I am weary of hearing men preach the words of other men to lost men and women as the warrant for believing on Christ. "According to Dr. So and So, or old preacher Such and Such, or the old confession," they say. THIS IS NOT THE WARRANT OF FAITH! Men are to believe on Christ simply because God commands it. The gospel is ACCORDING TO GOD both in its contents and its claims. This is true from beginning to end!
1. SALVATION – "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but ACCORDING to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost" (Titus 3:5).
2. ELECTION – "Elect ACCORDING to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ" (I Peter 1:2).
3. PREDESTINATION – "Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself ACCORDING to the good pleasure of His will" (Ephesians 1:4).
4. CALLING AND PROVIDENCE – "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called ACCORDING to His purpose" (Romans 8:28).
5.FORGIVENESS – "In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, ACCORDING to the riches of His grace" (Ephesians 1:7).
6. STRENGTH – "Strengthened with all might, ACCORDING to His glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness" (Colossians 1:11).
7. PROVISION – "But my God shall supply all your need ACCORDING to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:19).
8. GLORIFICATION – "Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body, ACCORDING to the working whereby He is able even to subdue all things unto Himself" (Philippians 3:21).
Preaching the gospel is not convincing men by the opinions of other men but proclaiming the claims and commands of Christ. Our warrant for believing the gospel is because it is ACCORDING TO GOD.