Prayer is important for man. The Bible teaches us that prayer is to be directed to God. We are not praying to impress people. We are praying to God. Jesus tells us that there is a difference between the prayer of the elect and others. The elect are those who choose to humble themselves and be saved. We are not Calvinists. We do not need to follow heresy.

In this powerful lesson, we step away from the familiar verses and deal head-on with the tough questions that Calvinism struggles to answer. These are not just theological debates, they are real-life issues that affect how we understand God's character, justice, and the Gospel itself. What happens to infants who die? What about those who cannot understand or respond to the Gospel? If salvation is only for the elect, how do we reconcile that with a God who is just, loving, and willing that all should be saved? We take a clear, Scripture-first approach, allowing the Bible to speak for itself rather than forcing it into a system. By examining these difficult questions, we expose the inconsistencies within Calvinistic theology and present a balanced, biblical understanding of grace, accountability, and salvation. This lesson will challenge you to think, strengthen your faith, and equip you to answer questions that many avoid. If you have ever wrestled with these issues or wondered how they fit with the character of God, this study will help bring clarity and confidence.

From the Confessing the Faith Conference 2026, this session explores 2LCF Chapter 3 - Of God's Decree, paragraph 6: how God's eternal decree encompasses not only the election of sinners to glory but also the ordained means by which that glory is brought to them. The lecture works through the Puritan doctrine of the means of grace — divine institution, covenantal promise, and the present lordship of Christ — distinguishing those means from other useful church activities and rejecting both sacerdotalism and hyper-Calvinist immediacy. Main points: - the decree and divine means: John Owen on the immutability of God's counsel - the church as the ordinary place of salvation - defining the means of grace and the two criteria: dominical institution and a divine promise of efficacy - the present and active lordship of Christ - the means identified: Word, Baptism, Lord's Supper, and Prayer - caution against treating other church activities as means of grace - caution against the Roman doctrine of automatic efficacy Scripture references: - 2 Chronicles 15:2 - Nehemiah 8:8 - Matthew 28:18-20 - Acts 2:22-36 - Ephesians 1:15-23; 2:19-22 - Hebrews 6:13-20 - 1 Peter 1:2 Free Grace Baptist Church — https://www.freegrace.ca Full transcript & sermon notes: https://sermons.freegrace.ca/sermons/conference-ctf-2026-session-6-how-gods-decree-brings-life Description generated by Tyrannus.ai: https://www.tyrannus.ai

What separates a confessional Reformed Baptist church from a Calvinistic Baptist church that follows teachers like John Piper or John MacArthur? In this conversation the pastors work through why Calvinism, narrowly defined as five points, does not capture what it means to be Reformed, and why confessional standards rather than gifted personalities mark out these churches. Ask FGBC is a digital ministry providing biblical, pastoral, and confessional answers to real questions submitted by believers, seekers, and those wrestling with assurance. Recorded with Pastor Jim Butler, Dr Richard Barcellos, and Pastor David Charles on April 9, 2026. Submit your own question and see previous topics: https://www.freegrace.ca/ask There is an option to do it anonymously. Videos are available on SermonAudio, Youtube and Facebook. Please like & share on our social media profiles as well to get the word out and distribute further! Church Website: https://www.freegrace.ca

This sermon explores the historical and theological foundations of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church by examining the Marrow Controversy in 18th-century Scotland. The speaker traces the lineage of the denomination through the English Reformation, the Stuart monarchy, and the subsequent religious tensions that led to the formation of the Associate Presbytery. Central to this history is the debate over the free offer of the gospel, which challenged hyper-Calvinist views that restricted salvation preaching only to the elect. The presentation emphasizes the critical distinction between seeking the benefits of Christ and seeking Christ Himself, asserting that justification comes through faith alone and union with Him rather than moral preparation. Ultimately, the sermon clarifies how these historical struggles define the ARP commitment to Reformed theology and the universal proclamation of the gospel.

📖 Matthew 24:20-27 • Does prayer actually change things, or is everything already fixed? And when God says "great tribulation" — who is that really for? Most believers have never been taught to rightly divide the judgments of Scripture. When you put Daniel's people in the church's seat, the whole Bible becomes a junk drawer. This lesson clears the clutter — walking through Matthew 24:20-27, connecting Daniel 12, Romans 11, and Zechariah 14 to show exactly who is being addressed, why the nation of Israel goes through the tribulation, and why the church is not subject to that judgment. Along the way, Pastor Fortunato tackles one of the most important theological questions in the Bible: what does "pray ye" mean if everything is already decreed? God's foreknowledge is not a single fixed timeline — it includes certainties, contingencies, and tendencies. That truth alone dismantles Calvinistic philosophy at the root. The lesson closes with the lightning flash of Matthew 24:27 — the same light that hit Saul on the road to Damascus is the light that will save a national remnant. Israel is not finished. God is not done. This lesson walks through Matthew 24:20-27, explaining: • Why "pray ye" proves real contingency exists in God's foreknowledge • The three dimensions of God's foreknowledge: certainties, contingencies, and tendencies • Why Matthew 24:21 is a direct quote from Daniel 12:1 — and what that means for interpretation • Why "no flesh be saved" refers to physical, not spiritual, salvation • Israel's current status: enemies of the gospel, beloved for the Father's sake (Romans 11:28) • The "elect" in context — four distinct biblical uses rightly divided