Opening Editorial for the Spring issue of The Gospel Witness

Salvation Is of the Lord

“We believe that the gospel is to be publicly preached only by men called of God for that purpose. It is to be preached in all the world as a statement of truth, and as a witness of Jesus for the comfort and instruction of regenerated men and women; but deny that it is to offer grace to the unregenerate or that it asserts there is an obligation resting upon the unregenerate to believe that Jesus is their Saviour (Matthew 24:14; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:47; Acts 5:42; Romans 10:13-15; 2 Timothy 1:11; 2 Timothy 4:2).”

“We believe that good works, obedience to the commands of God, are well pleasing in His sight, and should be maintained in the church; but they are to be considered only as evidence of a gracious state, and are not a condition of eternal salvation (James 2:17-18; Ephesians 2:8-9; Philippians 2:12-13; Matthew 5:16; John 14:21).”

Articles of Faith Nos. 10 and 11
Little Flock Primitive Baptist Church
Edwardsville, IL

To these articles or principles of faith, I fully subscribe. The gospel message has been, and is constantly my only hope of being able to inhabit heaven. I know the blood of Jesus Christ must have saved us before we can ever stand just before God. I thank God that He has expressed this news in the gospel, and has afforded me the faith to believe in it, the opportunity to have heard it, and a heart to receive it, and that He saw fit to place this wretch in its ministry to others. Truly the gospel is a comfort to regenerated men and women, and to no others. I thank God to be able to believe through faith and hope that Jesus is my Saviour, and to express this “good news” to His children.

I am further thankful for the gospel’s benefit of instruction, which has been called by our fathers Time or Gospel Salvation. It is a blessing to know through the words of the gospel the obligations I am under, and, through the grace of God, should fulfill to the pleasure of our Father. In the words of Jesus Christ: “For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required” (Luke 12:48). Truly those who have been afforded the blessing of gospel salvation have been given much, and should with their whole being and energy seek to fulfill that which is required of us: to be the people of God not only in name, but also in action.

There are untold many of the elect of God who have been called, yet so few chosen. We who have been afforded the blessings of gospel knowledge should thank God for this salvation. It should be our chief aim to continue following the Spirit’s leadership in our lives, to further please our Master and thus to see His approving nod.

May we ever look to the help of our Lord to continue producing the wonderful fruit of the Spirit in our lives, thus giving ourselves evidence of a “gracious state,” and bringing glory and praise to our Father in heaven.