The Doctrines of Grace and of Christ

Q: What does the Bible say about the doctrines of grace?

The Bible teaches that the doctrines of grace encapsulate God's sovereignty, total depravity, unconditional election, particular redemption, invincible grace, and perseverance of the saints. The doctrines of grace are foundational truths derived from Scripture that highlight God's sovereignty in salvation. They affirm that mankind is totally depraved due to original sin, and that God, out of His mercy, unconditionally elects a particular people for salvation. Christ's atoning work is particular and effective for these elect, and the grace offered to them is invincible, meaning they will surely respond in faith. Furthermore, those who are truly saved will persevere until the end. These doctrines are not merely high theology but the essence of the gospel, demonstrating God's character and plan for salvation as outlined in passages like Ephesians 1:4-5 and Romans 8:28-30.

Q: How do we know that God is sovereign in salvation?

The sovereignty of God in salvation is evidenced by Scripture affirming that all things work according to His will and purpose. God's sovereignty is a central theme in Scripture, indicating that He is in complete control over the salvation of His people. Romans 8:28-30 illustrates that those whom God foreknew, He predestined, called, justified, and glorified without fail. This process shows that God's sovereignty encompasses all aspects of salvation, from election to glorification. Furthermore, passages such as Ephesians 1:11 speak of God's purpose in working all things after the counsel of His will, demonstrating His unopposed authority. The truth of God's sovereignty assures believers that their salvation does not depend on their efforts but on God's grace and power.

Q: Why is understanding total depravity important for Christians?

Understanding total depravity is crucial because it highlights our inability to save ourselves and our need for divine grace. Total depravity teaches that every aspect of humanity is affected by sin, leading to a complete inability to achieve righteousness on our own. This doctrine is supported by Scripture, indicating that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). Recognizing our total depravity is essential because it underscores the need for the grace of God as the sole means of salvation. Without this understanding, one may mistakenly believe they can contribute to their own salvation through works. The realization that we are utterly reliant on God's mercy can lead to genuine repentance and faith in Christ as our Savior, the only one who can redeem us from our sinfulness.

Q: Why is it necessary to believe in unconditional election?

Unconditional election is vital because it affirms that salvation is entirely a work of God, not based on foreseen merit or human choice. The doctrine of unconditional election asserts that God chooses individuals for salvation based solely on His will and purpose, not conditioned on any foreseen merit or actions on their part. This is clear in passages such as Ephesians 1:4-5, where Paul states that God chose us in Him before the foundation of the world. Understanding this doctrine is crucial for Christians because it reinforces the truth that salvation is a gift of grace, not earned by works. It shows that God is merciful and sovereign in His choices, leading to deeper gratitude and worship. Accepting unconditional election provides assurance to believers, knowing their salvation rests not on their fluctuating faith but on God's sovereign decision.

Q: How does perseverance of the saints relate to salvation?

Perseverance of the saints means that those truly saved will continue in faith until the end, confirming the certainty of their salvation. The perseverance of the saints is the belief that those who are genuinely saved will continue in their faith and never fully fall away. This is supported by Scripture in passages such as Philippians 1:6, which assures believers that God who began a good work in them will carry it on to completion. This doctrine emphasizes that true faith will endure regardless of trials and tribulations, as it is sustained by God's power. Understanding this concept gives believers confidence and hope, knowing that their salvation is secure and that they are kept by God's grace, not by their own strength or resolve. It reassures them that while they may falter, God’s commitment to their salvation is unwavering and eternal.

I want you to open your Bibles
tonight to the book of 2 John. Now, I've been sort of resting the
last two or three days because of a little back problem, and
I've done nothing but read, lie flat on my back and read. for
the last three days, since last Sunday. This is the first time
I've been out since last Sunday night, and I've had a lot of
time to do some reading. And one of the things that I
read, and I'm as guilty as you are in this thing of reading. Sometimes I read things, and
then other times I read them. It's like that fellow told Brother
Howard one time, said, Heard you a lot of times tonight, I
heard you. And I picked up some of my son,
Pastor Paul Mahan's bulletins to read them again, to read them
this time. I read things, so many things
sometime hurriedly, and I read these. There was one in particular, an article which he wrote, I
think for the newspaper, and for the Bulletin on the Doctrine
of Christ. And it was such a blessing to
me. It was such a powerful, powerful article. I wish that all of you
could read it. But it inspired the message that
I'm bringing tonight. And I pray that it'll be a special
message. I pray, as Brother Ronnie did
a few moments ago, the Lord will be pleased to speak to our hearts
in this message this evening. Now, the title of the message
is The Doctrines of Grace-The Doctrine of Christ. The Doctrines
of Grace-The Doctrine of Christ. Let's read in 2 John For many deceivers are entered
into the world who confess not that Jesus Christ
is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. Now look to yourselves that we lose not those things
which we have wrought. which we have gained, but that we receive a full reward. Let's don't miss what we've read,
what we've studied, what we've been taught. Let's get a hold
of it in the heart. For whosoever transgresseth and
abideth not in the doctrine of Christ hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine
of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. And if there come
any unto you, and bring not this doctrine of Christ, receive him
not into your house, neither bid him God's speed. For he that
biddeth him God's speed is partaker of his evil deeds. Now, it's
becoming increasingly popular today in many circles, denominations,
and private groups to study, even to profess a knowledge
of, and even a belief in, what is called the doctrines of grace.
I remember a time when they were scarcely known, the doctrines
of grace. But now they're being referred
to quite frequently, quite often, from some of the strangest places.
What are they? What are we talking about the
doctrines of grace? What do you understand when I
say the doctrines of grace? Well, I understand mainly six
things. Number one is God's sovereignty. Number two, total depravity,
the total depravity of mankind because of Adam's fall. I understand
unconditional election, God elected a people. What we call particular
redemption, what many call limited atonement, not limited in its
power, but it's particular, it's effectual, let's put it that
way. And then I understand invincible grace called irresistible, well,
that's not really a good word because For while we do resist, we resist after we're saved too,
too often. But it's invincible. He will
win. He will accomplish his purpose.
And then the perseverance of the saints. But my question is,
why not believe these things? Why not believe them? They're
easily proved from the Scriptures. That's what the Word of God teaches.
Every one of them is taught in the Word of God.
Barnard first came here. He preached a message at the
First Sovereign Grace Bible Conference. To me, it was unanswerable. It was one of those sermons that
lived forever that we preached once in a while. It's called
Six Stubborn Statements, and there's not a great believer.
I guess in America hadn't heard that sermon, Six Stubborn Statements,
or at least the outline. Most of you have, haven't you?
I notice you're smiling when I mention that sermon, Six Stubborn
Statements. Most of us, Charlie, have preached
it two or three times, haven't we? God's either sovereign or hidden. Man's either dead or he's not
dead. There's no middle ground. God either elected a people or
he didn't. Christ either redeemed his sheep or he didn't. There's
no middle ground. The Holy Spirit either effectually,
invincibly, irresistibly calls men to Christ or he doesn't.
Somebody else does or doesn't. And God's sheep will persevere
or they won't. So it's easy to prove from the
Scripture. Secondly, I understand why men
are bringing these doctrines up and why they're discussing
them and why even some of them are claiming to believe them.
This is what all of the major confessions of faith, this is
what they're all taught. Baptist confession of faith,
Presbyterian confession of faith, the Lutheran confession of faith,
the Dutch confession of faith. The Church of England Confession
of Faith teach every one of these doctrines. Isn't that right,
John? The foundation of these confessions
of faith, and not only that, but it's almost impossible to
find one of the great old preachers of the past who didn't preach
this message. We go back to Polycarp, Ignatius,
clear back to the first century. to Augustine, Luther, Germany,
Calvin, France, Orlin, Scotland, Spurgeon, England, Edwards, America. These are men whose names are
synonymous with orthodoxy. Isn't that right? Huss, Latimer, Ridley, Rutherford,
every one of them. Cary, Judson, missionaries. Whitfield. All of these men preached. This is all that they preached,
the grace of God. I've often gone places in meetings,
and old people have come up to me many times with tears in their
eyes, and they say, what's your preaching? It's what I grew up
on. This is not new to me. It's new hearing it nowadays,
but it's not new. Well, but don't get too excited. People are talking about these
doctrines, but not many folks are preaching them. I said that
it's becoming increasingly popular in many circles and denominations
to profess to believe them, to discuss them. but they're not
being preached. And I'll tell you why. Now listen
carefully. Listen. Most people think that what we
call the doctrines of grace is just a high form of theology. They call it high doctrine. It's
deeper truth. These doctrines are something
for the theologians to discuss and Bible readers to argue, but
they have very little to do with the gospel. Isn't that what you
run into? You understand what I'm saying?
In other words, you discuss these things in the privacy of a home,
you don't put them out in the pulpit. Some believe that God's sovereignty
and God's covenant mercies in Christ's effectual work and the
grace of God are doctrines which may or may not be believed, which
may be studied and may be accepted, or may not be studied, may not
be accepted, and there's something we learn after we've said it. So this being the case, to them
it's not important to preach them. If a man can be saved without
hearing these things, why bother him with them? Well, let me say this to you
emphatically. Listen carefully. This message of who God is and
who we are and who Christ is and what Christ did is the gospel. It is the gospel. Isn't that
right? It is the gospel. I ask you this. Can a man preach
the gospel? Can he preach the gospel if he
does not identify God's character? Can he preach the gospel? Can
you preach the gospel and not tell who God is in his majesty,
in his holiness, in his sovereignty, in his power? Can you preach
the gospel and not tell man what he is in his fall, in his death,
in his need? Can you? Can you preach the gospel and
not give the glory to Christ? Salvation is by grace. It's not
by works. It's by what he did, not what
we do. It's all Christ. Which brings me to say this.
A man doesn't preach the gospel
at all unless he preaches the doctrines of grace. And I'll even go further and
say this, one is not saved at all who does not believe that God
is God, who does not believe that salvation
is a gift of God. It's not of works. It's the gift
of God. Repentance is the gift of God.
Faith is the gift of God. A man is not saved who does not
know something in his heart of the righteousness and blood of
the Son of God. He's got to know something of
substitution. Isn't that the very heart of
the gospel? Isn't that the very foundation of the gospel? Substitution. Not an offer, a gift. I tell you, when old David came
to die, I read this frequently. because some of the rest of us
are coming to die. In 2 Samuel 20, in his last words,
he said, and I think of the things he
could have said that he didn't say. I think of the experiences
he had to which he could have called attention, and yet he
didn't. in 2 Samuel 23 5, Although my
house be not so with God, yet he hath made with me an everlasting
covenant, ordered in all things, and sure,
and this is all my salvation. Isn't that something I learned
after I saved? This is my salvation. Covenant mercies, they're called
the sure mercies of David. This is my salvation. And not only that, but it's all
my desire. Jesus Christ is made to me, all I need. Although, in appearance, he make
it not to grow. Doesn't look like much to everybody
else, but it looks like a whole lot to me. And then Paul's testimony to
the church at Ephesus, he said, blessed be the God and Father. of our Lord Jesus Christ, who
hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings, and the heavenlies
in Christ, according as he chose us in Christ before the foundation
of the world, that we should behold him without blame before
him in love, having predestinated us to the adoption of children.
This is my salvation, he said. And James' testimony of his own
will begat he us with the word of truth. And in Peter's testimony, right
back just a few pages in 1 Peter 1, listen. Verse 2, he said,
Elect, elect according to the foreknowledge of God. Elect according to the foreknowledge
of God through sanctification of the Spirit unto obedience
and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ. Grace unto you
and peace be multiplied. I know that most all of us are
brought up in some kind of religion. It's hard to be born in America
and not be church-trained or church-influenced or church-oriented
or religiously inclined. And a person may have some knowledge
of the scriptures. which are able to make him wise
unto salvation, make him wise unto redemption, like Timothy.
Timothy was brought up by a godly mother and a godly grandmother. But Timothy himself had to come
to knowledge of that godly grandmother's God, and that godly mother's God. Or we may be in the company and
companionship of those who are able to supply us with the Word,
which is able to convert us, but it's Christ who converts
us. Didn't Christ say to the Apostle
Peter, when you're converted, when you are, strengthen your
brethren. I was talking to a preacher down
in Florida one time years ago, and he was talking about about maybe having me come preach
a meeting for him. I said, well, are you preaching
the message of grace? He said, well, I never will forget
this. Doris was standing in the door
listening, and I looked up at her when he said it, and her
face, I had the strangest look on her face. This is what he
said. Well, he said, I don't preach
it on Sunday morning. And he said, I'd say I preach
it about 50% on Sunday night. And on Wednesday night, he said,
when just the faithful few are there, I preach it pretty strongly. I said, when did you learn the
doctrines of grace? He said, oh, just a couple of
years ago. I said, when were you saved?
Oh, he said, back when I was a child. I said, in other words, you learned
the gospel two years ago and you saved 40 years ago. How do
you save without knowing the gospel? How do you save without knowing
the gospel? Tell me. Well, needless to say, I didn't
go preach. I didn't get an invitation to
go preach for them. But the final analysis is this.
A man can know the law and be moral like Saul of Tarsus and
not be saved. A man can know much scripture
and not be saved. A man can even know the doctrines
of grace and not know the grace of the doctrine. Well, let me
show you something. Turn to Romans 8. Now, all these truths go together. They're inseparably connected.
You would agree with that, wouldn't you? All of these truths that we're discussing are inseparably
connected. Look at Romans 8, verse 28. And
we know that all things work together for good to them that
love God, to them who are called according to his purpose, for
whom he did foreknow, he did predestinate to be conformed
to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among
many brethren, moreover whom he did predestinate, and them
he called. Whom he called, he justified.
Whom he justified, he glorified. One of these won't stand without
the other, will they? God's sovereign. Man's depraved. God chose a people. Christ died
for them. The Holy Spirit called them.
He will preserve them. They will persevere. All go together.
But what I'm saying to you is this. All of these truths make
up one truth. All of these truths make up one
truth. And it's not truths that set
men free, and it's not truths that save, it's the truth that
sets men free. It's the truth that sets, Christ
is the truth. And this is what's being done
today, and this is what is being preached. These doctrines, we're
talking about the sovereignty of God, and we're not talking
about the Lord Jesus Christ, who's sovereign. We're talking
about an atonement that's particular, but what we need to preach is
one who cannot fail in what he does. And we're talking about
him who is the object of faith. Now watch this. I've used this
so often, but turn to John 11. Here's a lesson that our Lord
taught Martha. Mary and Martha, sisters, and
their brother had died. I used this not so many months
ago at a funeral. I think it has a powerful, powerful
lesson here for us to learn, the lesson he taught Martha.
Now, the brother had died and then our Lord came. And it says
in verse 20, John 11, verse 20, then Martha, as soon as she heard
that Jesus was coming, she went and met him. But Mary sat still
in the house, and then Martha said unto Jesus, now I want you
to watch Martha as she declares her creed, what she believed,
that which she believed. It's like us, we say we believe
God's sovereign, we believe God elected a people, we believe
Christ died for them, we believe the Holy Spirit calls them, we
believe man is to pray, we believe these things. Yes, we do. Martha
said, Lord, if you'd have been here, my brother wouldn't have
died. That I know. Secondly, but I know that even
now, whatever whatsoever you ask God, God will give you. I
know you're effectual in prayer. Whatever you ask, God will give
you. Jesus said unto her, very simply, your brother shall rise
again. And she said unto him, I know that he'll rise again
in the resurrection at the last day. And then Jesus said to her,
Martha, Here's the lesson. I'm the resurrection. I'm the
life. The resurrection is not a doctrine,
it's a person. Life is not a doctrine, it's
a person. I live because he lives. The
scripture teaches the person and work of Christ in that order.
The person and the work. His person makes effectually
His work. Who is greater, the builder or
the house? You don't have a house without
a builder. I hear people say, well, I just
trust in the finished work of Christ, not me. The man says,
I'm trusting the blood. I'm not. No, sir, I'm trusting
Him who shed that blood. cannot save you if you were bathed
in it. Is that too hard? The man who
drove the nails in his hand, you think how much blood splattered
on him. You couldn't, you couldn't, the man who whipped him with
that cat of nine tails, you couldn't whip a man with thirty-nine lashes
and not get blood splattered all over you. The very blood of the Son of
God fell on that man's face and arms and body, and he went to
hell. Martha, look at this, look hard
at it. I am the resurrection. I believe
in the resurrection of the dead, only because Christ rose. That's
why I believe it. Only because. Somebody says,
are you saved? Is Christ at the right hand of
God? Yes, sir, then I'm saved. If He's not, I'm not saved. Because
He's my salvation. Where He is, I am. I was died
with Him, was buried with Him, rose with Him, and seated with
Him. He's my salvation. He's my hope. He's my life. Martha,
I'm the resurrection. and the life, and he that believeth
in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. And whosoever
liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Martha, do you believe
this?" Do you believe me? Do you? And that's what I'm saying. I'm trying to say what I'm going
to say when I go and preach for my friend next week. We don't want to just learn the
doctrines of grace. We want to learn the doctrine
of Christ. We don't want to just study the
doctrines of grace. We want to learn Christ and study
Christ. Be found in Him. We in Christ
come to knowledge of Him. Walk with Him. Can't walk with
a doctrine. So I want you to watch the next
Brian. He said to her, Do you believe
this? And she said, Now watch it. Yes, sir. Yes, Lord, I do. I believe that thou art the Christ.
I believe that thou art the Son of the living God, the Messiah,
which is coming to the world. I do. And when she said this,
she went her way. Satisfied. Don't you think she
was? I believe she was. I believe she settled it right
there. Have you settled it? Have I? Here we come with our doctrines
of grace, and what she said prior to that was so. You can't find
a loophole in anything she said. If you'd have been here, you
would have died. Even now, I believe if you called on the Father,
He'd raise Him. You'll rise. Oh, I believe He
wrote the resurrection. All right, Martha, I'm the resurrection. I'm the life. that you love me
and look to me and believe on me and eat of my flesh and drink
of my blood, you'll never die. You'll never die. Now, do you
believe this? Yeah, Lord, I do. I believe you're
the Christ, the Son of the living God. And having said this, she
went her way. She went her way. Oh, my. Paul, in his article, wrote this.
When a person sees that all of these many truths together, all of these truths, the doctrines
of grace, the doctrines, all of them, together are the one
essential truth. They simply tell us who Christ
is. They tell us what Christ did. They tell us why Christ did it.
They tell us where Christ is now. They tell us our need and
inability and our hopelessness without Christ. They tell us
that he's made under us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification,
and redemption. And only then will a man truly
repent, believe, trust, and commit all to him alone. And when we
see that the doctrines of grace are simply the declaration of
the person and work of Christ Jesus, in that order, that his
work is subject to his person and his works are made effectual
by his person, then we bow to him as our Lord, our just God
and Savior. And he said, All that I am, all
that I have, all that I know, all that I hope to be is in Christ,
from Christ, through Christ, for Christ, and by his will. And this being true, then I'm
saved. I can tell people this, as far
as the doctrines of grace are concerned. You say, yeah, but
it's a wonderful, wonderful advancement when a man comes to believe that
God is sovereign in all things. Did you know that every Orthodox
Jew in Paul's day believed that? That God was sovereign? Every
one of them did. Every one of them. Every one of them. Secondly,
somebody says, well, don't you think it's a great advancement
when a man comes to believe God elected a people? Every Orthodox
Jew in Paul's day believed in election. Yeah, he did. He believed
that God chose Israel and passed by everybody else. Didn't he?
Every Jew believed that. Everyone believed in depravity,
or rather in sovereignty, in election. Well, don't you think
it's something for a person to believe that God will save Israel
and take everyone of Israel to heaven? That's what they believed
that way, too. They believed that God had a
kingdom. It was a Jewish kingdom, and there wouldn't be anybody
else in it unless they were proselytes of the Jews. So what do we have
more than what they have? I'll tell you what we have. We
have a living union with the person who purposed it. With
the person who purchased it. With the person who arranged
to bring it to pass. And we're in Him. Turn to Job
19. Let's see what Job said about
that. Job 19. Job was one of those remnant. Paul said, If the Lord had not
left us a remnant according to the election of grace, we'd have
been like Sodom and Gomorrah, but there was a remnant. And
listen to what Job said. Oh, verse 23 of Job 19. Job 19, 23. Oh, that my words
were now written. Oh, that they were printed in
a book, that they were graven with an iron pen and laid in
the rock forever. My friends, I know that my Redeemer
liveth. He's a living God. Now what he's
teaching here is the sovereignty of God. But he's declaring he's
the God who lives. He's the God who lives. And that
he, here's the incarnation, listen, and that he shall stand at the
last days, the latter days, on this earth. He's going to become
a man and stand on this earth. And though after my skin, you
see, I'm depraved, I'm full of worms, and worms are going to
destroy this wretched, sin-infested, sin-affected body, and decay
it, destroy it. Yet, in my flesh, new flesh,
redeemed flesh, glorified flesh, I'm going to see God. No man
can look on God and live. This fellow knew that, but he
said, I'm going to see God how? In a new body. In a new nature. I'm going to
see God. Watch it now. And don't misunderstand
me, he said. Whom I shall see for myself.
I'm talking about me. I'm talking about me. I who abhor
myself. I who repent and sackcloth and
ashes, I who put my hand over my mouth, I'm talking about I'm
the one that's going to see God, and not a stranger, not a lover,
not reincarnation, this old fella right here. And you know what that last line
is? That though is not in here, that's in italics, put it away. My reins be consumed within me. Here's what he's saying, this
desire to see Him, To be like him is laid up and burns in my
bosom, and the zeal of his house has eaten me up. My restoration physically is
not what concerns me, is not what burns in my innermost bosom,
but that glorious day when I shall see him and be like him. That's
what burns in my bosom. David said, I'll be satisfied
when I wait with his likeness. His likeness. Now let's go to the New Testament,
and I'll let you go home. 2 Timothy. As you read the Bible, Spurgeon brought this to my attention
one time, and I don't know exactly how
to say it because I can't say it like he did, but we're inclined to take some
of the most beautiful things of God and dissect them or separate
them. In other words, we talk about
sovereignty. And get that settled. Then we
talk about election. Get that all settled. Then we
talk about depravity. We get that all settled. We talk
about effectual redemption. Get that all settled. Then we
talk about effectual calling. Then we talk about, we teach
these things like that, you know, doctrine, justification, and
sanctification, and imputed righteousness. And then we have all these things
pigeonholed, and sectionalized, and divided, and fixed up, and
we get real smart in the head and dry up in the heart. If we had gardens like that,
we'd have all our roses here, and all our tulips here, and
all our hyacinths here, and all our geraniums here, and all our
clover here, and all our grouse here, and all our something else
here, and it'd be so ugly. God takes all these beautiful
things and just puts them together. And you ride through the countryside,
And you pass pine trees, and you pass oak trees, and you pass
maple trees, and sticking out's a dogwood tree, and then a pink
bed tree or so. And God just makes it all together
so beautiful. And that's the way it is with
the person of Christ and what we call the doctrine of Christ.
It's not the doctrines of Christ. It's just the glorious doctrine
of a wonderful person. And when you look at him, you
see all these things in him. Is that clear what I'm saying? It's all in Him. In Him dwelleth
all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. Don't preach doctrines,
preach Christ. And when you preach Christ as
He is, all these things will just come out together. And you've seen the testimony
of Job. Now look at the testimony of Paul. 2 Timothy 1, verse 9. 2 Timothy 1 verse 9, He saved us,
He called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but
according to His own purpose and grace which was given us
in Christ Jesus before this world began, but is now made manifest
by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ. All of this is
manifest by His appearing, Him, it's all in Him. who hath abolished
death, who hath brought life and immortality to light through
the gospel, whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and
a teacher of the Gentiles, for the which cause I also suffer
these things. Nevertheless, I am not ashamed. I won't tell you whom I believe,
because I know what I believe. I know whom I have believed. Well, I know when. Well, I don't,
do you? I know when he began to give
me a little bit of light so I could see who he is and what he did,
a little bit of hearing, a little bit of understanding, and put
me on the road to learning Christ. But he said, I want to tell you
this, I know whom I have believed. in his true character, in his
true glory, in his true majesty, in his true sovereignty and power.
I know him. I don't know him like I ought to. I don't know
him perfectly. I don't know him like I'm going to. I don't know
him like I want to because, oh, that I may know him and I may
grow in grace in the knowledge of him. But I know it. And what I found out about him
each day doesn't change what I knew about him yesterday. It
just makes it more glorious. See what I'm saying, Charlie?
We don't flit around like a butterfly from one bloom to the other bloom.
You just get on Christ and you learn more of God in Christ.
Same bloom. You just learn more about Him.
It doesn't change what you knew yesterday. It just makes greater
what you knew yesterday. I know, listen, and I'm persuaded
beyond a shadow of a doubt that He's able. I'm not able, you're
not able, but he is. He's able. He's able to keep
that which I've committed. Committed. I tell you, I tell you from experience. No matter how traditional it is,
no matter how logical it is, no matter how appealing it is
to the flesh, no matter how many people hold to it, it just won't
give any peace or rest or confidence. But when you come to know him
who is able, to do all that he promised, and to keep all of
us, and to present us faultless, and to make everything work together
for our good, and to comfort, no matter the trial, you know
him, you got peace. It's not knowing a doctrine.
You can just change from being an Armenian to a Calvinist and
be just as lost and just as wild and just as full of unrest. But when you come from anywhere
to Him, you're just safe in the arms of Jesus. I'm not preaching the doctrines
of grace. I'm preaching the doctrine of Christ. And it's just logical. The doctrines of grace spring.
It's just logical. If he's who he is, these things
are so. And that's the reason I say a
man doesn't preach the gospel. Paul was pretty sure of that
because he said, I don't care if it's an angel from heaven.
If he preaches any other gospel, let him be a curse. That's how
positive it is. Why? Because he preached Christ.
The doctrines of grace are the doctrine of Christ. All the truths
just point us to the truth. And you shall know the truth.
I am the truth that sets you free. I can rest. You can too, can't you? He's
my rest. He's my peace. And I'll tell
you one more thing. People leave doctrines, but nobody's
ever met him and left him yet. To whom shall we go? How could
you improve on the Lord Jesus Christ? Where in the world would
you go? Where would you go?

The Doctrines of Grace and of Christ

What does the Bible say about the doctrines of grace?

How do we know that God is sovereign in salvation?

Why is understanding total depravity important for Christians?

Why is it necessary to believe in unconditional election?

How does perseverance of the saints relate to salvation?

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The Doctrines of Grace and of Christ

What does the Bible say about the doctrines of grace?

How do we know that God is sovereign in salvation?

Why is understanding total depravity important for Christians?

Why is it necessary to believe in unconditional election?

How does perseverance of the saints relate to salvation?

Sermon Transcript

About Henry Mahan

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