Christ Our Anchor

“Christ Our Anchor”

(written by Richard Warmack, Pastor of Grace Baptist Church of Ruston)

I read an article recently that made the following statement: “The doctrine of election unto salvation. The anchor, and foundation of the Gospel.” They posted multiple verses concerning election seeking to prove this statement. There is no doubt that election is a Scriptural doctrine, and a doctrine that God is pleased to reveal to all His children. But national Israel BELIEVED in ELECTION, in fact a foundational doctrine taught in God’s Word. Yet the vast majority of national Israel, who truly thought themselves to be the “elect of God”, rejected Him who is INDEED the ANCHOR, the VERY FOUNDATION of the Gospel – “Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: that by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: which hope we have as an ANCHOR of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.”(Hebrews 6:17-20) “For other FOUNDATION can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”(1 Corinthians 3:11) As a lost, religious sinner I believed in election, even going so far as to declare I was “chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world”, yet I did not “KNOW Him” who is the chief cornerstone, even the Lord Jesus Christ. Many reformed people I know will argue until they are blue in the face about God’s election of grace, yet turn around and compromise the “glory of God” by saying and believing people are saved who have not rested in the God sent Christ who actually “saved His people from their sin”. Declaring “election” alone IS NOT declaring the Gospel. The declaration of the Gospel is declaring “the righteousness of God” found exclusively in the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ, with absolutely no consideration of or contribution from the sinner in any way, to any degree, at any time.