Here We Stand
Del-Haven Ministries is purposefully and plainly a ministry of God’s sovereign grace! We seek with every endeavor to uphold, explain, promote and preach the message of God’s free grace in Christ and the absolute necessity of His divine power to initiate, apply and secure the salvation of sinners (Eph. 2:8-9; Rom. 5:6; Ps. 37:39; Eph. 1:7). We do not look to man to save himself — for we know he cannot. We do not appeal to men to save themselves — for we know they cannot (Eph. 2:1, 5; Jn. 6:44). We believe God’s grace alone can save a soul, and we try to say it clearly and explicitly. All this is descriptively declared from God’s holy Word: “But God who is rich in mercy — for His great love wherewith He loved us even when we were dead in sins — hath quickened us together in Christ — by grace ye are saved!” (Eph. 2:4-5).
This means we have no time for the teaching that man has a freewill with which to accept or reject God’s so-called offer of salvation (Gal. 5:17; Jn. 1:12-13). We do not believe God has saving love for everyone, nor a will to save everyone (Rom. 9:11-16; Acts 13:48). We do not hold that there is grace from God for everyone. The nature of our sovereign almighty God — and the existence of His creation of hell and His judgment of all men — preclude such ideas (Matt. 25:41; Rom. 9:18; Jn. 8:21,23-24). We do not believe the Lord Jesus Christ died for everyone on the cross nor that His death was ever intended to redeem and atone for any but those called in scripture God’s elect from every nation, from before the foundation of the world (Jn. 10:11,14,15,26-30; Jn. 6:29,39; II Tim. 1:8-9; Rev. 17:14).
We believe all men and women have sinned and are enemies of God by nature (Rom. 3:9-26; Rom. 5:10-11). We believe, nevertheless, God the Father in eternity chose a people to justify and recover from their lost state. We believe the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, came into the world to save those chosen individuals and effectually did so by His death on the cross (I Tim. 1:15; I Peter 1:18-21; 2:9-10; Jn. 3:21). We believe God the Holy Spirit quickens and converts those for whom Christ shed His blood through the preaching of saving grace and divine mercy in the gospel (Jn. 6:63,70). We believe, once saved, those blessed individuals never will be, never can be, lost and will most certainly spend eternity in heaven in the presence and company of their God and Saviour (Jn. 14:1-3; Ps. 65:4).
We believe God in His three persons has done everything necessary for the salvation of His chosen people and there remains nothing for them to do. Beyond Christ’s sacrifice there are no works of obedience required, either to make the elect eligible for salvation, or to enable them to keep their salvation (Eph. 1:3-7; I Cor. 1:30; Rom. 10:4; 11:5-7). Grace is not of works, otherwise grace is no more grace (Rom. 4:4-5). Everything necessary for salvation is a good gift, a perfect gift and it comes from the sovereign God (Rom. 6:23).
These beliefs separate us from a large part of today’s Christian church who seem neither to understand the nature of God nor the nature of man (I Cor. 2:9-10,12-14). They preach of common grace flowing from universal love, and of a frustrated desire on God’s part to save everyone. They believe Christ’s blood redeemed everyone but fails actually to save anyone. They believe in a Holy Spirit who courts the wicked with offers of mercy, but ultimately bows to man’s will and withdraws defeated. We have no sympathy with this message and we can have no fellowship with its promoters (Jn. 8:47; I Jn. 4:6; II Cor. 6:14; See also II Thess. 3:14-16; Titus 3:10-11).
The essence of the gospel is good news. Good because salvation is a sovereign work of grace. Good because the Lord Jesus Christ actually achieved and accomplished all our peace with God as our substitute on the cross (Eph. 2:13-14). Good because no part of our deliverance is dependent upon our weak, wayward flesh.
This is where we stand. This is what we believe. This is the heart of our message. This is the gospel of sovereign grace! (I Cor. 15:58).
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning” (James 1:17).
“…The holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works” (II Tim. 3:15-17).
“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak” (Ephesians 6:10-20).
If it’s not all Christ — it’s all wrong!
(Based upon an original article by Peter L. Meney of New Focus Magazine. Used by permission. To view “Here We Stand” statement with supporting Bible references included, please click HERE.)
