What Do You Believe And Why? # 5

This is the 5th message in series, "What do you believe, and why?"

- 1st Message - 2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

- 2nd Message - Literally, to obey the Great Commission = Matt. 28.18-20 = Make disciples, baptize them and then "teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you"

- 3rd Message - Practical implication of obeying the Great Commission = Joining the church = The importance of the local, visible, New Testament church = Acts 2.37-41

- Esp. in our last message stressed how within the context of the church Christ’s desire is that we move from being believers to becoming disciples = [Acts 2.42]

And then THREE weeks ago using the occasion of our 189th Anniversary

- Began examing the "Church Articles of Faith" adopted in 1815

- Which demonstrated that they were in word and deed a GOSPEL church

- And we covered the first 4 points of 15 total

- Discussing some of the differences between then and now

- And noting the fact that all the Scripture I will quote / refer to should be considered to be representative, no exhaustive

Points we covered:

1. WE BELIEVE THERE IS BUT ONE LIVING AND TRUE GOD; AND THAT THERE ARE THREE PERSONS IN THE GOD-HEAD; THE FATHER, THE SON, THE HOLY GHOST, AND THESE ARE ONE IN NATURE, BEING EQUAL IN POWER AND GLORY.

2. WE BELIEVE THE SCRIPTURES OF THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENT ARE GIVEN BY INSPIRATION OF GOD AND ARE THEREFORE HIS WORD AND THE ONLY RULE OF FAITH AND PRACTICE.

3. WE BELIEVE IN THE ORIGINAL DEPRAVITY OF MAN AND MAN FELL INTO SIN BY HIS OWN FREE WILL ABILITY.

4. WE BELIEVE THE ETERNAL REDEMPTION WHICH CHRIST OBTAINED BY HIS BLOOD IS, SPECIAL AND PARTICULAR, THAT IS, IT WAS INTENTIONALLY DESIGNED FOR THE ELECT OF GOD AND THE BODY OF CHRIST.

This week we pick up with point 5

- And we shall read through point 7 = Points 5 - 6 - 7 are inter-related

5. WE BELIEVE THAT EVANGELICAL OR SPIRITUAL LOVE, FAITH, HOPE, AND REPENTANCE ARE FRUITS AND GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AND ARE EXPRESSED IN NO ONE EXCEPT THOSE THAT ARE BORN AGAIN.

6. WE BELIEVE SANCTIFICATION IS A WORK OF THE SPIRIT, BEGUN AT REGENERATION AND CARRIED ON UNTIL DEATH; THEREFORE IT IS PROGRESSIVE.

7. WE BELIEVE THAT EVERYONE THAT IS REDEEMED, REGENERATED, AND JUSTIFIED SHALL PERSEVERE IN GRACE TO GLORY SO THAT NOT ONE OF THEM CAN EVER PERISH, BUT WILL, THROUGH THE GRACE OF CHRIST, BE GLORIFIED IN HEAVEN.

In our contemporary statement of faith, the above statements would be covered in several different doctrinal sections.

- Nevertheless, we still hold to these basic beliefs

- Let us now examine each in turn

5. WE BELIEVE THAT EVANGELICAL OR SPIRITUAL LOVE, FAITH, HOPE, AND REPENTANCE ARE FRUITS AND GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AND ARE EXPRESSED IN NO ONE EXCEPT THOSE THAT ARE BORN AGAIN.

I don’t think any of us would have a problem saying that the Holy Spirit gives men certain gifts and it is only by way of the Holy Spirit that we can have His fruit in our life

- And further that those gifts and that fruit is for the believer

- Thus we don’t have so much trouble with "evangelical or Spiritual love, faith, hope"

- But what about repentance?

From our contemporary statement of faith = "Soteriology: The Doctrine of Salvation"

- A. Salvation, "We believe in salvation by grace through faith ~ the free gift of God, neither merited nor secured in part or in whole by any virtue or work of man, but received only by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, whom all true believers have as a present possession in the gift of eternal life - a perfect righteous sonship in the family of God; deliverance and security from all condemnation, and every spiritual resource needed for life and godliness, and the divine guarantee that they shall never perish. This salvation affects the whole man. Apart from Christ there is no possible salvation."

- And there are any number of proof texts for this belief

> John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

> Acts 4.8-12

> Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin [is] death; but the gift of God [is] eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

> 1 John 5.10-13

But perhaps the pivotal verses to consider in all of this would be = Eph. 2.8-9