chapter one, the gospel is the
message of God concerning his son. For we do have a high priest,
and he can be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but
was in all points tempted, like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly
unto the throne of grace, not a confessional. Let me tell you
something, not coming forward to the front of some so-called
church. There are many Baptists and Presbyterians and Methodists
in our day that have set up a priesthood very similar to that of the Roman
Catholics and they believe you have to come forward and confess
your sins to some preacher. Let us therefore come boldly
unto the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find
grace to help, grace to help in time of need. So no, I am
not a Roman Catholic, but we must have a priest, and God's
people have a priest, and that priest is none other than the
Lord Jesus Christ himself. You see, again I say, I say these
words to you, and I mean this with all the sincerity that dwells
within me. The question is not what denomination
are you. The question is not even what
do you believe. Would you believe in eternal
security or do you not believe in eternal security? The question
is do you believe God's son? Have you fled for refuge to the
hope that is set before men and women and that hope is none other
than Jesus Christ, yes? Those who believe Christ will
be baptized. They will give that answer or
that response unto God. They will go into the waters
of baptism, a like figure confessing publicly before men and women,
I hold to the resurrected Jesus Christ who is the sovereign over
all things. Those who truly believe, they
will confess. They will confess that God Almighty
chose and predestinated a people before the foundation of the
world. Those were God's people. They
do, by faith, enter into God's Sabbath, that is God's rest. They rejoice in that rest, and
they don't do it one day a week. They do it seven days a week,
and yes, God's people come to a priest. They come to him who
is God's great high priest. They need nothing or no one else. Jesus Christ is their all. So again I say, people ask, well
what denomination are you? It saddens me to my soul because
if men and women really understood the truth of God's holy word. Their main thrust would be this,
even as our Lord Jesus Christ himself said, what think ye of
Christ? Jesus Christ is the sum and substance
of all things. I don't care what doctrine you
hold to and how correct it is, if you've missed Jesus Christ,
you've missed it all. So I hope, I hope you get the
picture of what I'm saying. People have asked me, and probably
no doubt will still continue to ask me, well, what denomination
are you? That's not the point. I could
go on without question and express more. I could go on quoting other
passages, other particular passages that men and women hold to and
say, this is the moniker of my denomination. But yet God's people
hold to the whole of God's word. So I hope you get the picture.
And as I say, I could express more, but time does not allow
me to do so. But I am persuaded these four
things I've given you say enough. You see, being caught up with
God's Christ, being caught up with God's Christ It has no denominational
moniker. Now, I am, there's nothing wrong,
you wanna call yourself a Methodist, a Baptist, a Presbyterian, a
Pentecostal, do you hold to the truth of the personal work of
Jesus Christ? That's the point. Being caught
up with God's Christ has no denominational moniker. True Christianity. I said true Christianity is to
be caught up with God's Christ and the truth about him. The truth of who he is. The truth of what he accomplished
when he came into this world. What he is doing now as he sits
glorified at the right hand of God the Father. You see, denominationalism
And let me say non-denominationalism. You hear what I said? Denominationalism
and non-denominationalism, if that's all you have, it is damning. And denominationalism and non-denominationalism
is damning to your soul and my soul if it competes with Jesus
Christ. I have a reminder, every Sunday
morning on this same On this same TV station, WVVACW, a portion
of one of our Sunday morning messages can be watched at 12
noon. I would strongly encourage you to tune in if you can at
12 noon.