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Is it arrogance to claim absolute assurance that you will be saved from God's judgment at the end of your life? Not only is it not arrogance, it is the highest form of humility for a redeemed person to hold unshakable confidence in his or her salvation from the condemnation of God. Join Island Bible Church this Sunday as we explore the topic of salvation, examining where this assurance is rooted and the basis on which a sinner can have such complete confidence.

Greetings and welcome! This is our Wednesday Family Night service for February 18, 2026. Tonight, we continue our question-and-answer series by focusing on God's Election and man's free will. Thanks for joining us!

Greetings and welcome! This is our daily devotional for February 5, 2026. Today, we continue our series on Matthew in Chapter 13 with the parables of the Pearl of Great Price and the Hidden Treasure. Are these a refutation of Calvinism? Or is something else going on here altogether? Thanks for joining us!

🎯 Is Calvinism Biblical? Examining Total Depravity & Human Ability to Choose God Can totally depraved sinners truly choose to accept or reject salvation? This powerful sermon tackles one of Christianity's most debated doctrines—Calvinistic total inability versus biblical free will. Pastor Fortunato carefully examines what Scripture actually teaches about man's depravity, God's sovereignty, and our response to the gospel. What You'll Discover: Why every believer needs to personally study doctrine instead of blindly trusting teachers (Ephesians 4:14-16) ✅ The critical difference between total depravity and total inability—and why it matters for evangelism 📖 Biblical evidence that unregenerate people CAN see God through creation and conscience (Romans 1:20) How Jesus' own words in Matthew 23:37 refute predestination theology: "I would have gathered you, but YOU WOULD NOT" Verse-by-verse answers to common Calvinist proof texts like John 6:44, Genesis 6:5, and Acts 2:38 Why monergism (salvation by God alone) doesn't require irresistible grace or limited atonement The beautiful truth of "whosoever will" throughout Scripture—from John 3:16 to Revelation 22:17 This in-depth Bible study equips believers to discuss Calvinism with both conviction and compassion, defending the gospel truth that Christ died for ALL and offers salvation to WHOSOEVER believes. Whether you're wrestling with reformed theology, engaging Calvinist friends, or strengthening your own doctrinal foundation, this sermon provides clear biblical answers.

We have some famous verses to look at. Many Christians memorize Romans 8:28, "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good…" and yet, guess what? It doesn't say that in the original text. Neither "God" or the verb "causes" are in the best manuscripts. It is a likely addition by an Alexandrian text editor. I will explain this.  Then we have the famous 8:29, "for those whom He foreknew, He predestined to be conformed to the image of God…" It's an explanation of the reasoning behind the prior verse 28. So, we have a number of controversial words and ideas to discuss; foreknowledge, predestination, calling are a few.  I have racked my brain over these passages and concepts over the years. I once spent about three years working on these words and concepts such as election, free will, sovereignty, etc…and covered a lot of territory involving various theologies such as Augustinianism, Pelagianism, Semi-Pelagianism, Arminianism, and Calvinism, and ideas like LIbertarian Free Will, Compatabilism, Hard Determinism, Soft Determinism, Fatalism, etc… It's very complicated and millennia's of discussion. I'm doing my best, but my explanations will not be "standard fare" commentary. I really don't like teaching these things because they are conceptually different from what is "standard" and that makes them very difficult to communicate. At any rate, I don't think there is anything in the "standard" Calvinist or Arminian explanations that is accurate, and I have to teach what I understand and am convinced that the word of God is teaching, so I will do that.

The sermon presents irresistible grace as God's sovereign, transformative work in the lives of the elect, emphasizing that salvation is entirely God's initiative and accomplishment, not a result of human effort or resistance. Rooted in Scripture, particularly Romans 11 and the Westminster Confession, it explains that God predestines, regenerates, and effectually calls His people through the preached gospel, changing their hearts from stone to flesh and making them willing to believe. While the gospel is proclaimed widely to all, its effect differs: to the elect, it is a sweet, irresistible force that produces faith and draws them to Christ, while to the reprobate, it hardens their hearts and builds evidence against them, preparing them for judgment. The sermon underscores that God's glory is secured in both salvation and condemnation, and that believers, though active participants in His mission, receive no credit, for salvation is entirely by grace, ensuring 100% success in fulfilling God's eternal purpose.

🚨 Why did Jesus' disciples walk away when He needed them most? This powerful sermon from John 6:64-67 exposes the uncomfortable truth about false disciples and what it really costs to follow Jesus. In this eye-opening message, Pastor Fortunato tackles one of the most challenging passages in Scripture—the moment when many of Jesus' followers abandoned Him. Discover why these disciples left, what separates true believers from fair-weather followers, and how modern theology often misses the mark when interpreting these crucial verses. What You'll Learn: ✓ The real meaning behind John 6:64-67 and "from the beginning" ✓ How Judas fulfilled prophecy while making his own wicked choices ✓ Biblical refutation of Calvinist interpretations of election ✓ Why God doesn't withhold salvation from anyone ✓ The connection between Zechariah's prophecy and Jesus' betrayal ✓ What happens when doctrine confronts our comfort zones ✓ How to recognize and avoid false discipleship patterns This verse-by-verse exposition confronts the popular teaching that God predetermined who would be saved and who would be lost. Through careful examination of the Greek text, cross-references with Zechariah 11 and Matthew 27, and sound biblical interpretation, you'll see how God's gift of salvation is offered to all—not withheld from some. If you've ever struggled with questions about election, predestination, or why people walk away from faith, this sermon provides clear, Bible-based answers. Pastor Fortunato doesn't shy away from hard truths, showing how Jesus refused to soften His message even when crowds left Him.