Greetings.
This has definitely evolved into a great discussion on this very important topic for Baptists. From reviewing the replies the consensus seems to be in favor of the once saved always saved position. My concern, however, is what does this hedge and safe position do to the mindset of the new believer?
Molly, I think you expressed the doctrine most accurately and as it should be expressed when we as Baptists “invite” unbelievers to Christ. Also, I think terms must be defined with urgent clarity when dealing with the new believer.
The new believer walks the right aisle, says the right prayer, signs off on the dotted line for follow-up reading material, gets the right immersion, but in the end are they really saved? Many of us would overwhelmingly say, “Yes.” But are they really saved as result of following the usual outward formula we have instituted in our churches? I loved LPs post on our wide used “The Four Spiritual Laws” and “Steps to Salvation.” Do we want to promulgate to new believers, “if you do this or that you’re saved forever, no matter what”? This, I think, is dangerous ground. Only God saves and only He re-births. And when He re-births a person they will come face to face with their desperate condition and RUN TO GOD willing to forsake all for Him! They won’t heed any procedure or process. They won’t follow some rote artificial prayer. They won't weigh their options, as an arrogant man would before God, and CHOOSE Him only to, thereafter, convince themselves of a solid assurance. No, they will burst out with repentant prayer! They won't succumb to easy believism which is snatched away, but will be overcome by genuine conversion.
Additionally, our concern should not be with numbers, but with preaching the truth of Christ. Paul said he came preaching the truth, not with flattery or persuasiveness—Paul was effective. Many are prompted to the alter by their weighing the options of accepting Christ or not accepting Christ. Many look to the secular benefits to them. Many are nudged forward by the persuasiveness of the preacher. Few are moved and chosen by God, as the Scriptures proclaim (Matt. 22:14). If they were moved merely by the prompting, prodding, or persuasiveness of the preacher, do we really want them to come down the aisle? I hold that we should not because God does the entire process, not man.
Molly, I agree with you. I fear the potential destructiveness of the false security many of us preach to others. Can I say anything other than I know I am saved and am being saved? Can I speak for Bob, Tom, or Bill? Does the Bible teach us to couch ourselves and our brethren into this cozy position? Is such spiritual comfort and coziness something that should be heralded from our pulpits? More importantly, is it the will of God?
Truthfully, what should be our position when counseling a new believer who has “slipped” back into sin. Do we tell him to walk the aisle again because he really wasn’t saved the first time he “chose” Christ? Do we tell him there is no hope for him? Do we tell him to really be serious this time? Do we tell him that his sin will surely not affect their salvation because he did the right outward things when he “received” Christ into his heart. Or do our words simply fall impotent because we have assured this person that he would be saved always no matter what he does? How do we counsel such a one? We can only turn to him and admit we erred and trifled terribly with his soul. We do a great disservice to the body of Christ when we assume everyone who follows a man-made pattern is saved, and that we have been given the right to cloak others with an impenetrable coat of assurance. How many on that day will say, “Hey, my preacher told me I was saved no matter what”? The fact is, only God knows who is really saved since He draws and dictates the entire process of salvation via His sovereign will. I feel sometimes we try to usurp God in this and lead many to hell because we assume a truth upon people that may not be truth at all.
The message would be most pure and impeccable if we tout, in fear, the following: stay in Christ, endure to the end, watch yourself lest you fall, be on your guard, always fix your gaze on Christ, do not fall asleep—this is the biblical message that should be preferred upon both new and old believers instead of an instantaneous and impervious assurance.
I wonder,… is it a great day in church when thirty people walk the aisle to “receive” Christ, or is it a better day in church when one person truly runs headlong up the aisle while realizes his desperate NEED for Christ, rather than their CHOICE for Christ? I say the latter.
Katie says, “You would have to out-sin God's grace in order to loose salvation. You can't do it. Where sin is grace is even bigger.” I have heard this and said it myself a couple of times, but shouldn’t we tread this route very lightly? For many, this could provide a very convenient license to sin. Should we say to new believers, “Oh you sin that sin, it’s okay because you are saved and God’s grace will always pardon your sin… don’t sweat it, you’ll go to heaven.” First John 3:6 says no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. God’s view of sin has not changed and I think, too often, we preach a watered down version of sin today. If we know the Lord died for our sins, we don’t revel in that fact and sin more, rather we recognize that we have died to sin; it has NO power over us. If we have died to sin, why do we say so often, “everyone sins and we will sin?” Why? Who says that we have to continue to sin? Can we be in Christ and sin at the same time? No, I believe we are either in one or the other. Never take sin lightly!
The fact is we are admonished to be confident in our own salvation. We can’t know about others because they follow a pattern we’ve adopted, only He knows…The Spirit listeth where it will. Neither can we know if someone really believes on Christ, but we assume all is well at the slightest outward flicker of someone doing what we believe exhibits genuine belief. Using reason, if I don’t know unequivocally about someone’s relationship to Christ, how can I tell him that he’s “once saved always saved”? Am I omniscient? Rather, I should preach the word and let the Spirit of God make the necessary convictions. As a man, I should stay in my place and role as a mere man. What's your role?
I’ll stop here and listen a bit.
