Our church, Turning Point Community Church, in Palm Coast, Florida just started its first doctrinal theology series last night for all members. Also, if you are not a member of Turning Point but live in the Palm Coast area and would like to learn more about these doctrines, you too are certainly welcome and encouraged to attend. Anyone who would like to learn more about these deeper truths of God's word is certainly welcome.
This will be a 14 week doctrinal study looking at these controversial doctrines called the Doctrines of Grace or Calvinism. We are using notes obtained (with permission), from Riverbend Community Church's Doctrines of Grace class in Ormond Beach, Florida. This course has been written and taught by Dr. Roy Hargrave for many years and has been tweaked and revised many times in order to provide the serious Bible student with some of the most accurate notes available on the topic today.
So what I've determined to do here is to share with everyone a synopsis of each week's lesson. This will in no way be an exhaustive writ on each of the 5 points of Calvinism, as the volumes it would consume would be beyond anything I would be able to undertake here. Besides, there are many websites available that deal with this subject in depth and I will allude to a few of them as we go along in the weeks ahead.
If you're not from this area but would like to follow along with our text book and workbook, we are using the book, A Journey in Grace by Richard P. Belcher. Its a great little 150 page novel about a young preacher boy in seminary who is asked by a pulpit committee, "young man, are you a Calvinist?" He does not know what a Calvinist is and so is launched on a doctrinal persuit to find out what a Calvinist is. If you're interested in obtaining a copy of our materials, just shoot me an email at rdmoritz1@gmail.com and we'll make arrangements to get them into your hands.
Before we begin I just want to agree with the statement below that Dr. Hargrave writes at the beginning of his notes. This statement will also apply to what I write here. He states:
"I am convinced that the Bible proclaims forthrightly and clearly the vital doctrines of salvation. It is not my desire to convince you by the force of my commitment or passion for these truths. On the contrary, I believe it to be a dangerous proposition to believe what any man teaches (no matter how persuasive or passionate he may be) without a careful examination of the one revelation which matters - the Bible. If you are not convinced by the Scripture that the subject matter and contents of this course are true, then you must reject it as false teaching and eschew those who would teach it. But, if you are convinced that these doctrines are set forth in the Scripture, you should gladly acquiesce to God's Word. Those who would abandon that which they know to be true in the Word of God do so at their own eternal peril. May the Lord open our eyes to see the truth that sets a man free!" Dr. Roy Hargrave.
Because this post has been a "longer than I thought" introduction, I'll end here tonight and pick up with what we learned in our first class tomorrow. Until then...
God bless
Rob
Being once dead in sin, now raised by God's mere mercy, to newness of life.
Showing posts with label Turning Point. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Turning Point. Show all posts
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Friday, January 18, 2008
Salvation by Christ Alone
And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under Heaven given among men by which we must be saved." Acts 4:12
What an amazing testimony Peter gives here while standing in the temple in front of the elders and rulers of the council. He first reminds them just before this, in v. 10 that they were the ones who crucified Jesus, but it was God who raised Him from the dead. He then goes on to tell them that the only way to Heaven is by Jesus Christ alone.
To me, it is so sad how Satan has convoluted the message of the Gospel. So much so, that even people who profess to be "christians", even many big time Christian leaders are today teaching or at least alluding to the belief that there are other ways to Heaven.
But the truth is, there is only one way to Heaven and that is through Jesus Christ alone. If there are other ways to Heaven, then Christ died for nothing. How sad that there are people in churches out there who are being taught that 'Jesus is the answer, BUT there are also other ways to Heaven.'
No folks, Jesus is the only way to Heaven. Even He himself proclaimed, "I am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father but by me." John 14:6
Our hope and faith must be built on the sold rock foundation of Jesus Christ. Apart from the shed blood of Jesus, there is no salvation. Unfortunately today, people are denying the truth because they want there to be other ways beyond the way God has provided. Its like going to a physician and hearing that you have cancer and are soon to die. The doctor tells you, ..."but there is one cure, only one cure, and I've got it in the next room." Instead, you tell him, "well thanks, I believe you but I also believe there is another, easier way and I'm going to look for that first." We wouldn't do that with a deadly disease like cancer, why do we do it with a deadlier problem like sin.
My friend, there is only one way to Heaven and His name is Jesus. He came to this earth so that sinners like you and I can be made right with God and receive His gift of eternal life. No matter how much sin is in your life, salvation is by the grace of God alone and He can and does save sinners. Jesus said, "It is not those who are well who need a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance." Luke 5:31-32
So if you've come to realize that you are a sinner and have offended the Holy God of the universe, as we all have, then today is your day of salvation. Repent of your sins, that means to turn, 180 degrees in the opposite direction, and ask Jesus to forgive you. If you're just not sure, I encourage you to start by getting yourself a copy of God's word, the Bible and start reading it with an open mind and heart. Start reading for just a few minutes each day. Start in the Gospel of John and pray for God to reveal Himself to you. Trust me, you'll know when God has opened your eyes because all of a sudden you'll begin to see the deeper, spiritual meaning behind the words in the text. It is truly a mind blowing experience.
If you're ever in the Palm Coast, Florida area, be sure to come and visit us at Turning Point Community Church. Just ask for Rob and I'll be happy to chat with you and answer any questions you may have regarding spiritual matters. And if I can't answer something I'll be sure to point you to someone who can.
May the Lord richly bless you and your family.
Rob
What an amazing testimony Peter gives here while standing in the temple in front of the elders and rulers of the council. He first reminds them just before this, in v. 10 that they were the ones who crucified Jesus, but it was God who raised Him from the dead. He then goes on to tell them that the only way to Heaven is by Jesus Christ alone.
To me, it is so sad how Satan has convoluted the message of the Gospel. So much so, that even people who profess to be "christians", even many big time Christian leaders are today teaching or at least alluding to the belief that there are other ways to Heaven.
But the truth is, there is only one way to Heaven and that is through Jesus Christ alone. If there are other ways to Heaven, then Christ died for nothing. How sad that there are people in churches out there who are being taught that 'Jesus is the answer, BUT there are also other ways to Heaven.'
No folks, Jesus is the only way to Heaven. Even He himself proclaimed, "I am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father but by me." John 14:6
Our hope and faith must be built on the sold rock foundation of Jesus Christ. Apart from the shed blood of Jesus, there is no salvation. Unfortunately today, people are denying the truth because they want there to be other ways beyond the way God has provided. Its like going to a physician and hearing that you have cancer and are soon to die. The doctor tells you, ..."but there is one cure, only one cure, and I've got it in the next room." Instead, you tell him, "well thanks, I believe you but I also believe there is another, easier way and I'm going to look for that first." We wouldn't do that with a deadly disease like cancer, why do we do it with a deadlier problem like sin.
My friend, there is only one way to Heaven and His name is Jesus. He came to this earth so that sinners like you and I can be made right with God and receive His gift of eternal life. No matter how much sin is in your life, salvation is by the grace of God alone and He can and does save sinners. Jesus said, "It is not those who are well who need a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance." Luke 5:31-32
So if you've come to realize that you are a sinner and have offended the Holy God of the universe, as we all have, then today is your day of salvation. Repent of your sins, that means to turn, 180 degrees in the opposite direction, and ask Jesus to forgive you. If you're just not sure, I encourage you to start by getting yourself a copy of God's word, the Bible and start reading it with an open mind and heart. Start reading for just a few minutes each day. Start in the Gospel of John and pray for God to reveal Himself to you. Trust me, you'll know when God has opened your eyes because all of a sudden you'll begin to see the deeper, spiritual meaning behind the words in the text. It is truly a mind blowing experience.
If you're ever in the Palm Coast, Florida area, be sure to come and visit us at Turning Point Community Church. Just ask for Rob and I'll be happy to chat with you and answer any questions you may have regarding spiritual matters. And if I can't answer something I'll be sure to point you to someone who can.
May the Lord richly bless you and your family.
Rob
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