Here
http://grace.org.uk/faith/calvin.html
is an excellent summary of the truth of God's Word regarding salvation. Pure biblical teaching ... simple, yet profound. The believer who comprehends and submits to these truths finds them heart warming, bringing a sense of awe and wonder and gratitude and humility and joy.
But for those who do not see that this is the true nature of salvation, these doctrines are a stumbling block, something they foolishly and ignorantly dismiss as "flawed, exclusive, eisegetical" and "imperfect and incomplete". Yet take heed -- these blessed doctrines of Scripture are the full counsel of God's salvation, and, those who do not embrace them, though they may not realize it, are only rejecting His Word and His sovereignty.
Though we may think our "words mean things", His Word truly means something! All glory to God for His gracious salvation!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
9 comments:
Universal Prevenient Grace defined
Universal Prevenient Grace (UPG) is a doctrine that is widely held by Evangelicals. This doctrine asserts the following:
1.)God desires the salvation of every human (1 Timothy 2:4; 2 Peter 3:9)
2.)Christ died to bring salvation to every person.
3.)Personal obligation is limited to one's ability to respond.
4.)This Grace that flowed from Christ's cross is bestowed unconditionally on all people.
5.)UPG erases the debilitating effects of sin on minds, restores moral free agency, convicts of sin, and exerts a God-ward influence upon hearts.
6.)The grace enables all sinners to respond to God by faith.
7.)This grace from God thus provides every human with the potential for salvation.
8.)This grace is not coercive but resistible (Acts 7:51).
9.)Upon a positive response to UPG, a sinner will be given the salvific grace of regeneration, faith and repentance.
Is this a fair representation of what the SBC believes about divine enablement? BF&M
Does the SBC believe in original sin?
Charles
Charles,
The "SBC", being an organization, doesn't believe anything. :)
But I know what you mean ... is UPG the theological position typically reflected in the preaching of SBC pastors, and is it the position reflected by the BFM?
In SBC churches, it varies quite a bit. UPG is not an uncommon view, and it may even be the most common view (hard to say, not having personally been in all the SBC churches out there). But there are preachers who would agree with only parts of it, and there are fully Calvinistic SBC pastors also.
The BFM has attempted to take a mediating position on almost every aspect of soteriology, using wording that both Calvinists and Arminians can generally accept (other than the matter of eternal security), without specifically commiting to either view.
Thanks for the SBC clarrification.
Being raised in a centralized/episcopal form of government I tend to forget the difference.
Did you read my wordy response to your question on Mike's blog of 8:28 PM, October 23, 2007 I tried to answer your question.
Being raised a Pentecostal in a Wesleyan environment I am seeing a difference in the Arminianism of the SBC churches and the Arminianism of the Wesleyan Churches.
Charles,
Yes, I saw your post there. I can't say I agree with your assessment, but I do understand how it might be that the combination of eternal security and self determination could lead someone to lack fear of God and thus be more willing to excuse sin.
As far as Wesleyan churches go, I always heard that the doctrine of prevenient grace was standard there. Is that correct?
Tom,
"That all have sinned and come short of the glory of God and that repentance is commanded of God for all and necessary for forgiveness of sins."
This is the statement of faith I grew up with. Strangely we never heard the term "prevenient grace'
We were not into theology as you could easily imagine. Even in college I never heard the term. We just widely accepted Wesleyan holiness and great pride was taken that we were a unique brand of Pentecostals "Wesleyan Holines Pentecostals"
I had a professor in college who taught from what everyone thought was a Calvinist perspective but I have found out he was a keswick reformed. Of coarse everyone assumed that if you were not Wesleyan then you were Calvinist! This man has suffered a lot of unfair ridicule in the denomination as well as a few other professors.
Seems to me the Keswick influence has served to bring a rock in the gears of theological terminology.
An aside would you consider the views of Charles Stanley, Bill Bright and Norman Geisler to be the same as AR?
Charles
WatchingHISstory said...
Tom,
"That all have sinned and come short of the glory of God and that repentance is commanded of God for all and necessary for forgiveness of sins."
This is the statement of faith I grew up with. Strangely we never heard the term "prevenient grace'
We were not into theology as you could easily imagine.
Pretty much the same as your average Baptist.
An aside would you consider the views of Charles Stanley, Bill Bright and Norman Geisler to be the same as AR?
Pretty much, yes. All "inconsistent Arminians." They'd claim adherence to Total Depravity and Perseverance of the Saints, but redefine the former to deny total inability and their basis for the latter is not God's election but the beleiver's choice to receive Christ.
Yeah, it makes no sense to me, either.
Tom
I have not read a lot about this aspect of the A/C argument. The views of the trinity taken by the adherants. I've worked closely with a JW witnessing my faith to him for almost 2 years.
They are clearly Pelagian and pure Pelagianism results in Unitarianism and Arianism. Variations of Pelagianism results in variation or degrees of Trinitarianism.
All faiths can be analysed by their adherance to the trinity. Semi-pelagians are weak on the views of either Christ or the Holy Spirit. In a Baptist Church you hear words admonishing us to be obedient to Christ. Let Christ lead you. etc. etc. So clearly you can see the semi-pelagianism in that. There is an absence of the Holy Spirit and He is the one who accomplishes all that the Father and Son wills to take place.
There is an advoidance of references to a Sovereign Father who decrees all that takes place.
I'm just using the Baptist Church as an example where this lack of balance takes place. You can see it in all denominations to one degree or another.
I suppose a good way to find a balance of Calvinism and Arminianism is to strive to honor each member of the Godhead in equality.
Charles: I suppose a good way to find a balance of Calvinism and Arminianism is to strive to honor each member of the Godhead in equality.
Hmmmm ... I would think that honoring each member of the Godhead in equality would just be Calvinism, not a balance of Calvinism and Arminianism.
gladly I stand corrected
Thanks
Charles
Post a Comment