The Baptist Faith And Message V. God’s Purpose Of Grace
There are few areas of Southern Baptist life that are more contentious than this one. Fight after fight has taken place in the Southern Baptist Convention over the doctrine taught under this heading. And so, this is a rather broad statement that many differing opinions on the matter can sit under in cooperation.
Because of the rather contentious nature of the arguments over the years, there has been a sad number of mischaracterizations of both sides of the discussion. So, what I’d like to do today is rather broadly discuss both sides of the issue and the arguments. Though I do stand on one side of this discussion, I will just discuss what is stated here.
God’s Purpose of Grace
Election is the gracious purpose of God, according to which He regenerates, justifies, sanctifies, and glorifies sinners. It is consistent with the free agency of man, and comprehends all the means in connection with the end. It is the glorious display of God’s sovereign goodness, and is infinitely wise, holy, and unchangeable. It excludes boasting and promotes humility.
All true believers endure to the end. Those whom God has accepted in Christ, and sanctified by His Spirit, will never fall away from the state of grace, but shall persevere to the end. Believers may fall into sin through neglect and temptation, whereby they grieve the Spirit, impair their graces and comforts, and bring reproach on the cause of Christ and temporal judgments on themselves; yet they shall be kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.
Genesis 12:1-3; Exodus 19:5-8; 1 Samuel 8:4-7,19-22; Isaiah 5:1-7; Jeremiah 31:31ff.; Matthew 16:18-19; 21:28-45; 24:22,31; 25:34; Luke 1:68-79; 2:29-32; 19:41-44; 24:44-48; John 1:12-14; 3:16; 5:24; 6:44-45,65; 10:27-29; 15:16; 17:6,12,17-18; Acts 20:32; Romans 5:9-10; 8:28-39; 10:12-15; 11:5-7,26-36; 1 Corinthians 1:1-2; 15:24-28; Ephesians 1:4-23; 2:1-10; 3:1-11; Colossians 1:12-14; 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14; 2 Timothy 1:12; 2:10,19; Hebrews 11:39–12:2; James 1:12; 1 Peter 1:2-5,13; 2:4-10; 1 John 1:7-9; 2:19; 3:2.
Election is the gracious purpose of God, according to which He regenerates, justifies, sanctifies, and glorifies sinners.
Election is a term found in the Bible. The word itself is found repeatedly in the New Testament (Romans 9:11; 11:5, 7, 28; 1 Thessalonians 1:4; 2 Peter 1:10). And since “elect” means “chosen” we can easily see that it is found repeatedly in both the Old and New Testament. No one who is serious about the reading of Scripture will say that election is not taught in Scripture. They just fight over what that word means.
Here are some of the passages of Scripture that use the word “elect”. But I want you to see them in their full context rather than the singular verse.
Here is Romans 9. The entire context is about “election”, but the word itself is only found in Romans 9:11.
“I am speaking the truth in Christ–I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit– that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh. They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen. But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring. For this is what the promise said: “About this time next year I will return, and Sarah shall have a son.” And not only so, but also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac, though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad–in order that God’s purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls– she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” As it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.” What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God’s part? By no means! For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills. You will say to me then, “Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?” But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?” Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory– even us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles? As indeed he says in Hosea, “Those who were not my people I will call ‘my people,’ and her who was not beloved I will call ‘beloved.'” “And in the very place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ there they will be called ‘sons of the living God.'” And Isaiah cries out concerning Israel: “Though the number of the sons of Israel be as the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will be saved, for the Lord will carry out his sentence upon the earth fully and without delay.” And as Isaiah predicted, “If the Lord of hosts had not left us offspring, we would have been like Sodom and become like Gomorrah.” What shall we say, then? That Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness have attained it, that is, a righteousness that is by faith; but that Israel who pursued a law that would lead to righteousness did not succeed in reaching that law. Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were based on works. They have stumbled over the stumbling stone, as it is written, “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense; and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”” (Romans 9:1-33 ESV)
The conversation about election continues in Romans 11.
“I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! For I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. Do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he appeals to God against Israel? “Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have demolished your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life.” But what is God’s reply to him? “I have kept for myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace. But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace. What then? Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking. The elect obtained it, but the rest were hardened, as it is written, “God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that would not see and ears that would not hear, down to this very day.” And David says, “Let their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a retribution for them; let their eyes be darkened so that they cannot see, and bend their backs forever.” So I ask, did they stumble in order that they might fall? By no means! Rather, through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous. Now if their trespass means riches for the world, and if their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full inclusion mean!”” (Romans 11:1-12 ESV)
The word is also used in Paul’s letter to the church at Thessalonica.
“For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.” (1Thessalonians 1:4-5 ESV)
And here is Peter,
“Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.” (2Peter 1:10 ESV
So, our statement says that this election is “the gracious purpose of God”. God did not have to do anything to save anybody. This election is an act of God’s grace. And it is based upon this election that God does everything that we discussed concerning our salvation in the last section. He did not have to do anything.
We have seen in our statement of faith and what the Scriptures teach that we are sinners. We have also seen that we have earned God’s wrath and justice, not anything good from God. But rather than leave us in that miserable state, God regenerates, justifies, sanctifies, and glorifies sinners. It is completely an act of God’s grace that He chose to do.
It is consistent with the free agency of man, and comprehends all the means in connection with the end. It is the glorious display of God’s sovereign goodness, and is infinitely wise, holy, and unchangeable. It excludes boasting and promotes humility.
Here is where we must discuss the differences between the two different camps’ understanding of election.
One group would say that “election” is God’s choice of some to eternal life. By this they mean that, while the offer of salvation is given to all, only those who are enabled by the power of the Holy Spirit to accept it will accept it. Those people are the elect. They freely accept the offer of the gospel because God has opened their eyes to see its beauty. It is not a matter of God dragging people to Heaven against their will. God the Holy Spirit works in them and causes them to see the beauty of Christ so that when salvation is offered to them, they desire it and believe. This is the Calvinistic understanding of election. God chose some, long before they were born, for salvation and passed over others.
Popular Southern Baptist Pastors who believe this today are Matt Chandler, Albert Mohler, J.D. Greear and Mark Dever. Some other Baptists that hold to this belief are John Piper, John MacArthur, D.A. Carson, Alistair Begg, and Wayne Grudem. Some Baptists of the past include John Gill, John Bunyan and William Carey (Father of Modern Missions), Andrew Fuller. Some influential Southern Baptist of the past who held to this were John Broadus, Basil Manly Jr, and James P. Boyce who were the founders of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, B.H. Carroll, who was the founder of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.
The other side of this discussion among Southern Baptists is that election was not a choice of some people, but a choice of a nation of people. That is, Christ’s people. In this understanding of election God chose to save all those who are “in Christ”. So, all those who come to faith in Christ are part of the elect, God’s chosen people.
Popular Southern Baptists who believe this today are Charles Stanley, Andy Stanley, Rick Warrren, Johnny Hunt, Ronnie Floyd, Steve Gaines, Fred Luter, and Paige Patterson. Charles Swindoll is not part of the SBC, but is a Baptist that holds to this understanding of election. Adrian Rogers and Billy Graham are two very notable names from the past that you likely recognize who believed this. This is described as the Arminian position, even though it is not identical to the historic Arminian position on the matter.
So, what is my point in listing all of these names?
The Southern Baptist Convention’s statement of faith is made to hold both of these understandings of the Doctrine of Election. The first Baptist Faith and Message was written in 1925 was written, in part, to create a statement that would encompass both sides of this discussion. Previous to that statement the belief statement that served as the statement of faith for the SBC was the Abstract of Principles which was very plainly Calvinistic.
“Election is God’s eternal choice of some persons unto everlasting life-not because of foreseen merit in them, but of His mere mercy in Christ-in consequence of which choice they are called, justified and glorified.”[1]
But since 1925, the statement that Southern Baptists have agreed upon encompassed both the Calvinistic and Arminian views of election. This is in large part due to the rising number of Southern Baptists who were opposed to this view of election. But both sides still cooperated among each other.
Both views are, as the statement says “consistent with the free agency of man, and comprehends all the means in connection with the end.”
So, what do we mean by “comprehends all the means in connection with the end?” All our salvation is a part of God’s free grace and choice. Everything concerning our salvation, God chose to do and will do.
It is the glorious display of God’s sovereign goodness, and is infinitely wise, holy, and unchangeable. It excludes boasting and promotes humility.
God is sovereign. Both sides of this discussion agree on this. When we say that God is sovereign, we are saying that God is in complete control of all things. This has already been covered at length in the statement. And it is important to note that both sides of this discussion believe that God is sovereign. And the entire work of salvation if an act of God’s goodness and grace.
And because God does it all. It excludes any boasting of our own. As Jonah stated so well, “Salvation belongs to the LORD!” (Jonah 2:9 ESV) And this leaves no room for boasting.
Now, this section of the Baptist Faith and Message takes what seems like a sharp turn here. But, in reality it makes sense.
As has been discussed already, salvation is not just about something that has already happened to you. It is about what God is doing in us. There is a real sense in which the Christian was saved, is being saved, and will be saved. And this statement on God’s Purpose of Grace helps us to see that very thing.
By way of transition here, it might be good for us to see that this is also the way the Scriptures discuss our salvation as well. God worked in us, is working in us, and will continue to work in us.
“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.” (Romans 8:28-30 ESV)
All true believers endure to the end.
Notice what is said in this text. It is not that all those people who profess faith in Christ will “endure to the end”. It is not all those who think themselves to be believers that will “endure to the end”. It is not all those who come from the parents of believers that “endure to the end”. It is “all true believers endure to the end”.
We know from Scripture that there are many people who profess faith in Christ but fall away. We have likely seen any number of people walk in and out of our churches throughout our lifetimes who had what seemed like a dramatic conversion for it only to fall apart in a year or so.
“Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name bear witness about me, but you do not believe because you are not among my sheep. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”” (John 10:25-30 ESV)
The Father gave them to the Son and both the Father and the Son hold the believer in safety. No one and nothing is able to pull them away from this glorious protection.
Those whom God has accepted in Christ, and sanctified by His Spirit, will never fall away from the state of grace, but shall persevere to the end.
If there is one part of our statement of faith that people have looked past and not paid enough attention to, it is this one. The idea of “once saved always saved” has been popularized among Christians today, but that is not actually what we believe. We believe that those people who have been brought to faith, will not fully and finally fall away. They will “persevere to the end”.
What is the difference?
Well, we believe that salvation is more than getting your ticket to heaven punched. And it is obvious from the Scriptures that this is what Jesus and His disciples taught as well.
Let’s look at a few texts of Scripture and you’ll see what I’m talking about.
“Yet another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”” (Luke 9:61-62 ESV)
“Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you–unless you believed in vain.” (1 Corinthians 15:1-2 ESV)
“For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end.” (Hebrews 3:14 ESV)
“Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.” (Revelation 2:10 ESV)
“”And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: ‘The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. “‘I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you. Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments, and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels.” (Revelation 3:1-5 ESV)
The words in our belief statement should move us back to our understanding of salvation. The doctrine of salvation is about the whole person. And it is something that takes place throughout the entirety of a person’s life. We are not saying that every person who makes a profession of faith in their life is a believer. We are saying that all those people whom God has brought to faith in Christ and is sanctifying by the work of the Holy Spirit will never completely and fully fall away. They will persevere to the end.
Do you see the difference?
We do not believe in fire insurance. We do believe that all those whom God has brought to Himself will be redeemed.
“For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.” (Romans 8:29-30 ESV)
We believe that when God works salvation into our lives, He will complete the work. We believe that God predestined us to be conformed to the image of His Son and that He will accomplish that work.
“And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 1:6 ESV)
Believers may fall into sin through neglect and temptation, whereby they grieve the Spirit, impair their graces and comforts, and bring reproach on the cause of Christ and temporal judgments on themselves; yet they shall be kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.
We also understand that this does not mean that people will avoid all periods of sin in their lives. It often happens that believers have periods of rebellion in their lives. We see this in the lives of different characters in Scripture. David is a prime example of this.
We want to emphasize in this statement that believers can fall into sin because of sinful choices they make “neglect and temptation”. These decisions “grieve the holy spirit”. Notice what Paul says in Ephesians 4.
“Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil. Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:25-32 ESV)
We can, through our own sinful actions and neglect of the graces that God has given to help us, preaching, Lord’s Supper, prayer, the reading of Scripture. Through sinful choices or neglect of what people have in times past called means of grace, we can at times feel a lack of assurance in our salvation. And, especially in times of gross sin, a person can “bring reproach on the cause of Christ and temporal judgments upon themselves.”
We don’t have time to discuss this in great detail, but God will not share you with the world forever. When a true believer falls away God will discipline and bring them back to Himself.
“For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.” (Hebrews 12:6-11 ESV)
And in the end, we will see that the reason that we persevere to the end is that we are “kept” by God. God brought us to Himself through the new birth, He justified us through the finished work of Christ that we received through faith, He sanctifies us, and He keeps us.
R. Dwain Minor
[1] Abstract of Principles, Paragraph 5 “Election”.