Free Grace Baptist Church

Free Grace Baptist Church, Chilliwack, BC Pastors: Jim Butler, Cam Porter

Does the 1689 Confession affirm the monarchy of the Father? (Ask FGBC #43) Ask FGBC is a digital ministry providing biblical, pastoral, and confessional answers to real questions submitted by believers, seekers, and those wrestling with assurance. In this episode, we explore whether the 1689 Confession affirms a unique monarchy of the Father within the Trinity. Gain clarity as we discuss the divine essence, mediatorial role of Christ, and the inseparable operations of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Recorded with Pastor Cameron Porter, Dr Sam Renihan, and Pastor Jim Butler. Recorded April 24, 2025. Submit your own question and see previous topics: https://www.freegrace.ca/ask There is an option to do it anonymously. Videos are available on SermonAudio, Youtube and Facebook. Please like & share on our social media profiles as well to get the word out and distribute further! Church Website: https://www.freegrace.ca

Free Grace Baptist Church, Chilliwack, BC Pastors: Jim Butler, Cam Porter

Free Grace Baptist Church, Chilliwack, BC Pastors: Jim Butler, Cam Porter

Free Grace Baptist Church, Chilliwack, BC Pastors: Jim Butler, Cam Porter

Free Grace Baptist Church, Chilliwack, BCPastors: Jim Butler, Cam Porter

In this episode of Ask FGBC, we respond to the question:"What are some words not found in the Bible that help safeguard and express its teachings?"We explore key terms like Trinity, inerrancy, canon, and partitive exegesis—words that aren't in Scripture but have been used by faithful Christians for centuries to clarify, protect, and pass on God's truth. This short episode reflects on the value of precise language in theological discussion, with references to the Nicene Creed, doctrinal history, and the church's call to contend earnestly for the faith.With Pastor Jim Butler, Pastor Cameron Porter, and Wim Kerkhoff. Recorded Dec 20, 2024.Submit a question: https://www.freegrace.ca/askChurch website: https://www.freegrace.ca

Free Grace Baptist Church, Chilliwack, BCPastors: Jim Butler, Cam Porter

Closing remarks on an exposition of "Chapter 2: Of God and the Holy Trinity" of Second London Baptist Confession of Faith (1689).Free Grace Baptist Church, Chilliwack, BCPastors: Jim Butler, Cam Porter

TODAY is the day of salvation! Come to Christ!Isaiah 55:6 Seek the Lord while He may be found,Call upon Him while He is near.7 Let the wicked forsake his way,And the unrighteous man his thoughts;Let him return to the Lord,And He will have mercy on him;And to our God,For He will abundantly pardon.Free Grace Baptist Church, Chilliwack, BC

Bible Study "Government is only as good as the self-government of the people."Free Grace Baptist Church, Chilliwack, BC

Listen to encouraging updates from churches and church plants both within our new association and beyond.Association of Reformed Baptist Churches in Western Canada: https://www.arbcwc.ca/Conference website: https://www.confessingthefaith.caFree Grace Baptist Church: https://www.freegrace.ca/

Pastor Sam Renihan shares a few of the benefits of churches who association with each other, including prayer and laboring together.

Confessing the Faith Conference 2025Join us live as we gather to deepen our understanding of the historic Reformed confessions—the Second London Baptist, Westminster, Savoy, and Belgic. Through faithful preaching and teaching, we aim to magnify Christ and recover the clarity, unity, and conviction found in the great doctrinal summaries of the Christian faith.Speakers: Dr Sam Renihan and Dr James Dolezal.Conference website: https://www.confessingthefaith.ca

Dr. Samuel Renihan presents a clear, biblical, and confessional overview of the doctrine of the Trinity—one God in three eternal subsistences: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He explains how the Second London Confession reflects both the unity and the distinctions within the Godhead, and why these distinctions are based on eternal relations of origin, not merely role or function. This session helps guard against errors such as tritheism or modalism, and instead reinforces historic orthodoxy. Listeners will come away with a better grasp of the biblical basis for the Trinity and why it matters for worship, salvation, and spiritual life. Key Scriptures: Matthew 28:19; John 1:1–3; 2 Corinthians 13:14 Speaker Bio: Dr. Samuel Renihan is pastor of Trinity Reformed Baptist Church in La Mirada, California. He holds an MDiv from Westminster Seminary California and a PhD from the Free University of Amsterdam. He is the author of The Mystery of Christ, Deity and Decree, and Crux, Mors, Inferi. About the Conference: Confessing the Faith promotes reverent teaching on the doctrine of God as expressed in the 1689 Second London Baptist Confession. Each year focuses on one chapter of the confession. Upcoming: Join us in April 2026 for Chapter 3 – Of God's Decree Details and registration: www.confessingthefaith.ca

In this doctrinally rich session, Dr. Samuel Renihan explains how the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are truly distinct yet fully and equally God. Using a "5–4–3–2–1" framework, he explores eternal relations and personal properties: five notions, four relations, three properties, two processions, and one divine essence. This session clarifies how classical Trinitarian theology avoids both tritheism and modalism. Rather than being distinguished by role or rank, each person is identified by eternal origin—such as the Father's begetting of the Son and the Spirit's procession. Dr. Renihan carefully guides listeners through the biblical foundations and confessional categories that safeguard orthodoxy. While the content is technical, it is deeply important for anyone seeking to understand and articulate the mystery and majesty of the Triune God. Key Scriptures: John 15:26; Psalm 2:7; Matthew 3:16–17 Speaker Bio: Dr. Samuel Renihan is pastor of Trinity Reformed Baptist Church in La Mirada, California. He holds an MDiv from Westminster Seminary California and a PhD from the Free University of Amsterdam. He is the author of The Mystery of Christ, Deity and Decree, and Crux, Mors, Inferi. About the Conference: Confessing the Faith promotes reverent teaching on the doctrine of God as expressed in the 1689 Second London Baptist Confession. Each year focuses on one chapter of the confession. Upcoming: Join us in April 2026 for Chapter 3 – Of God's Decree Details and registration: www.confessingthefaith.ca

Moderator: Pastor Cam Porter In this extended Q&A panel, the speakers answer theological questions submitted by conference attendees. Topics include: – Can we grieve the Holy Spirit if God has no emotions? – How can we speak to children about sin and God's "sadness"? – What does it mean to say "God is wrath" or "God is love"? – How should we understand the covenant of redemption? – Can theology be done without metaphysics or natural theology? – How does God relate to time and eternity? – What did Calvin believe about the Son's aseity? – Is there such a thing as "bad" suffering in God's plan? – What are good introductory books on the Trinity? Speaker Bios: Dr. James Dolezal is professor of theology at Cairn University and visiting professor at International Reformed Baptist Seminary. Dr. Samuel Renihan is pastor of Trinity Reformed Baptist Church in La Mirada, California, and holds a PhD from the Free University of Amsterdam. Pastor Jim Butler has served Free Grace Baptist Church since 1997 and holds MDiv and ThM degrees from Whitefield Theological Seminary. About the Conference: Confessing the Faith promotes reverent teaching on the doctrine of God as expressed in the 1689 Second London Baptist Confession. Each year focuses on one chapter of the confession. Upcoming: Join us in April 2026 for Chapter 3 – Of God's Decree Details and registration: www.confessingthefaith.ca

In this opening message of the Confessing the Faith 2025 Conference, Dr. Samuel Renihan sets the theological foundation by introducing the doctrine of classical theism and its connection to confessional unity. Drawing from the Second London Baptist Confession of Faith (1689), he shows how the historic church has confessed the nature of God with precision, humility, and care. Dr. Renihan challenges the church today to recover this clarity—rejecting novelty in our language about God and holding fast to the "pattern of sound words" that promotes lasting unity across generations and denominations. This session also lays out the broader purpose of the conference: equipping believers to joyfully confess the doctrine of God as revealed in Scripture and summarized in our confessional heritage. Key Scriptures: Jeremiah 31:34 – "They shall all know Me…" 2 Timothy 1:13–14 – "Hold fast the pattern of sound words…" Hebrews 13:7–9 – "Remember those… who have spoken the word of God to you…" Speaker Bio: Dr. Samuel Renihan is pastor of Trinity Reformed Baptist Church in La Mirada, California. He holds an MDiv from Westminster Seminary California and a PhD from the Free University of Amsterdam. He is the author of The Mystery of Christ, Deity and Decree, and Crux, Mors, Inferi. About the Conference: Confessing the Faith promotes reverent teaching on the doctrine of God as expressed in the 1689 Confession. Each year focuses on one chapter. Upcoming: Join us in April 2026 for Chapter 3 – Of God's Decree Details and registration: www.confessingthefaith.ca

In this foundational session, Dr. James Dolezal teaches on the doctrine of divine simplicity—the truth that God is not made of parts or composed of differing attributes. He explains how simplicity safeguards God's unity, independence, immutability, and perfection. Far from being an abstract philosophical idea, divine simplicity is vital to understanding the God of Scripture and worshiping Him rightly. Through careful biblical reasoning and historical confessional support, Dr. Dolezal shows how this doctrine undergirds all others. Without simplicity, the God we profess becomes subject to change, complexity, or contradiction. This message calls the church to recover this essential aspect of theology proper and to rest in the unchanging wholeness of our God. Key Scriptures: Deuteronomy 6:4 – "The Lord our God, the Lord is one." Exodus 3:14 – "I AM WHO I AM." James 1:17 – "The Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning." Speaker Bio: Dr. James Dolezal is professor of theology at Cairn University and visiting professor at International Reformed Baptist Seminary. He is the author of God Without Parts and All That Is in God, and contributor to volumes like Divine Impassibility and Classical Theism. About the Conference: Confessing the Faith promotes reverent teaching on the doctrine of God as expressed in the 1689 Confession. Each year focuses on one chapter. Upcoming: Join us in April 2026 for Chapter 3 – Of God's Decree Details and registration: www.confessingthefaith.ca

In this session, Dr. James Dolezal teaches on the often misunderstood doctrine of divine impassibility—the truth that God does not undergo emotional change or suffering. While God is deeply relational and perfectly loving, He is not subject to mood swings, surprise, or reaction in the way creatures are. Dolezal walks through Scripture and the 1689 Confession to explain how impassibility safeguards God's immutability, sovereignty, and faithfulness. He demonstrates that this doctrine is not a cold abstraction, but a profound comfort: the God who saves does not change. This session challenges modern distortions of God's nature and helps restore a view of the Lord that is both high and holy. This message is especially helpful for pastors, teachers, and Christians seeking to recover the historic, biblical understanding of who God is and how He interacts with His creation. Key Scriptures: Malachi 3:6 – "For I am the Lord, I do not change." Numbers 23:19 – "God is not a man, that He should lie…" Job 35:6–7 – "If you have sinned, what do you accomplish against Him?" Speaker Bio: Dr. James Dolezal is professor of theology at Cairn University and visiting professor at International Reformed Baptist Seminary. He is the author of God Without Parts and All That Is in God, and contributor to Divine Impassibility and Classical Theism. About the Conference: Confessing the Faith promotes reverent teaching on the doctrine of God as expressed in the 1689 Second London Baptist Confession. Each year focuses on one chapter of the confession. Upcoming: Join us in April 2026 for Chapter 3 – Of God's Decree Details and registration: www.confessingthefaith.ca

In this session, Dr. James Dolezal explores two glorious attributes of God: His eternity and incomprehensibility. God is not bound by time, nor can He be fully grasped by finite minds. Yet He has truly revealed Himself to us in Scripture, not in totality, but truly and sufficiently. Dr. Dolezal shows how these truths, rather than discouraging pursuit of God, drive us to reverent worship and theological humility. They remind us that God is not like us—and that's precisely what makes Him worthy of our trust. If God could be fully comprehended, He would not be infinite. This message calls us to embrace the mystery of God, not as a gap in knowledge, but as a reason for awe. It also helps protect the church from shallow or overly rationalistic approaches to theology. Key Scriptures: Psalm 90:2 – "From everlasting to everlasting, You are God." Isaiah 40:28 – "The Creator... neither faints nor is weary." Romans 11:33 – "Oh, the depth of the riches... of God!" Speaker Bio: Dr. James Dolezal is professor of theology at Cairn University and visiting professor at International Reformed Baptist Seminary. He is the author of God Without Parts and All That Is in God. About the Conference: Confessing the Faith promotes reverent teaching on the doctrine of God as expressed in the 1689 Second London Baptist Confession. Each year focuses on one chapter of the confession. Upcoming: Join us in April 2026 for Chapter 3 – Of God's Decree Details and registration: www.confessingthefaith.ca

A Reformed Baptist Church in Chilliwack, B.C. Committed to preaching Christ and Him crucified. Host of the "Confessing the Faith" annual conference.Pastors Jim Butler and Cam Porter

A Reformed Baptist Church in Chilliwack, B.C. Committed to preaching Christ and Him crucified. Host of the "Confessing the Faith" annual conference.Pastors Jim Butler and Cam Porter

Why does the devil seem to have a particular hatred for women? In this thought-provoking episode of Ask FGBC, Pastor Jim Butler and Wim Kerkhoff explore the deep spiritual roots of this question, drawing from Scripture, history, and theology. From biblical enmity in Genesis to the tragic realities of oppression and violence in our world today, they shed light on how Satan's hatred for God's order—and especially the life-giving role of women—fuels this ongoing assault. Whether you're wrestling with these realities or seeking to understand God's heart for women, this conversation invites you to reflect and anchor your thoughts in gospel truth. Watch the video or read the full transcript to go deeper.--------With Pastor Jim Butler, Pastor Cameron Porter, and Wim Kerkhoff. Recorded December 20, 2024.Confessing the Faith Conference – Register online and see previous recordings: https://www.confessingthefaith.ca/Submit your own question and see previous topics: https://www.freegrace.ca/ask-fgbc-anythingThere is an option to do it anonymously. Videos are available on SermonAudio, Youtube and Facebook.Transcripts are available in our blog: https://www.freegrace.ca/blogPlease like & share on our social media profiles as well to get the word out and distribute further!

A Reformed Baptist Church in Chilliwack, B.C. Committed to preaching Christ and Him crucified. Host of the "Confessing the Faith" annual conference.Pastors Jim Butler and Cam Porter

A Reformed Baptist Church in Chilliwack, B.C. Committed to preaching Christ and Him crucified. Host of the "Confessing the Faith" annual conference.Pastors Jim Butler and Cam Porter

In Episode #40 of Ask FGBC, Pastors Cam Porter and Jim Butler tackle a sensitive question: Is it okay to use children's Bibles that include pictures of Jesus? The discussion explores the Reformed perspective on the Second Commandment, the role of images in teaching children, and the importance of prioritizing the Word of God over visual representations. With pastoral care and theological clarity, the hosts address common motivations behind illustrated Bibles, while urging parents to focus on Scripture itself as the primary means of discipleship. A thought-provoking conversation for Christian parents and teachers alike.--------With Pastor Jim Butler, Pastor Cameron Porter, and Wim Kerkhoff. Recorded December 20, 2024.Confessing the Faith Conference – Register online and see previous recordings: https://www.confessingthefaith.ca/Submit your own question and see previous topics: https://www.freegrace.ca/ask-fgbc-anythingThere is an option to do it anonymously. Videos are available on SermonAudio, Youtube and Facebook.Transcripts are available in our blog: https://www.freegrace.ca/blogPlease like & share on our social media profiles as well to get the word out and distribute further!

A Reformed Baptist Church in Chilliwack, B.C. Committed to preaching Christ and Him crucified. Host of the "Confessing the Faith" annual conference.Pastors Jim Butler and Cam Porter

A Reformed Baptist Church in Chilliwack, B.C. Committed to preaching Christ and Him crucified. Host of the "Confessing the Faith" annual conference.Pastors Jim Butler and Cam Porter