Anyone who has ever read their bible knows that, "The gospel is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth" (Rom. 1:16). As a preacher of the gospel of the free and sovereign grace of God, I maintain that the gospel cannot be, nor is it preached, without certain truths being proclaimed.

     There are five bible truths that must be presented to the minds of men. Where these bible truths are not present, the gospel is not preached. The five essential truths are:

     Man's Total Ruin - Man is "dead in trespasses and sins; his heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked" (Eph. 2:1-3, Jn. 17:9). Because man has a sinful nature everything he does is sinful. "None is good, none is righteous" (Rom. 3:10-11). Since all men are alike in this condition there is necessarily...

     Unconditional Election - Man is so utterly lost that if saved, God must save him - if God saves him it is because God chose to save him. What is the cause of this glorious blessed election of a sinner unto salvation? The freewill of God! "God hath from the beginning chosen you unto salvation..." (II Thess. 2:13). There is nothing in any individual that would cause God to elect them. The cause is found only in God Himself. The synonym of the word elect , chosen, is found over one hundred times in Holy Scripture. In the New Testament God's people are called Believers twice, Christians three times and Elect fourteen times. Thanks be unto God for electing love and grace!

     Limited Atonement - Christ's atonement is not limited in it's power to save, but it is limited in who it saves! "I lay down my life for the sheep" (Jn. 10:15). When the Lord Jesus died on the cross He did not atone for Judas's sin, nor for Esau's sin, nor for those of whom He said, "Ye believe not because you are not of my sheep, as I said unto you." All for whom Christ atoned will be saved! The gospel states clearly and emphatically that, "My sheep hear my voice and follow me" (Jn. 10:27).

     Irresistible Grace - All for whom Christ died will hear the gospel, and they will irresistibly, effectually, be called to repentance and faith by the Holy Spirit. "Thy people shall be made willing in the day of Thy power" (Ps. 110:3). There are numerous illustrations of the irresistible grace of God towards His elect in the bible; Lazarus, Zachaeus, Saul of Tarsus, the woman at the well - all are pictures of God's irresistible grace.

     Perseverance - All for whom Christ died, and all the Holy Spirit effectually calls will persevere in the faith. None will be lost, all will continue in the gospel and in their love for Christ , their Lord. "These all died in faith" (Heb. 11:13).

     Aren't these blessed truths wonderful, glorious and honoring to God and to His Son the Lord Jesus? Have you ever heard the Gospel?