|
Were
we to condense the sum of our beliefs into a single
statement, it would be that expression uttered by Jonah
from the belly of a great fish: "Salvation is of the
Lord." When we can see ourselves as the weak, sinful
creatures that we are, and God as the exalted,
sovereign, holy, pure essence that He is, we understand
that apart from His grace and mercy, we'd be utterly
lost. Salvation is of the Lord. It's all of the Lord.
It's not decisional. It's not earned. It is entirely by
His grace.
We
subscribe to the biblical doctrines of sovereign grace
commonly described using the acrostic TULIP:
|
T
T |
TOTAL DEPRAVITY
All men are
sinners by nature, and are dead to spiritual
things. Apart from God they are unable to do
good or to seek Him. They are not only passively
overcome by sin, but actively and willingly
engage their strength, ability and gifts in its
pursuit. |
|
U
U |
UNCONDITIONAL
ELECTION
Election is God's
eternal choice of certain definite individuals
unto salvation. This choice was not based on any
seen or foreseen merit in these individuals, but
was motivated solely by His sovereign love. |
|
L
L |
LIMITED
ATONEMENT (PARTICULAR REDEMPTION)
The benefit of
Christ's atoning death accrues to all of the
elect, and to only the elect. His redemptive
work did not make salvation a possibility, but
was alone sufficient to secure the salvation of
all those loved and elected by the Father. |
|
I
I |
IRRESISTIBLE GRACE
All of the elect
will be quickened, or born again: this
infallible, irresistible operation of the Holy
Spirit in the hearts of the elect turns them
from the power of Satan unto God. God doesn't
try to save men. He doesn't plead with them. He
saves them! What He purposes, He does; nothing
can stand in the way. |
|
P
P |
PERSEVERANCE OF
THE SAINTS
Through God's
preserving grace, the indwelling Holy Spirit
powerfully enables and equips each of the elect
to persevere through faith, growing in grace.
Though they may stumble along the way, God's
elect will never finally be lost, for they are
kept by the power of God. All those loved by God
before the foundation of the world will thus
eternally delight in His presence. |
The truth of God's
sovereignty in salvation ensures that only God receives
glory. It is He alone who is worthy to be adored, worthy
to be praised, worthy to be worshiped. Crowning Him as
King is a central focus in our lives, for we believe
that the chief end of man is to glorify God by enjoying
Him forever. |
