The reason so many people reject the doctrines of election and sovereign grace is they want to be able to influence God to save them by something they do. But sinners like you and me can never earn salvation. Salvation is by the will of God and given by God as a free gift of His grace. If we would be saved we must receive it not earn it. “For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.” (Romans 9:15-16) If you buy something, you purchased it. If you earn something, you worked for it. If you deserve something, then you merited it. But when you receive something, it was a free gift. Salvation was not bought, earned or merited. It was a free gift of God in the giving of His beloved Son!
Pastor David Eddmenson
SHE SAID WITHIN HERSELF - Matthew 9:21
The woman with the issue of blood said within herself, if I may but touch His garment, I shall be whole. This is where faith is born, lives, and perseveres until we die. It is with the heart that men and women believe unto righteousness.
Pastor Darvin Pruitt
CALVINISM IS THE DOCTRINE OF THE BIBLE
I am sometimes asked if I am a Calvinist. I always answer yes because that is the easiest way for most people to understand my doctrine. But I really want to answer that my doctrine does not come from John Calvin. My doctrine comes from the Word of God. John Calvin famously defined five points, but the doctrine is the teaching of salvation from the Word of God.
TOTAL DEPRAVITY: All men are totally depraved so all men can do nothing but sin. “They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.” (Ps. 14:3)
UNCONDITIONAL ELECTION: God chose a people to save before time began. Those people did not meet any requirements in order for God to save them. God chose to save sinners, not because there was any good in them, but because God is good. “According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love.” (Eph. 1:4)
LIMITED ATONEMENT: Christ did not die for every son of Adam. Christ did not die to give every son of Adam a chance to be saved. Christ died for His elect that the Father gave Him to save. The sacrifice of Christ is not limited in its power to save. The sacrifice of Christ is limited in its scope. Christ only died for His people and the sins of those people has been blotted out under His blood. “I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.” (John 17:9)
IRRESISTIBLE GRACE: The gospel is not an offer of salvation. The gospel is the command of God for all men to repent of their sin and to believe on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. When God’s elect hear the call of God the Holy Spirit through the preaching of the gospel, they always come to Christ willingly. “It is written in the prophets, and they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.” (John 6:45) This is the only way a sinner can or will come to Christ. “No man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.” (John 6:65) “Ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.” (John 5:40)
PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS: No one for whom Christ died can ever be lost. “This is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.” (John 6:39) Everyone the Father chose, the Son died for, and the Spirit calls will be glorified!