It seems we now live at a time “when they
will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires,
because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves
teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth” (2
Tim. 4:3-4). In such an age, the words of
Spurgeon once again may serve us well: “I
am quite sure that the best way to promote union is to promote truth. It will not do for us to be all united
together by yielding to one another’s mistakes. We
are to love each other in Christ; but we are not to be so united that
we are not able to see each other’s faults, and especially not able to
see our own. No, purge the house of God, and
then shall grand and blessed times dawn on us.”
Q: What are the “Doctrines of Grace,” “Effectual
Calling,” and “Perseverance of the Saints,” as used in your Mission
Statement?
A: The “Doctrines of
Grace” refers to the doctrinal exposition of God’s total sovereignty. The term “Doctrines of Grace”
has often been
used, for example by Spurgeon, as a synonym for the 5 points of
Calvinism, but we use it primarily in reference to man’s total
depravity and his complete inability to seek God without being drawn by
Him, and in reference to salvation being a miraculous and powerful work
of God. “Effectual Calling”
refers to the fact that when God calls or elects one to salvation, His
calling will do the work for which it was sent, including, as stated in
the L.B.C.F.,
“enlightening their minds spiritually and savingly to
understand the things of God; taking away their heart of stone, and
giving unto them a heart of flesh: renewing their wills, and by His
almighty power determining them to that which is good, and effectually
drawing them to Jesus Christ.” The
related term “Perseverance
of the Saints” refers to the fact that God’s elect will persevere
in the faith, not only by remaining steadfast in the faith in this
life, but by being eternally saved from damnation in the life to come.
Q: Do you believe that Christians don't or can’t
sin?
A: Absolutely not. Sin in the life of the Christian is an undeniable biblical truth, for John says that “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us” (1 John 1:8). In fact, we would suggest that no one is more painfully aware of the reality of sin in their life than a true Christian. To deny it would be both unreasonable and unbiblical: “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” (1 Jn. 1:8) We are painfully aware of it as Christians, as Paul was when he admitted that “the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do,” and then cried out, “O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” (Rom. 7:19, 24). (See also the L.B.C.F. under “Perseverance of the Saints.” However, we do not believe, as is commonly held today, that the Christian life can be characterized by long-term backsliding and carnality, for the Bible makes a clear distinction between those who truly know Him and those who merely profess: “Whoever abides in Him does not sin” [i.e., does not practice or continue in sin]. “Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him. Little children, let no one deceive
