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Here We Stand
New Focus Magazine is purposefully and plainly a sovereign grace publication. We seek with every edition to uphold, explain, promote and preach the message of God’s free grace in Christ and the absolute necessity of divine power to initiate, apply and secure the salvation of sinners. We do not look to man to save himself for we know he cannot. We do not appeal to men to save themselves for we know they cannot. We believe God’s grace alone can save a soul, and we try to say it clearly. This means we have no time for the teaching that man has a freewill with which to accept or reject God’s offer of salvation. We do not believe God has saving love for everyone, nor…
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13 Bible Doctrine – Have I Diagramed My Framework Of Doctrine?
A Transcript Of The Video Study In our previous studies, I have shown you a few examples of the way Arminians have diagramed their framework of doctrine. We looked at the Romans Road, the Gospel Bridge and the Dispensational Timeframe. I have also shown you some examples of the way Calvinists have diagramed their framework of doctrine. We looked at Perkins and Bunyan’s theological charts. But I wonder, have you ever diagramed your framework of teachings? Thus far, you have been able to follow this series of studies from the sideline, as it were. I have applied very little pressure for you to become a participant in these teachings. But all of that changes from this study forward. We are not now concerned with what…
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12 Bible Doctrine – Have Calvinists Diagramed Their Framework Of Doctrine?
A Transcript Of The Video Study Yes, many Calvinists have attempted to illustrate the way in which they understand the framework of sovereign grace. For this study, I would like to show you two of the more well known diagrams, both of which were produced more than three hundred years ago. The first was drawn up by a man named William Perkins. 1. William Perkins (1558–1602) William Perkins was a student and then professor at Cambridge University. He became one of the leading Puritans in the Church of England during the Elizabethan era. His writings gained such popularity that they even surpassed the sales of John Calvin. He wrote almost 50 books, which is quite an achievement, considering he died at the early age of…
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11 Bible Doctrine – Have Arminians Diagramed Their Framework Of Doctrine?
A Transcript Of The Video Study Yes, Arminians have produced many diagrams for their framework of doctrine. There are far too many to examine for this study. So I have selected as examples three of the more prominent diagrams. 1. The Romans Road. The Romans Road to salvation is a free will formula of conversion whereby sinners are led on a path to make a decision for Christ. This diagram receives its name from Paul’s epistle to the Romans, as a number of verses are selected from that epistle in support of the free will formula. The Romans Road to salvation looks something like this: But there is another popular diagram used by Arminians: 2. The Gospel Bridge. In fact, I believe many people are…
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10 Bible Doctrine – Do The Strict And Particular Baptists Have A Framework Of Doctrine?
A Transcript Of The Video Study In our previous study, I introduced to you several prominent men and women belonging to the Strict and Particular Baptists of past centuries. The question which now arises—Do the Strict and Particular Baptists have a framework of doctrine around which they organize their teachings? The answer is yes, they do have a framework of doctrine, which can be extracted from their writings. Now, in my view, these writings should be arranged under one of two general categories—First, the 17th and 18th century preachers, who tended to approach the gospel doctrinally and systematically; Second, the 19th and 20th century preachers, who seemed to be more inclined to approach the gospel practically and experientially. Of course, this is not a hard…
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9 Bible Doctrine – Who Are The Strict And Particular Baptists?
A Transcript Of The Video Study In our previous study, I introduced you to a circle of historic churches in England called the Strict and Particular Baptists. From their origin in the early 17th century, this group of churches subscribed to high views of sovereign grace—they were High-Calvinists. Now, you will sometimes hear people tell you that High or Hyper Calvinism represents only a small number of churches during the last several centuries. However, by the turn of the 20th century, there were almost 600 Strict and High-Calvinist Baptists churches scattered around England. This made up one third of all Baptist churches in the country. As you can see from the map, there were 69 chapels in Greater London alone, with another 160 chapels scattered…
Further Study
42 Bible Doctrine – Gill’s ‘Body Of Divinity’ Aligned With The Framework Of Sovereign Grace
27 Bible Doctrine – How Can The Framework Of Sovereign Grace Be Used As A Tool For Discipleship And Evangelism?
24 Bible Doctrine – How Do The Five Points Of Calvinism Align With The Framework Of Sovereign Grace?
