I thought I'd give this a shot -- to talk about Doctrine. It’s a bit heavy (and long), but I know you can handle it. I've been listening to John Piper give audio biographical messages on some of the great preachers in the past. I just finished the one he did on George Whitefield. It was most interesting. One of the parts that caught my attention was that Whitefield's preaching was filled with intense Doctrine. Mind you, he preached outdoors to thousands of people at a time.

As I listened to it I wondered how well he'd be received today. When you mention the word Doctrine it produces the same eye glazing effect that the mention of History does. But I have to believe if a preacher can preach the doctrines of the Bible with life  it  will produce life. That's what happened with Whitefield. His preaching was laced with Doctrine and  thousands of people were genuinely born-again.

So, while working on our Doctrinal Statement for our website, I have (along with Luke) come up with a rough draft on the Doctrine of Salvation. I hope you'll read it and that God will, if needed, bring about Salvation in your soul. If you are already saved, I trust it will reaffirm the wonderful miracle of deliverance that Yeshua has already worked in you.

Salvation

To be part of the kingdom of God, one must be born-again from their state of sin and separation from God. A person is saved by grace, through faith, and not by works.

Only God Himself redeems us from sin. He sent His Son Yeshua, who shed His sinless blood, in order to save us from death and Hell. When a person is born-again through the new birth, the old self is put to death with Yeshua.  That person has now  become a child of God.

All those who are in Messiah Yeshua are fellow-citizens in the commonwealth of Israel. We no longer live as strangers from the covenants of promise but as full citizens being of the seed of Abraham. There is, and always has been, only one people of God -- Israel. The remnant of Israel is comprised of all those who trust in Yeshua and keep His commandments.

Romans 3:23 — For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.

Romans 5:12 — Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.

Romans 6:23 — For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

II Corinthians 5:19 — To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

Hebrews 9:11-14 — But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

Ephesians 2:8-9 —For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

John 3:3-7 — Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?  Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

1 Peter 1:23 — Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

Ephesians 2:11-22 — Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

Romans 10:9-11 — That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

If you’re reading this and have never experienced deliverance and forgiveness of sins through Christ, I trust you’ll pour out your heart to Him and receive Him as your Saviour.

Colossians 1:9-14 -- For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:  Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins.