Our message is different. We do not engage in all the gimmics, tricks, entertainments, and issues upon which most churches are built. Most churches recognize, pamper, and promote man's natural pride, dignity, and self-esteem. We do not. We denounce those things and promote the glory of God. Most preachers preach those things that are popular and appealling to morally decent people. We preach the Word of God. Men oppose us because of the gospel message which we declare. Most preachers, if they study their Bibles at all, know that what I am preaching is true. But they are afraid to preach it. I have had men to actually say that to me - "I know that the doctrines of grace are true, but I can't preach them in my church. They would fire me, or the church would split". Well, if the Word of God will split a church, let her split. The world would be better off without such churches and such preachers.
Let me tell you what it is that I am preaching which causes so much comotion. I preach the Bible doctrines, of PREDESTINATION, DIVINE SOVEREIGNTY, ETERNAL ELECTION, PARTICULAR REDMPTION, IRRESISTIBLE GRACE, and THE PRESERVATION OF GOD'S ELECT. We recognize and preach that ALL MEN BY NATURE ARE TOTALLY DEPRAVED; and that if any man is saved, that man's SALVATION IS ACCOMPLISHED ENTIRELY BY THE FREE GRACE OF GOD IN CHRIST. All of these things are plainly taught in the Word of God. In fact these things are constant themes of the entire Bible. Any preacher who does not preach them has no business preaching at all. His doctrine is not the doctrine of the Bible; and he is not preaching the Bible. If you want to see whether these things are truly taught in the Bible or not, just read Romans 8:28-39; Romans 9:10-23; Romans 11:33-36; Ephesians 1:3-14; Ephesians 2:1-10; and John 10:1-30. Then go and ask your pastor why he does not preach these things. He will tell you that he does. But then he will endeavor to explain them away.
Having done that, your responsibility will become very clear. God says, "To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them" (Isa. 8:20). Don't listen to Fortner; he is not worth hearing. And don't listen to the next man either. He is not worth hearing. My opinion and your opinion combined amount to nothing. But you had better listen to the Word of God. Find that man who is preaching the gospel of the grace of God as it is revealed in the Bible; and listen to God as he speaks through that man.
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