TAUGHT OF GOD

For as long as I can remember I have known what we call the doctrines of grace. I knew those doctrines as my parents, pastor, and Bible class teachers taught them to me. I knew those doctrines and felt that they were true, but I did not know Christ. Then everything changed when God taught me. When God taught me I saw that the Lord Jesus Christ is everything that I need. When God me I loved Christ, needed Christ and came to Christ. You know that God has taught you when you come to Christ for salvation. “Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.” (John 6:45)

Pastor

Christ is all in salvation. Salvation is all of Christ’s will and Christ’s work. Then man is nothing in salvation. Salvation is none of man’s will or man’s works.

Pastor

Nothing is sweeter or more comforting than the fact that the Lord Jesus Christ, my Redeemer, is the Lord God omnipotent who rules the universe.

Pastor Don Fortner

AFFECT, BUT NOT EFFECTUAL.

Dictionary meaning of Affect and Effect.

Affect: verb. To impress the mind or move the feeling.

Noun: Feeling or emotion.

Psychiatry: an expression or observed emotional response.

Effect: Noun: Power to produce a result: efficacy, force.

Verb: To bring about—make happen.

There is a faith that has affect but is not effectual. Examples: The devils have a form of faith that affects them to the point of trembling, but is not effectual in bringing them to trust Christ to save them. James 2:19 “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.”

Felix had this same faith. Act 24:25 “And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.”

There is a faith that affects people’s emotions and causes a response, but does not save. There is a faith that is effectual, it brings men and women to lay hold on Christ as there all in all. It is a faith that brings about a real change. Hebrews 10:39 “But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.” It is the Faith of God’s elect that saves. (Titus 1:1)

Pastor John Chapman

Fear

Ever since sin entered into the world, men have known the intimidation and bondage of fear. Like Adam in the garden, this slavish fear causes men to hide from God and cover their nakedness with the fig leaves of their own works. When a poor sinner is brought by the blood of Christ into the presence of God, the fear that once held them in bondage is changed to another kind of fear that sets them at liberty. This new “fear of God” is a miracle of grace. Unlike sinful fear, this new fear drives us into the presence of God to love and worship him. “... I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me.” (Jer. 32:40).