Bethel Missionary Baptist Church

12021 South US Hwy 19E Spruce Pine NC 28777

Pastor: Darrin Waldroup  766-8908

 

WHAT BAPTISTS BELIEVE

11. THE FREENESS OF SALVATION

We believe that the blessings of salvation are made free to all by the Gospel of Christ (Is 55:1;

Rev 22:17; Rom 1:15-17; Rom 16:26; Mk 1:15) and that nothing prevents the salvation of the

greatest sinner on earth, but his own inherent depravity and voluntary rejection of the Gospel of

Christ (Jn 5:4; Rom 9:32; Jn 3:19; Matt 11:20) that this freeness of salvation is consistent with

the sovereign work of God and the free agency of man (II Tim 1:8,9; Eph 1:13,14; Rom 8:28-

34; Rom 11:5,6, 28-36; II Thess 2:13,14; Acts 13:48; Jn 10:16; Ex 33:18,19; Matt 20:16; Rom

9:23,24) and that it excludes boasting and promotes humility (Rom 3:21-31).

1) Invitation free to all

                A- By the Gospel of Christ

                “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every

one that believeth; to the Jew  first, and also to the Greek” Rom 1:16 

B- Blessings of  Salvation

                “Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy,

and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price” Is 55:1

“And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is

athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely” Rev 22:17

2) Invitation Foiled 

A- By Man’s Inherent depravity

“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed

upon all men, for that all have sinned” Rom 5:12

B- By Man’s Voluntary rejection of the gospel

“He that believeth on him is not condemned; but he that believeth not is condemned already,

because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the

condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light,

because their deeds were evil.” Jn 3:18,19

3)      Invitation Foreordained and Furnished by the Foreknowledge of God

                A- By the sovereign work of God       (He can do as He wants Ex 33:18,19)

                B- By the free agency of man             (Whosoever will may come Rev 22:17, Jn 6:44)

                “…of the gospel according to the power of God; who hath saved us, and called us with an holy

calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was

given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, But is now made manifest by the appearing of

our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to

light through the gospel” II Tim 1:8-10

Election-means “chosen”. We are elected according to what God already knew about us and what our response to the gospel call would be. In God’s Foreknowledge He KNEW we would respond

“But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because

God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and  

belief of the truth :” II Thess 2:13

“Even so then at this present time also there is a  remnant according to the election of grace.”

Rom 11:5   then    Rom 11:28

“And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.” Acts 13:48   (Matt 20:16) (I Pet 1:2)  (Rom 8:33)