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New Focus Magazine: New Issue (October 2025)
New Issue Available. New Focus promotes the Christ-centred Gospel of God’s free and sovereign grace. It presents the Gospel as the power of God unto salvation and glories in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption. New Focus is committed to the Protestant Reformed Faith and the advancement of conservative and evangelical Christianity. While seeking to appeal to as wide a readership as possible, New Focus will not be used as a medium for the promotion of ecumenical involvement, the charismatic movement or liberal theology.
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38 Bible Doctrine – Confessional Statements And Their Proper Use
I would like to welcome you back to another study in Bible Doctrine. In our previous two studies, I have given a historic and doctrinal overview of John Gill’s Goat Yard Declaration of Faith. And then, towards the end of our last study, I pointed out some of the major differences between the 1689 Confession and the 1729 Declaration. In a nutshell, the 1689 Confession is representative of 17th century Hyper-Calvinism, whereas the 1729 Declaration is representative of 18th century Hyper-Calvinism. More specifically, 17th century Hyper-Calvinism, represented by the 1689 Confession, is based on a threefold covenantal framework, pushing to the forefront a conditional covenant of grace. Forthwith, saving faith is viewed as a legal duty imposed upon unregenerate sinners, resulting in a conditional salvation;…
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The Life And Testimony Of John MacGowan
Mr. John MacGowan, known to the world as the author of ‘Dialogues of Devils,’ and other ingenious works, was a Baptist minister, and pastor of the church meeting in Devonshire-square, London. In the early part of his life he was in connection with the Wesleyan Methodists, but after his mind was enlightened to see the glory of sovereign grace, he zealously and publicly preached all those important truths which the Particular Baptists at that time steadily maintained. [Mr. Macgowan’s views of the distinguishing doctrines of the gospel may be collected from the following pathetic lines, which he composed on the death of Dr. Gill. I quote them with much approbation, excepting the allusion to Elijah and Elisha, which appears to savour too much of the…
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Preface To William Button’s Rebuttal Of Andrew Fuller’s “The Gospel Of Christ Worthy Of All Acceptation”
Mr. Thomas Goodwin, in his address to the reader, annexed to his discourse on the true nature of the gospel, observes, “It concerns every minister of the gospel to put a stop to any opinion which hath the least tendency to Arminianism. We are not as idle spectators, to stand by with patience to see the truths of the gospel either openly invaded, or secretly supplanted, but as long as we are able to frame a thought, or hold a pen, it is our duty to make a vigorous opposition.” This consideration, together with the pressing solicitations of some intimate friends, have been the occasion of these letters being presented to the public.
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What Does It Mean To Be Reformed?
The sermons from which this tract sprang were preached to the Grace Baptist Church of Danville in Danville, Kentucky - USA, November 2, 1997 by Pastor Don Fortner. The tract is taken directly from the pastor’s sermon notes, with as few changes as possible. It was intended for our congregation, and is offered to the public only because of numerous requests that it be put into print. Tapes of the original messages preached in Danville are available. “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” - Colossians 2:8 We are warned repeatedly to beware of false religion, false doctrine, and false prophets. Here Paul urges us to beware of those who…
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The Particularity Of John 3:16
Whenever the Bible doctrine of election is presented to those who reject the Bible’s teaching of God’s sovereignty in salvation you can be sure John chapter three and verse 16 will be trotted out in defence of their position. I have come to the conclusion that there are only two reasons for this. The first reason is genuine ignorance. For many, this verse is one of the few Bible verses they know, and they simply assume that knowing the words they also know its meaning. In their ignorance of many other passages of scripture that help provide a true understanding of John 3:16 they make an attribute of their ignorance and retire content to impugn the glory of God. The second reason is pride, or…
