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Original Message ----- From: Doug To: Bill and Donna Sent: Wednesday, November 14, 2007 8:54 PM Subject: Re: Fellowship near you 1. None of our
ladies wear head coverings. 2. We believe
that salvation is
ALL of God and ALL of grace. Jesus
is the Author and Finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). Hence,
salvation for which God is the author is a salvation for which God
is the finisher. Jesus said of His sheep, “Of
all which he [the Father] hath given me I should lose nothing”
(John 6:39). If a person has a “salvation” they can lose, then
they never had salvation to begin with. 3. While we warn
against apostasy, we are also concerned about our own error I would be happy to talk with you via email or
telephone if after reading this and our doctrinal statement you find
that I may have missed the mark regarding what appear to be stark
doctrinal differences. In any event, I would be happy to
dialogue with you on these topics. Doug My
response to our doctrinal differences concerning the unconditional
eternal security - once saved always saved no matter what doctrine!
I’ll just let the Scripture speak for itself. We have had some computer problems and then we
had company from West Virginia and I was unable to respond to your
e-mail sooner. With that said, I would like to answer at least
one of your comments about We also believe that salvation comes from God and God alone. We are saved by grace through faith. “John answered and said, A man can receive nothing except it be given him from heaven.” John 3:27 KJV
Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith. But, we are commanded to endure to the end, to be overcomers. “But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” Matthew 24:13 KJV
“And 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. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. John 6:39-40 KJV
The word believeth is a verb, which means a continuing action on our part, since God has already made the ultimate sacrifice on His part. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16 KJV
For example, in the Gospel of Luke, chapter 10, the Lord himself appointed Seventy more disciples and sent them out two by two. “The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few” and of course the same is true today. An interesting point here is that the Lord said, “I send you forth as lambs among wolves.” They were given specific instructions on how to labor for the Lord. . . to heal the sick, preach the Gospel, cast out demons, etc. Remember, it is the Lord who calls them “lambs.”
The Seventy completed their instructions and are returning in verse 17, full of joy and proclaiming “even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.” The Lord responded with this answer “Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven. Luke 10:19-20 KJV We should understand that the Word of God teaches that satan cannot cast out satan and a house divided cannot stand. Remember, it is the Lord who said their names are written in heaven.
The point is, these seventy men were appointed by Jesus, given the same power as the twelve disciples, yes, this includes Judas Iscariot! The seventy and the twelve received the same power. This power from Christ did not seal any of them, but while they had faith, their names were written in heaven. “The just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.” Hebrews 10:38 KJV Draw back! According to the pastor of the church we visited Sunday morning, this is impossible!
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