X. OF THE FREENESS OF SALVATION
We believe (a) in God's electing grace; (b) that the blessings of salvation are
made free to all by the Gospel; (c) that it is the immediate duty of all to accept
them by a cordial, penitent and obedient faith; and (d) that nothing prevents the
salvation of the greatest sinner on earth but his own inherent depravity and voluntary
rejection of the gospel; (e) which rejection involves him in an aggravated condemnation.
* * * * * * * * * *
*** (a) I Thess. 1:4. "Knowing, brethren beloved,
your election of God. "
Col. 3:12. "The elect of God, holy and beloved
"
I Pet. 1:2. "Elect according to the foreknowledge
of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling
of the blood of Jesus Christ."
Titus 1:1. "The faith of God's elect."
Rom. 8:29-30. "Whom he did foreknow, he also
did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the first
born among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called:
and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also
glorified."
*** (b) Matt. 11:28. "Come unto me, all ye that
labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."
Isa. 55:1. "Ho, every one that thirsteth, come
ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat: yea, come, buy
wine and milk without money and without price."
Rev. 22:17. "Whosoever will, let him take of
the water of life freely."
Rom. 10:13. "For whosoever shall call upon the
name of the Lord shall be saved."
John 6:37. "And him that cometh to me I will
in no wise cast out."
*** (c) Isa. 55:6. "Seek ye the Lord while he
may be found, call ye upon him while he is near."
Acts 2:38. "Then Peter said unto them, Repent,
and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for I the remission
of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the I Holy Ghost."
*** (d) Isa. 55:7. "Let the wicked forsake his
way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and
he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. "
John 3:15-16. "Whosoever believeth in him should
not perish, but have eternal life. 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."
I Tim. 1:15. "This is a faithful saying, and
worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.
"
I Cor. 15:10. "But by the grace of God I am
what I am, and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain."
Eph. 2:4-5. "But God, who is rich in mercy,
for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened
us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved)."
John 5:40. "Ye will not come to me, that ye
might have life."
*** (e) John 3:18. "He that believeth on him
is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath
not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."
John 3:36. "He that believeth on the Son hath
everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the
wrath of God abideth on him."
Next: XI. OF JUSTIFICATION