Andrew Sandlin has provided the following information concerning a widely held Baptist view of Soteriology:
“Man is a sinner, but not so totally depraved that he cannot seek after Christ. God sent Christ his Son to die on the cross for everyone in order to make salvation available to all who would receive the message of the gospel. Before the foundation of the world God elected to salvation those that he knew beforehand would believe if they heard his gospel. When an individual hears the gospel and makes a decision for Christ, he becomes justified. Once he has received salvation, he can never forfeit or lose that salvation.”
This view is a hybrid, a little bit Calvinist and a little bit Arminian, and a whole lot of fiction.
1) Yes, the lost unregenerate person is able to seek after God and to trust in Christ. This is demonstrated in Matthew 13 where soils 2, 3 and 4 accept to varying degrees the gospel of Christ.
2) Yes died as a ransom for all, tasting death for all people, in order to become the means of reconciliation for the whole of humanity,
1 John 2:2.
3) No, God did not choose for salvation before creation foreseen individuals, with or without faith. Before creation, God chose Logos, the Word to be His Redeemer, so He also chose us corporately as part of the group of believers Christ would redeem. Thus He chose us in Him.
4) No, when an individual makes a decision for Christ, that does not result in the individuals justification. Soils 2 and 3 of Matthew 13 made a decision for Christ but were not saved or justified. Only when and if God chooses to credit a person's faith in Christ as righteousness, does God then transfer the person spiritually into Christ where the individual undergoes the washing of regeneration and is justified, made righteous and perfect.
5) Yes, once an individual receives reconciliation in Christ, they are indwelt, and sealed in Christ forever.
“Man is a sinner, but not so totally depraved that he cannot seek after Christ. God sent Christ his Son to die on the cross for everyone in order to make salvation available to all who would receive the message of the gospel. Before the foundation of the world God elected to salvation those that he knew beforehand would believe if they heard his gospel. When an individual hears the gospel and makes a decision for Christ, he becomes justified. Once he has received salvation, he can never forfeit or lose that salvation.”
This view is a hybrid, a little bit Calvinist and a little bit Arminian, and a whole lot of fiction.
1) Yes, the lost unregenerate person is able to seek after God and to trust in Christ. This is demonstrated in Matthew 13 where soils 2, 3 and 4 accept to varying degrees the gospel of Christ.
2) Yes died as a ransom for all, tasting death for all people, in order to become the means of reconciliation for the whole of humanity,
1 John 2:2.
3) No, God did not choose for salvation before creation foreseen individuals, with or without faith. Before creation, God chose Logos, the Word to be His Redeemer, so He also chose us corporately as part of the group of believers Christ would redeem. Thus He chose us in Him.
4) No, when an individual makes a decision for Christ, that does not result in the individuals justification. Soils 2 and 3 of Matthew 13 made a decision for Christ but were not saved or justified. Only when and if God chooses to credit a person's faith in Christ as righteousness, does God then transfer the person spiritually into Christ where the individual undergoes the washing of regeneration and is justified, made righteous and perfect.
5) Yes, once an individual receives reconciliation in Christ, they are indwelt, and sealed in Christ forever.