Article 34

Pastor - Ralph E. Dale

"Shiloh Baptist Church is a Sovereign Assembly"

"We believe and preach the doctrines of God's sovereign grace"

The truth

Divine sovereignty without human responsibility leads men to fatalism and indifference. "Who can resist His will? Then why blame me for sinning?" (Rom 9: 18-19)

Human responsiblility without divine intervention leads men to despair and helplessness. "How then can man be just with God? How can he be clear that is born of a woman?" (Job 25: 4).

Sovereign election without means and the resonse of repentance and faith leads ment o idleness and an unjust view of God. "I knew three that thou art a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, so I did nothing." (Matt. 25: 24)

Human effort and means without divine purpose leads men to pride and self-righteousness. "Being ignorant of God's righteousness and going about to establish their own righteousness" (Rom 10: 3).

The kingdom of Christ or the reign of Christ on earth without the love for Christ and others lead men to empty service and worthless sacrifice. "Though I bestow my goods to feed the poor and my body to be burned and have not love, it profiteth me nothing" (1 Cor. 13: 3).

Spirit without truth is wildfire; truth without spirit is dead orthodoxy. Grace without obedience is disgrace; obedience without grace is hypocrisy.