“THE CHRISTIAN MANIFESTO”

The value of the Doctrines of Grace and the Sovereignty of God

I combine the Doctrines of Grace with the Sovereignty of God, because that’s what a sovereign God decreed in the Scripture. They go together like soup and sandwich.

It deepens our profound respect of the Divine Character

The Doctrines of Grace and of God’s sovereignty as it is unfolded in scripture gives us an exalted view of the Divine Perfection of God. It maintains His right as the supreme creator. It insists to us there is but one God. It declares that His rights are those of the potter, who forms and fashions the clay into vessels of whatever type and for whatever use. Thou has created all things and for your pleasure they are created (Revelations 4: 11) It argues that no one has the right to question God or reply against Him. The apprehension of the absolute supremacy of God is of great practical importance, for unless we have a proper regard to His high sovereignty He will never be honored in our thoughts of Him, nor will He have His proper place in our hearts and lives. It makes known the irreversibleness of His will, “Known unto God are all His works from the beginning of the world”. His will cannot be withstood, His purpose originated in eternity past and are carried forward without change to eternity. They extend to all His works and control all events. He works all things after the counsel of His will. “The Lord reigns; let the people tremble”(Psalms 99:1) Divine sovereignty has ordained that some be cast into the lake of fire to show that all deserve such doom. Then Grace comes in like a drag et and draws out a people for His name. Sovereign grace reveals God breaking down the opposition of the human heart, subduing the enmity of the carnal mind, and bring us to love Him because He first loved us.

It is the solid foundation of the one true religion

If the doctrine of Divine sovereignty alone gives God His rightful place, then it is also true that it alone can supply a firm base for practical religion to build upon. We read the scripture in vain unless we come to them earnestly desiring a better knowledge of Gods will for us. Every prayer we send up to God is but carnal presumption unless it be offered according to His will.We are predestinated to be conformed to the image of God’s Son. Whose meat it ever was to do the will of the One that sent Him, and the measure in which each saint is becoming conformed in His daily life. “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart”.

It repudiates the heresy of salvation by works

There is a way which seems right unto a man; but the end thereof are the ways of death. (Proverbs 14:12) The belief in salvation by works is one that is common and just seems natural to human nature. It is ingrained in our DNA to have to work for everything we receive. That we may take credit and have reason to boast. The false teaching; “God is willing to do His part, if you are willing to do your part” This is a wretched and false teaching and repudiates one of the most fundamental doctrines in the Bible “Grace”. By works I mean any act that man feels they must do to be added to the blood of Christ, is another gospel; I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel- not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed. (Galatians 1: 7-9) To say that the sinner’s salvation depends on the action of His own will, is another form of the God-dishonoring dogma of salvation by human works. There is no salvation for any soul until it looks outside themselves, yeah looks only to Christ.

It is deeply humbling to the Creature

The Doctrines of Grace and of the absolute sovereignty of God are the greatest battering-ram against human pride. And this is the sharpest contrast from the doctrines of man. Men love to glory and boast in the flesh. There mantels are lined with trophies of their accomplishments. We exult people in sports to almost godlike status. But the truth of God sovereignty removes every and all ground for human boasting and fosters a spirit of humility in its place. But if this doctrine humbles us, it results in Praise to God. If in the light of God’s sovereignty, we have seen our own worthlessness and helplessness, we shall indeed cry with the Psalmist “All my springs are in you” (Psalms 87:7) By nature we are children of wrath and we love rebellion and practice to rebel against it. And God is under no obligation to rescue us. But by His grace He offered up His son to take the just payment for sin, then how not can such Grace flood our hearts . “ Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto Thy name give glory, for your mercy, and for your truth sake”.

“Why was I made to hear His voice
And enter while there’s room
When thousands make a wretched choice
And rather starve than come
Twas the same love that spread the feast
That sweetly forced us in
Else we had still refused to taste
And perished in our sin,

It affords a sense of absolute Security

God is infinite in power, and therefore it is impossible to resist His will, mush lone His decrees. My God is infinite in power, then in my fear I will trust in Him. My God is infinite in Power, I will not fear what man can do to me. My God is infinite in power, I will lay me down in peace ans sleep. (Psalms 4:8) This has been the source of confidence down through the ages. The eternal God is our refuge and underneath are His everlasting arms (Deut. 33:26,27) I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress; my God; in Him will I trust.

Death and plagues around me fly
Till He bid, I cannot die
Not a single shaft can hit
Till the God of love see’s fit.

It supplies Comfort in Sorrow

The doctrines of Grace and the sovereignty of God is one that is full of consolation and imparts great peace to the Christian. The sovereignty of God is a foundation that nothing can shake and is more firm than the heavens and earth. What a blessing to know there is no corner of the universe that is out of His reach. The darkness shines like the light, the darkness and the light are alike to thee. (Psalms 139:7-12) We can take comfort no matter what happen in our life, God wills only that which is good and His will is irreversible and irresistible. We should take no more thought of God’s loving watch care, that a baby in Her father’s arms. We can take comfort the disease and death are His messengers and have to always march according to His orders. That it is the Lord who gives and the Lord who takes away.

It gives us a Spirit of Sweet Acceptance

To bow before the sovereign will of God is the greatest secret to peace and happiness. There can be no real submission with contentment until we are broken in spirit. That is until we are willing and glad for the Lord to have His way with us. If you deny the doctrines of Grace, you are denying to let the Lord have His way with you. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. ( 1 pet 2:23) Jesus is our supreme example, rather than respond to being reviled He entrusted Him to the God who judges justly. That is sweet Acceptance,

It evokes a Song of Praise

This is one of the greatest reasons to believe in the Doctrines of Grace and the sovereignty of God. It could not be otherwise. Why should I, who am by nature no different from the careless and godless throngs around me, that I should be chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world and now blest with all the heavens in Him. Although with my mind I cannot explain this, with my heart I rejoice greatly. I not only rejoice in the past but His present dealing will fill me with Thanksgivings. That gives force to the word “rejoice in the Lord always” (Phil. 4:4)

• Ye fearful saints fresh courage take

• The clouds you so much dread

• Are big with mercy and shall break

• In blessings over your head

It guarantees the final triumph of good over evil

The Doctrines of Grace and the sovereignty of God assures us the good will triumph over evil. Ever since the day the Cain slew Abel, the conflict on earth between Good and evil, has been a sore problem to the saints. In every age the righteous have been hated and persecuted, while the unrighteous have appeared to defy God without charge. The Lords people, for the most part, have been poor, in this world’s eyes, whereas the wicked in their temporal prosperity have flourished like the grass. As we look back we see the oppression of believers and books have been written on their martyrdom. But if we look above instead of around we see a God who is in control of all of man’s dealings. We have an almighty God who works all things after the council of His own will. We walk according to faith and not sight where the invisible hand of God cannot be seen. There can be no failures with God. God is not man that He should lie, neither the son of man that He should repent. (Numbers 23:19) God has given us His word and the truths of it are hidden from the unrighteous, we know the end of the story. The day in which He is manifested, and His glory shall cover the heavens and His feet will stand again on this earth, will surely come. And while we wait for the supreme and blessed moment when His promise to us is accomplished, we trust Him, walking in fellowship and daily find afresh, that He does not fail to sustain and keep us in all our ways.

It provides a resting Place in the heart.

The doctrines of Grace and the sovereignty of God; We can rest in the knowledge that the one seated upon the Throne of Heaven, the one who governs over all the nations, and has ordained and now regulates all events. Is infinite not only in power but in wisdom and goodness.

Can a doctrine be “horrible” and “dangerous” that gives God His true place, that maintains His rights, that magnifies His grace, that gives all glory to Him and removes every ground for boasting from mankind. Can a doctrine be “horrible” and “dangerous” which affords the elect a sense of security in danger in times of sorrow, in times of health crisis, that evokes of all things praise. Can a doctrine be” horrible” and “dangerous” if it assures us triumph over evil, and provides a sure resting place in our hearts.” NO a thousand TIMES NO Instead of being “horrible and dangerous” this doctrine of the Sovereignty of God is glorious and edifying prompting to exclaim with Moses “Who is like unto thee, O Lord, among the gods? (Ex. 15:11)