Seven Irrefutable Facts of
Divine Revelation.
1. The one true and living God is totally sovereign in all
things (Ps. 135:6). Either God is
sovereign, or he isn’t. Either God almighty is indeed almighty, in total,
absolute, sovereign control of all things, or he has no real control over
anything. To say that God is sovereign in all things is to say that God rules
all things. Before objecting to that fact, consider the alternative. If God
does not rule everything, then something rules God! If God does not control
everything, then something controls God! If God does not govern everything,
then something governs God! If God is not totally, absolutely, universally
sovereign, then it must be concluded that faith in God is nothing more than
throwing a coin in a wishing well, because no promise of God can be sure, no
prophecy of God can be absolute, and no word from God can be believed! God is
the sovereign Creator of all things (Gen. 1:1), the sovereign Ruler of all
things (Rom. 8:28; 11:36; 2 Cor. 5:18; Pro. 16:4), and the sovereign Disposer
of all things (Rev. 4:11). And he who is God is totally sovereign in the exercise of his saving grace (Rom. 9:11-24).
2. All men and women by nature are totally depraved (Rom. 3:9-19). Either man is totally depraved, dead in trespasses
and in sins, or he is not. If he is not, he is in no need of a Savior. If we
are not totally depraved, utterly without life before God, all we need is
someone to persuade us and nudge us in the right direction. The doctrine of
man’s original sin and total depravity does not mean that all men are as sinful
and corrupt in their behavior as they can be. God will not allow men in this
world to be as wicked in deed as we all are in heart. When we talk about man’s
total depravity, we are talking about spiritual death and moral inability, the
utter depravity of every man’s heart and nature (Rom. 5:12; Eph. 2:1-3). Here
are eight effects of Adam’s fall upon the human race. These things are true of
all men and women by nature. (1.) Man cannot see the kingdom of God (John 3:3).
(2.) Man cannot understand the things of God (1 Cor. 2:14). (3.) Man cannot do
anything pleasing to God (Rom. 8:8). (4.) Man cannot hear the Word of God (John
8:43). (5.) Man cannot receive the Spirit and truth of God (John 14:17). (6.)
Man cannot come to the Son of God (John 6:44). (7.) Man cannot call Christ Lord
(1 Cor. 12:3). (8.) Man cannot believe on the Lord Jesus Christ (John
12:39-40). Total depravity means that you cannot be saved by your free will, or
your works. Total depravity means that “Salvation
is of the Lord,” entirely. If ever you are saved you must be saved by grace
alone. Salvation is not determined by you. Salvation is not dependent upon you.
Because we are sinners, we are all deserving of God’s everlasting wrath in hell.
We are justly condemned. And unless God saves us by his almighty grace, we will
forever die. That’s the bad news. But here is the good news.
3. God almighty,
from old eternity, chose some of Adam’s fallen race to salvation and eternal
life in Christ, and his loving choice of some was an unconditional election of
grace (Eph. 1:4; 2 Thess. 2:13-14; John
15:16). Either God chose to save his people, or he didn’t. If he did not choose
to save anyone, the salvation of any sinner must be a matter of total uncertainty.
But that is not the case. If you
read the Bible
at all, you know that election is a Bible doctrine. And if you understand what the
Bible teaches about election, you know that it is a precious Bible doctrine.
The cause of our election was the love of God (Jer. 31:3). The time of our
election was before the foundation of the world (Eph. 1:4). The only condition
of our election was the will of God. “I
will have mercy on whom I will have mercy.” The object of our election was
our everlasting salvation in perfect holiness - Conformity to Christ (Eph.
1:4). The comfort of our election is the immutability of our God (Mal. 3:6).
4. In the fulness of time the Lord Jesus Christ died for and
effectually redeemed all God’s elect (Isa.
53:8; John 10:11, 15, 26; Heb. 9:12; Gal. 3:13). Either the Lord Jesus Christ
redeemed his people, or he didn’t. Either the Son of God redeemed all for whom
he died, or his death is of no more meaning or consequence than the death of
any other man. Nowhere in the Bible is it written, or even implied, that Christ
died for everyone in the world, redeemed everyone in the world, or made
atonement for everyone in the world. The doctrine of universal redemption is
the most hideous, blasphemous doctrine ever spewed from the pit of hell. It
reduces the love of God to nothing, perverts the justice of God, makes a
mockery of the blood of Christ, saying that Christ died in vain for the
multitudes who perish, and makes man his own savior. We believe, according to
the Scriptures, that Christ died for and redeemed God’s elect. His blood was
not shed in vain. Our Savior’s limited atonement was and is the effectual
redemption of his people. The atonement of Christ is limited in scope, but not
in efficacy. It was limited in design, but not in merit
5. Salvation is wrought in God’s elect by the irresistible
power and grace of God the Holy Spirit (Ps.
65:4; 110:3). Either the Holy Spirit saves by his almighty call, omnipotent
grace, and irresistible power, or he merely stands by in helpless frustration,
hoping someone will accept Jesus. Either salvation is of the Lord, or it
isn’t. Conviction is the work of the Spirit (John 16:8-11). Regeneration (the
new birth) is the work of the Spirit (John 3:3). Calling is the work of the
Spirit (2 Thess. 2:13-14). Faith is the work of the Spirit (Eph. 1:19). The
instrument of grace is the Word of God. The end of grace is salvation.
The cause of grace is the will of God.
6. Every believer shall persevere in faith, because all who
trust Christ are infallibly preserved by the grace of God (Ecc. 3:14; John 10:28; Phil. 1:6; 1 Pet. 1:5). Either none
of God’s elect shall ever perish, or none are safe. Blessed be God, all are
safe! “If God be for us, who can be
against us? He that spared not his own Son,
but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him freely give us all
things? Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? Who is he that
condemneth? Who shall separate us from the love of God?” (Rom. 8:31-39)
7. All who are in Christ are free from the law (Rom. 6:14, 15; 7:4; 10:4). Either we are free from the
law, totally and absolutely, or we are still in bondage to the law. — What does
the Book say? “Ye are not under the law!” In Christ we are freed from
all legal condemnation (Rom. 8:1), all legal service (Col. 2:16-23), all legal
motivation (2 Cor. 4:18), and all legal fear (Rom. 4:8).