The following are the ten articles of affirmation and denial concerning a traditional Southern Baptist soteriology that has garnered so much discussion on the blogs the past couple of days. Alan Cross has spoken very wise words in his comments over at SBC Voices. Thus, his words are very much appreciated and should be investigated. With that in mind I have placed the articles below and would like your input concerning articles one may have disagreement over.
Before someone gripes about the format of the Affirmations vs Denials let me help you on reading the document. The affirmations is what we believe and the denials express what we are not saying in the affirmations. Clearly it is the format of the Chicago Statement of Inerrancy. Now, we do not expect Calvinists to agree with the document. It was not written for Calvinists. The document was written for the simple fact that we wanted to clearly state where we stood and what we believed. After all, we are confessional Baptists, right?
Articles of Affirmation and Denial
Article One: The Gospel
We affirm that the Gospel is the good news that God has made a way of salvation through the life, death, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ for any person. This is in keeping with God’s desire for every person to be saved.
We deny that only a select few are capable of responding to the Gospel while the rest are predestined to an eternity in hell.
Genesis 3:15; Psalm 2:1-12; Ezekiel 18:23, 32; Luke 19.10; Luke 24:45-49; John 1:1-18, 3:16; Romans 1:1-6, 5:8; 8:34; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21; Galatians 4:4-7; Colossians 1:21-23; 1 Timothy 2:3-4; Hebrews 1:1-3; 4:14-16; 2 Peter 3:9
Article Two: The Sinfulness of Man
We affirm that, because of the fall of Adam, every person inherits a nature and environment inclined toward sin and that every person who is capable of moral action will sin. Each person’s sin alone brings the wrath of a holy God, broken fellowship with Him, ever-worsening selfishness and destructiveness, death, and condemnation to an eternity in hell.
We deny that Adam’s sin resulted in the incapacitation of any person’s free will or rendered any person guilty before he has personally sinned. While no sinner is remotely capable of achieving salvation through his own effort, we deny that any sinner is saved apart from a free response to the Holy Spirit’s drawing through the Gospel.
Genesis 3:15-24; 6:5; Deuteronomy 1:39; Isaiah 6:5, 7:15-16;53:6; Jeremiah 17:5,9, 31:29-30; Ezekiel 18:19-20; Romans 1:18-32; 3:9-18, 5:12, 6:23; 7:9; Matthew 7:21-23; 1 Corinthians 1:18-25; 6:9-10;15:22; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Hebrews 9:27-28; Revelation 20:11-15
Article Three: The Atonement of Christ
We affirm that the penal substitution of Christ is the only available and effective sacrifice for the sins of every person.
We deny that this atonement results in salvation without a person’s free response of repentance and faith. We deny that God imposes or withholds this atonement without respect to an act of the person’s free will. We deny that Christ died only for the sins of those who will be saved.
Psalm 22:1-31; Isaiah 53:1-12; John 12:32, 14:6; Acts 10:39-43; Acts 16:30-32; Romans 3:21-26; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 3:10-14; Philippians 2:5-11; Colossians 1:13-20; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; Hebrews 9:12-15, 24-28; 10:1-18; I John 1:7; 2:2
Article Four: The Grace of God
We affirm that grace is God’s generous decision to provide salvation for any person by taking all of the initiative in providing atonement, in freely offering the Gospel in the power of the Holy Spirit, and in uniting the believer to Christ through the Holy Spirit by faith.
We deny that grace negates the necessity of a free response of faith or that it cannot be resisted. We deny that the response of faith is in any way a meritorious work that earns salvation.
Ezra 9:8; Proverbs 3:34; Zechariah 12:10; Matthew 19:16-30, 23:37; Luke 10:1-12; Acts 15:11; 20:24; Romans 3:24, 27-28; 5:6, 8, 15-21; Galatians 1:6; 2:21; 5; Ephesians 2:8-10; Philippians 3:2-9; Colossians 2:13-17; Hebrews 4:16; 9:28; 1 John 4:19
Article Five: The Regeneration of the Sinner
We affirm that any person who responds to the Gospel with repentance and faith is born again through the power of the Holy Spirit. He is a new creation in Christ and enters, at the moment he believes, into eternal life.
We deny that any person is regenerated prior to or apart from hearing and responding to the Gospel.
Luke 15:24; John 3:3; 7:37-39; 10:10; 16:7-14; Acts 2:37-39; Romans 6:4-11; 10:14; 1 Corinthians 15:22; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 2:20; 6:15; Colossians 2:13; 1 Peter 3:18
Article Six: The Election to Salvation
We affirm that, in reference to salvation, election speaks of God’s eternal, gracious, and certain plan in Christ to have a people who are His by repentance and faith.
We deny that election means that, from eternity, God predestined certain people for salvation and others for condemnation.
Genesis 1:26-28; 12:1-3; Exodus 19:6; Jeremiah 31:31-33; Matthew 24:31; 25:34; John 6:70; 15:16; Romans 8:29-30, 33;9:6-8; 11:7; 1 Corinthians 1:1-2; Ephesians 1:4-6; 2:11-22; 3:1-11; 4:4-13; 1 Timothy 2:3-4; 1 Peter 1:1-2; 1 Peter 2:9; 2 Peter 3:9; Revelation 7:9-10
Article Seven: The Sovereignty of God
We affirm God’s eternal knowledge of and sovereignty over every person’s salvation or condemnation.
We deny that God’s sovereignty and knowledge require Him to cause a person’s acceptance or rejection of faith in Christ.
Genesis 1:1; 6:5-8; 18:16-33; 22; 2 Samuel 24:13-14; 1 Chronicles 29:10-20; 2 Chronicles 7:14; Joel 2:32; Psalm 23; 51:4; 139:1-6; Proverbs 15:3; John 6:44; Romans 11:3; Titus 3:3-7; James 1:13-15; Hebrews 11:6, 12:28; 1 Peter 1:17
Article Eight: The Free Will of Man
We affirm that God, as an expression of His sovereignty, endows each person with actual free will (the ability to choose between two options), which must be exercised in accepting or rejecting God’s gracious call to salvation by the Holy Spirit through the Gospel.
We deny that the decision of faith is an act of God rather than a response of the person. We deny that there is an “effectual call” for certain people that is different from a “general call” to any person who hears and understands the Gospel.
Genesis 1:26-28; Numbers 21:8-9; Deuteronomy 30:19; Joshua 24:15; 1 Samuel 8:1-22; 2 Samuel 24:13-14; Esther 3:12-14; Matthew 7:13-14; 11:20-24; Mark 10:17-22; Luke 9:23-24; 13:34; 15:17-20; Romans 10:9-10; Titus 2:12; Revelation 22:17
Article Nine: The Security of the Believer
We affirm that when a person responds in faith to the Gospel, God promises to complete the process of salvation in the believer into eternity. This process begins with justification, whereby the sinner is immediately acquitted of all sin and granted peace with God; continues in sanctification, whereby the saved are progressively conformed to the image of Christ by the indwelling Holy Spirit; and concludes in glorification, whereby the saint enjoys life with Christ in heaven forever.
We deny that this Holy Spirit-sealed relationship can ever be broken. We deny even the possibility of apostasy.
John 10:28-29; 14:1-4; 16:12-14; Philippians 1:6; Romans 3:21-26; 8:29,30; 35-39; 12:1-3; 2 Corinthians 4:17; Ephesians 1:13-14; Philippians 3:12; Colossians 1:21-22; 1 John 2:19; 3:2; 5:13-15; 2 Timothy 1:12; Hebrews 13:5; James 1:12; Jude 24-25
Article Ten: The Great Commission
We affirm that the Lord Jesus Christ commissioned His church to preach the good news of salvation to all people to the ends of the earth. We affirm that the proclamation of the Gospel is God’s means of bringing any person to salvation.
We deny that salvation is possible outside of a faith response to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Psalm 51:13; Proverbs 11:30; Isaiah 52:7; Matthew 28:19-20; John 14:6; Acts 1:8; 4:12; 10:42-43; Romans 1:16, 10:13-15; 1 Corinthians 1:17-21; Ephesians 3:7-9; 6:19-20; Philippians 1:12-14; 1 Thessalonians 1:8; 1 Timothy 2:5; 2 Timothy 4:1-5
1 Corinthians 2:14: But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.
1 Corinthians 12:3: Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus is accursed”; and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.
It seems to me their Article #5 is at variance with this.
Bob
Begging pardon but there is not a syllable in either text which suggests regeneration precedes faith which is what the the article denies. Unless you can show some type of exegetical basis for believing otherwise in these verses your point makes no sense…
Hello Mr Rogers,
Its Ian C, you commented on my post regarding the
SBC’s stance on salvation. You called me a high calvinist, claiming that a
reason not to be convinced. I assure you i like all others have pride problems,
but i posted my comment for the sole purpose of making it known that im tired of
being misrepresented, nothing substantive can be discussed if we dont understand
eachother’s sides, this seems to be the biggers hurdle between calvinists and
non calvinists. Theres too many straw men in the room. Im sure your too bust to
read this but i figured I just say my bit. I meant no attack on your or anyone
else’s intelligence, just desiring a greater understanding of
eachother.
In Christ,
Ian
Hi Tim,
First time reader, first time responder!
Just a few thoughts of disagreement with the “traditional statements.” I believe that “Article 2: The Sinfulness of Man” sets a very troubling series of logical conclusions in motion. The Bible seems explicitly clear on man’s spiritual deadness in his inherent state (Eph. 2:1-3). Plenty of other passages could be quoted to support this universal spiritual conditional. The issue that divides Calvinists and non-Calvinists should NOT be on this fundamental reality! The issue should be better defined concerning the nature of God’s grace. Is there a universal spiritual resusciation that enables a person to choose or reject Christ; or, is there a particularly resurrection of those chosen before the foundation of the world? The bottom line: Article 2 is not even close to being a biblical conclusion!
Hope this is not received negatively…thank you for the opportunity to share briefly.
Steve Walter
Second Baptist Church, Jacksonville, AR
Steve,
From “Article 2: The Sinfulness of Man” in Traditional Statement on SB Soteriology
From “Article III Man” in BF&M
Please, Steve, help me understand where the Traditional affirmation in Article 2 differs from the statement on Man found in the BF&M. Thus, if you disagree with the Traditional affirmation then you disagree with the BF&M.
The standard is the Scripture, isn’t it? The vagueness does not change the concern.
By the way, thank you for posting my comments and your reply. I might actually find blogs and forums a fun way of healthy dialog.
Steve,
You may want to post more comments before you make such a statement.
Seriously we can have a healthy dialog but sometimes you will find that some will attack instead of interact.
The statement that we placed before the world has been looked over by theologians and agreed upon as we examined the BF&M. While the BF&M is a broad theological document, we certainly did not want to place anything out there that disagreed with it. The only statement that may come close to disagreeing with it is the affirmation and denial on “Regeneration”. Some can read the BF&M and argue that it porports Regeneration before repentance. We argue that it is at the same moment.
Other than one of these articles not being an issue of contention between “non-Calvinists” and “Calvinists” (IX and X), Article V is in direct disagreement with the BF&M. This greatly saddens me, as this is produced and signed by someone that I heard to be nominated possible to serve as vice in the SBC. Someone who does not hold to the tenants of the BF&M should not be nominated. Also, I have no problem with a confession that further articulates finer points that fall under the umbrella of the BF&M; however, this falls very short of that goal. I also hope that the author and major signers will be issuing a letter of intent as a postscript. In many ways, “Calvinism” is misrepresented. Also, the timing is very suspicious. And the secrecy does not endow an encouragement of open handed conversation and edification. I believe that it would be best if a postscript were issued to clear some muddy waters. I pray for no divisive efforts from anyone on either “side” and a graciousness from everyone.
James H
James,
Your point would be well taken if the paragraph on “Repentence” was not in the article. That paragraph clearly indicates that the authors of the BF&M intended that “Regeneration” and “Repentence” were synonymous theological terms. Also, with the BF&M being a document written with the intention of being so broad a 5-point Calvinist could sign along with someone who would not consider oneself a Calvinist, it seems logical it was written this way. That way the Calvinist could establish “Regeneration” prior to “Repentance” and the non-Calvinist would be able to define “Regeneration” and “Repentance” taking place at the same time.
From the BF&M
From the “Traditional Statement”
Tim, I appreciate the dialogue on this stream and the clarity in which you explain the position of the statement in question. I believe the statement is much like any other conversation in life. Perception becomes reality. What folks perceive this statement to be, is at odds with what they have been taught or learned…and thereby the difference becomes the only reality that is possible or true.
For instance, I could (though I don’t) perceive the opposition here towards the statement as argumentative and stubborn and close-minded. I choose to see the opposition as biased in favor of their own understanding and perception of the points in light of what they interpret Scripture to mean.
I fully understand how some would disagree with this document just as I disagree with 5 pts. of Calvinism. That does not change my love for my brothers and sisters in Christ. Not one tiny bit. We just see things differently. I daily pray for God to continue to give me wisdom to discern His Word and His will. Until I see Him face to face I will pray for this unceasingly and He who began a good work in me will complete the process in me that day. thanks.. selahV