Baptist Faith and Message Message 3

Tonight we look at the fourth doctrine of the Baptist Faith and Message, God’s purpose in grace.

God’s Purpose of Grace

Emphasizes God’s sovereignty in salvation, including election, but also human responsibility.

God’s Purpose of Grace

The Baptist Faith and Message 2000 includes a section on “God’s Purpose of Grace” (Article V), which emphasizes God's role in the salvation of mankind. Here are some teaching points based on this article:

Election as an Act of Grace:

The Lexham Bible Dictionary Election

God’s choice of a person or people group for a specific purpose, mission, or salvation

Election is understood as God's gracious choice to save sinners, not based on any merit or works on their part but solely according to His divine will and purpose. This emphasizes that salvation is entirely a gift from God.The purpose of election is to bring about redemption and sanctification, leading to eternal life in Christ.

These profound and controversial words are not to be confused with each other. Election looks back to God’s choice of certain individuals to be His children, predestination looks forward to the destiny He has planned for them. Neither word is ever used in Scripture of unsaved persons.

Christians were chosen by God before the foundation of the world, Ephesians 1:4 “4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love,”

in contrast with the people of Israel, who may be said to have been chosen on a particular day in time, Deuteronomy 26:18–19 “18 Also today the Lord has proclaimed you to be His special people, just as He promised you, that you should keep all His commandments, 19 and that He will set you high above all nations which He has made, in praise, in name, and in honor, and that you may be a holy people to the Lord your God, just as He has spoken.””

Believers are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, 1 Peter 1:2 “2 elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.”

But the Bible does not reveal what it was that God foreknew. The only way we may know that others are among the elect is on the basis of the way they receive the gospel.

1 Thessalonians 1:4–8 NKJV

4 knowing, beloved brethren, your election by God. 5 For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake. 6 And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit, 7 so that you became examples to all in Macedonia and Achaia who believe. 8 For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place. Your faith toward God has gone out, so that we do not need to say anything.

Election is entirely by the grace of God- it is not related to human acts or works,

Believers are said to be chosen by Christ,

Romans 11:5–6“5 Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace. 6 And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work.”

Given by the Father to the Son

John 15:16 “16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.”

John 17:6 “6 “I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word.”

The theme of the predestination of Christians appears only four times in the Bible. They are predestined to be conformed to the image of Christ in glory, Rom. 8:29, 30; they are predestined to be adopted as sons and to receive an eternal inheritance, Rom. 8:15–23 ;Eph. 1:5 ,11.

William Evans and S. Maxwell Coder, The Great Doctrines of the Bible, Enl. ed. (Chicago: Moody Press, 1974), 287–288.

Deuteronomy 7:6–8 “6 “For you are a holy people to the Lord your God; the Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth. 7 The Lord did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples; 8 but because the Lord loves you, and because He would keep the oath which He swore to your fathers, the Lord has brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you from the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.”

Election as an act of grace

Ephesians 1:4–6 “4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.”

2 Timothy 1:9 “9 who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began,”

Security of the Believer:

This article affirms the doctrine of perseverance of the saints, stating that those who are truly saved are kept by God's power and will persevere in their faith until the end.It teaches that genuine believers cannot lose their salvation, as it is secured by God's grace, not by human effort.

The Security of the Believer or Perseverance of the Saints is a key doctrine in Baptist theology, affirming that those who are genuinely saved by God’s grace will continue in their faith and will not lose their salvation. This doctrine is rooted in the belief that God is faithful to preserve those He has called to salvation, and no external force or circumstance can separate the believer from God's grace.

God's Sovereignty Guarantees Security:

The security of the believer rests not in human effort but in God's sovereign will and power. The believer's salvation is rooted in God's eternal purpose, and He is faithful to keep those He has saved.

Scriptural Support:

John 10:28-29: “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.”

Romans 8:30: “And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.”

This verse teaches the "golden chain" of salvation, highlighting how God's work in the believer's life progresses from predestination to glorification without interruption or failure.

The Believer is Sealed by the Holy Spirit:

God has given His Holy Spirit as a seal, a guarantee of the believer’s inheritance. The presence of the Holy Spirit in the believer’s life is both the assurance of salvation and the power to persevere until the end.Scriptural Support:

Ephesians 1:13-14: “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.”

2 Corinthians 1:21-22: “Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.”

These passages affirm that the Holy Spirit is the believer’s guarantee of salvation, ensuring that the work of redemption will be completed.

Nothing Can Separate the Believer from Christ:

No external force—whether it be trials, persecution, or even death—can sever the relationship between the believer and God. God's love in Christ is unbreakable, providing confidence that salvation is secure regardless of circumstances.

Scriptural Support:

Romans 8:38-39: “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

”Philippians 1:6: “Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

These verses provide comfort and assurance that no power or event can undo God’s saving work in the life of a believer.

Summary:

The Security of the Believer teaches that salvation is a work of God from beginning to end. God’s sovereign power, the sealing of the Holy Spirit, and the unbreakable love of Christ guarantee that those who are truly saved will persevere in faith and be glorified in eternity. This doctrine offers tremendous assurance to believers, encouraging them to rest in God's faithfulness and continue walking in obedience, knowing their salvation is secure in Christ.

(Regeneration and Sanctification:

God's grace not only initiates salvation through election but also continues the work of transformation (sanctification) in the believer’s life.Regeneration, or the new birth, begins the process by which a believer is made spiritually alive, while sanctification is the ongoing process of becoming more like Christ.

Regeneration and Sanctification Teaching Points

The doctrines of Regeneration and Sanctification are fundamental to understanding the transformative nature of salvation in the life of a believer. Regeneration refers to the spiritual rebirth that happens when someone becomes a follower of Christ, while sanctification is the ongoing process of becoming more like Christ through the work of the Holy Spirit.

Teaching Points:

Regeneration: The New Birth and a New Creation:

Regeneration is the act of God through which a person is spiritually reborn. It is not merely a moral improvement but a radical transformation in which the individual becomes a new creation in Christ. This work of regeneration is entirely an act of grace, initiated by God and enabled by the Holy Spirit.

Scriptural Support:

John 3:3-5: “Jesus answered, ‘Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again... unless they are born of water and the Spirit.’”

Jesus explains that being "born again" is necessary for entering the kingdom of God. This spiritual rebirth is a work of the Spirit, not of human effort.

2 Corinthians 5:17: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”

This verse highlights the transformative power of regeneration: when someone is in Christ, they are fundamentally changed, leaving behind their old life and entering a new one in the Spirit.

Titus 3:5: “He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.”

Regeneration is the work of the Holy Spirit, involving the "washing" of rebirth, which signifies the inward cleansing and renewal of a person’s heart and life.

Sanctification: The Process of Becoming More Like Christ:

Sanctification is the lifelong process of spiritual growth and transformation, in which the believer is continually being conformed to the image of Christ. It is both a divine work of grace and a human responsibility, as the believer actively pursues holiness through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Scriptural Support:

1 Thessalonians 4:3: “It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality.”This verse explicitly states that sanctification is God’s will for the believer, implying that holiness and separation from sin are integral to the Christian life.2 Corinthians 3:18: “And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”

Sanctification is described as a progressive transformation, where the believer is continually being changed into the likeness of Christ through the work of the Spirit.

Philippians 2:12-13: “Continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.”

Sanctification involves both human effort (“work out your salvation”) and divine enablement (“it is God who works in you”), showing that the believer cooperates with the Holy Spirit in the process of growing in holiness.

Sanctification Involves Both Positional and Progressive Holiness:

Positional Sanctification: At the moment of salvation, believers are positionally sanctified, meaning they are set apart for God and declared holy because of their union with Christ.

Progressive Sanctification: While believers are positionally sanctified, sanctification is also a progressive process, in which they grow in practical holiness over the course of their Christian life.

Scriptural Support:

1 Corinthians 1:2: “To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be his holy people, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ—their Lord and ours.”

Believers are sanctified (set apart) in Christ at the moment of salvation, but they are also called to live as holy people, indicating a lifelong process of growth in holiness.

Hebrews 10:14: “For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.”

This verse reflects the tension between the believer’s positional sanctification (“he has made perfect forever”) and the ongoing process of becoming holy (“being made holy”).

Summary:

Regeneration is the act of God, by the Holy Spirit, where a person is made spiritually alive, becoming a new creation in Christ. It is a one-time, instantaneous event where the believer is born again and begins their walk with God.

Sanctification is the ongoing process of spiritual growth and transformation, where believers are progressively conformed to the image of Christ. This process involves the work of the Holy Spirit, as well as the believer’s effort in obedience and pursuit of holiness.

These doctrines underscore that salvation is not only a moment of decision but also an ongoing journey of transformation and growth in Christlikeness.

Human Responsibility:

While emphasizing divine sovereignty, the article also upholds human responsibility. Though God elects, individuals must still respond to His call through faith and repentance.This balance underscores the Baptist belief in free will alongside God's sovereign purpose in salvation.

These points reinforce the Baptist view that salvation is initiated, sustained, and secured by God's grace, while humans are called to respond in faith and continue in obedience.

Human Responsibility Teaching Points The doctrine of Human Responsibility highlights that while salvation is initiated and sustained by God's grace, individuals must respond in faith and obedience to God's call. This response is essential in salvation and Christian living.

The tension between God's sovereignty and human responsibility is a crucial aspect of theology, emphasizing that humans are accountable for their choices while God remains sovereign. Teaching Points: Faith and Repentance Are Necessary Responses to God's Grace: While salvation is a work of God's grace, the human response of faith and repentance is required. Faith is the means by which one receives God’s gift of salvation, and repentance is the turning away from sin. Both are commands that people must act upon.

Scriptural Support:

Acts 2:38: “Peter replied, ‘Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’”

Repentance is a necessary response to the gospel, leading to forgiveness and the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 10:9-10: “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.”

This passage emphasizes the necessity of belief in the heart and confession with the mouth, indicating that salvation involves both inward faith and outward acknowledgment of Christ’s lordship.

Mark 1:15: “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”

Jesus commands repentance and belief as the human response to the gospel, showing that both are crucial for entering the kingdom of God.

Humans Are Accountable for Their Choices: The Bible teaches that humans are responsible for the choices they make, particularly in matters of sin and righteousness. While God extends grace and offers salvation, individuals must choose to accept or reject it. Human beings are also responsible for their actions, and they will give an account to God.

Scriptural Support:

Romans 14:12: “So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.”

This verse underscores the reality of human accountability, affirming that each person must answer for their actions before God.

Joshua 24:15: “But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve... But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”

This passage shows that individuals are responsible for choosing whom they will serve. God grants freedom in this decision, but the choice has eternal consequences.

John 3:18: “Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.”

Unbelief brings condemnation, demonstrating that individuals are responsible for their decision to believe or not believe in Christ.

Human Responsibility Does Not Negate God's Sovereignty: The doctrine of human responsibility must be understood in the context of God's sovereignty. Although God is in control of all things, He gives people the freedom to make real choices, including the choice to respond to His grace. These choices have consequences, and humans are held accountable for them. However, God’s sovereignty ensures that His purposes will ultimately be accomplished, even through human decisions.

Scriptural Support:

Philippians 2:12-13: “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.”

This passage shows the balance between human responsibility ("work out your salvation") and divine sovereignty ("God who works in you"). God’s work in the believer empowers them to live out their salvation.

Romans 9:16: “It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.”

This verse reminds us that, while humans are responsible for responding to God, salvation ultimately depends on His mercy and not human effort alone.

Ephesians 2:8-10: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Salvation is a gift of grace, but believers are created to do good works, showing that human responsibility (good works) follows divine grace (salvation).

Obedience Is a Sign of Genuine Faith: True faith is always accompanied by obedience. A believer’s responsibility doesn’t end with receiving salvation—it includes living a life of obedience to God’s commands. Obedience is the evidence of faith and the response to God's grace.

Scriptural Support:

James 2:17: “In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.”Faith without works is dead, indicating that true faith must manifest in obedience and good deeds.

John 14:15: “If you love me, keep my commands.”

Jesus teaches that love for Him is expressed through obedience, highlighting the believer’s responsibility to live according to God’s will.

Summary: The doctrine of Human Responsibility teaches that while salvation is a gift of God's grace, humans must respond with faith, repentance, and obedience. Humans are accountable for their actions and will give an account to God. This responsibility does not negate God's sovereignty but works in harmony with it, as individuals are called to respond to God’s grace while God remains fully in control of salvation. Obedience and faith are the marks of a genuine believer, showing that the response to grace is an ongoing responsibility in the Christian life.