Soul competence?

"Major Baptist convictions include: Believer’s baptism; “Soul competence” and “Soul freedom”; local church autonomy; religious liberty for all; and the separation of church and state."

Actually the above only applies to non-Calvinistic Baptists. But on the other side of the ledger, (Reformed Baptists) we have Believer's baptism, adherence to Reformed Soteriolgy, and separation of church and state.

On one side we have soul competence, soul freedom of choice, and on the other side, total spiritual inability of the lost.

Conviction No. 2: “Soul competence” and “Soul freedom.” These 17th century words mean every person is spiritually competent to open the Bible and, led by the Spirit, interpret it for their life and faith as they are led (but not compelled) to Christ."

As should be obvious, the two views (soul freedom and total spiritual inability) are incompatible, yet both claim to be Baptist.

In Matthew 13, soil #1 suffers from a lack of deep commitment to the gospel message. However, the false doctrine of Total Spiritual Inability claims that "soil #1 condition" is the condition of each and every person from conception to regeneration. However verse after verse tells us that the lost have sought God, have willed to be saved, have engaged in ministry, and so forth and so on. (Romans 9:16, Matthew 7:21)

Another example of incompatibility is that a local church does not have the liberty or freedom to decide for themselves what they believe, they must adhere to Reformed Soteriolgy imported from Reformed Theology.

According to Reformed Soteriolgy, God instills His faith via Irresistible Grace into the lost. But no explanation is offered as to why God would instill "little faith" rather than abundant faith, or live faith.

Luke 12:28 (NET)
And if this is how God clothes the wild grass, which is here today and tomorrow is tossed into the fire to heat the oven, how much more will he clothe you, you people of little faith! ​

Does Romans 5:6 actually teach all of the lost are unable to will to be saved?

Romans 5:6 (NASB)
For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. ​

Contextually while we were trapped in our sinful state, separated from God and unable to do anything to merit reconciliation, Christ died for "the ungodly." Does this say we are unable to will to be saved as Romans 9:16 teaches? No, Romans 9:16 says our willing or working to be saved does not contribute to or merit our salvation.

Bottom line, the Baptist conviction of Soul competence and Soul freedom is sound biblical doctrine.

 

This view is incompatible with the Baptist conviction that the Law leads the lost to Christ.
Where are we made alive? Together with Christ.
How are we made alive? The washing of regeneration.

Thus the false claim lost individuals are first regenerated, then come to faith, then are transferred into Christ, then the second time regenerated which makes them alive is absolute gobbledygook.

Humanity is made in the image of God, thus endowed with our ability to relate to God. We, whether lost or saved, are without excuse, as the divine attributes of God have been shown to us by what He has made.

God says "many" will seek to find the narrow path that leads to life, but few will find it. Thus the lost have the competency to understand God's revelatory grace and respond appropriately. The opposite of Soul Liberty is Total Spiritual Inability. Pay no attention to those who try to redefine Soul Liberty to make it compatible with false doctrine.