SOUND DOCTRINE

There are but two forms of religion in the world. One is true. The other is false. One is saving. The other is damning. Those two forms of religion are free-grace and free-will.

Free-grace declares that salvation is the work of God alone. Free-will declares that salvation is, at least in part, the work of man. Free-grace declares that salvation is conditioned upon the obedience of Christ alone as the sinner’s Substitute. Free-will declares that salvation is ultimately and finally conditioned upon the obedience of the sinner himself.

Any doctrine that makes salvation, eternal life, acceptance with God, and the reward of the heavenly inheritance to be dependent upon, or determined by you, at any point or in any measure, is contrary to sound doctrine. To receive, believe, or embrace such doctrine will be damning to your soul (Read Gal. 5:1-4).

Here are five points of Divine truth by which all doctrine must be examined. Anything that is contrary to, or in any measure diminishes, these five points of sound doctrine must be rejected as heresy.

  1. TOTAL DEPRAVITY - All men by nature are both sinful and helpless, because all are spiritually dead (Matt. 15:19; Rom. 5:12; Eph. 2:1-4).
  2. UNCONDITIONAL ELECTION - God, from eternity, chose a people in Christ whom he determined to save, without consideration of anything in them or anything that might be done by them (John 15:16; 2 Thess. 2:13-14; Rom. 8:28-30; 9:13-24; Eph. 1:3-6; 2 Tim. 1:9-10).
  3. LIMITED ATONEMENT - Christ died for and redeemed his elect only. The benefits of Christ’s death are limited to the elect. And his death effectually secures their salvation (Isa. 53:8-11; John 10:11, 15; Heb. 9:12).
  4. IRRESISTIBLE GRACE - God the Holy Spirit calls sinners from spiritual death to spiritual life in Christ by the power of his grace which cannot be successfully resisted (Psa. 65:4; 110:3; John 6:63; Eph. 2:8-9).
  5. PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS - Every sinner chosen by God in election, redeemed by Christ at Calvary, and called by the Spirit in grace shall persevere in grace unto eternal glory, because they are all preserved and kept by grace (John 10:27-30; Jer. 32:38-40).

IF ANY MAN PREACHES ANYTHING CONTRARY TO THESE THINGS, HE IS A FALSE PROPHET AND A DECEIVER OF MEN’S SOULS. LET HIM BE DAMNED. That is not a conclusion I have reached. That is the conclusion the Apostle Paul reached by divine inspiration. You will find it written in Galatians 1:6-8.

"I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed."

AMEN.

 

Don Fortner