Theme: But God made us alive with Christ! Totally Depravity (2:1-3) God's Activity (2:4-7) Realized Eschatology (2:6-7) Grace Not Works (2:8-10)

There are two views concerning the salvation of men. One is called Calvinism, the other Arminianism. Both are complete opposites concerning the means of salvation. One is built upon the grace and merit of Jesus Christ and His atonement for the sins of His people, the other upon the works of men...

The sermon centers on the theological tension surrounding God's will for salvation, arguing that while 1 Timothy 2:4 states God desires all people to be saved, the term 'all' must be understood in context, not as every individual universally, but as a comprehensive representation of all kinds of people across nations, classes, and backgrounds—particularly the elect. Drawing from multiple passages in the pastoral epistles, the preacher demonstrates that 'all' is consistently restricted by context, such as referring to believers, specific groups, or the broader scope of God's redemptive plan for Gentiles and Jews alike, never implying universal salvation. The sermon emphasizes that salvation is entirely by God's sovereign grace, not human will, rooted in predestination, the atonement of Christ, and the effective call of the Holy Spirit, which ensures the perseverance of the elect. It refutes Arminianism and the notion of universal atonement, affirming that God's purpose is to save His chosen people, and that this truth, though controversial, must be upheld in faithfulness to Scripture.

This Sunday School explores the doctrine of the Fall, Sin, and Punishment as articulated in the Confession, emphasizing the profound theological implications of Adam's disobedience. It begins by setting the stage with historical context, tracing the development of the doctrine from the early church through Augustine, the Reformation, and into the 17th-century confessional tradition, highlighting key debates such as Pelagianism and the Arminian-Calvinist controversy. The central message unfolds through a careful examination of the covenant of works, the nature of sin as both a personal and federal transgression, and the universal consequences of Adam's fall—including the loss of righteousness, spiritual and physical death, and total depravity. Pastor Jason underscores the doctrine of federal headship, explaining how Adam's guilt and corrupt nature are imputed to all humanity, yet points to the hope of redemption through Christ, who stands as the new and better Adam. He concludes with a pastoral reflection on remaining sin in the believer, distinguishing between actual transgressions and the 'first motions' of sin—affections that, though not yet acted upon, are still sinful and must be mortified daily, illustrating the ongoing battle against corruption even in the regenerate.

The Bible is quite clear, God is the Savior of "all men." But since universalism is untrue, in what way is God the Savior of all? We seek to answer that in this message.

Arminians want to argue that to have free will is somehow against predestination and the election of God in salvation, but that is not what the Reformed confessions teach. For example in the Second London Baptist Confession of Faith it says, "God hath decreed … all things, … yet God [is] neither the author of sin … nor is violence offered to the will of the creature, nor is liberty taken away, but rather established". When people claim that Calvinism says that there is no such thing as free will, nothing could be farther from the truth. The issue is the definition of free will, because many Arminians hold to a definition of free will that according to the Bible, not even God Himself has. So let's start with a question: what is the nature of God's free will?Listen to the audio version here: Timecodes00:00 Nature of Free Will05:08 Libertarian Free Will is False16:17 You can only choose what pleases us25:58 Fallen Man Chooses Evil30:16 The Heart is the Problem32:53 God Gives us Light to Make the Right Choice51:11 How God's Means Affect our Choices59:09 Who Are We to Reply Against GodProduction of Reformation Baptist Church of Youngsville, NCPermanent Hosts - Dan Horn, Charles Churchill and Joshua HornTechnical Director - Timothy KaiserTheme Music - Gabriel Hudelson