The Southern Baptist Convention's Teaching on Salvation

The purpose of this post is to examine the teachings of the Southern Baptist Convention in light of the teaching of salvation by sovereign grace taught in the scriptures. This statement of beliefs was pulled from the Bellevue Baptist Church website on 10/10/2010 as a representation of the beliefs held by SBC churches. I have added commentary below each section.  

Greg Gilbert - What is the Gospel?

Several years ago I was given Greg Gilbert's short book What is the Gospel? as a gift. While this book makes many good affirmations, it is also an example of the sort of self-contradictory assertions made by those in the Neo-Calvinist camp.  

Total Depravity Requires Immediate Holy Spirit Regeneration

No desert road is too remote for the grace of God.  

It seems that most Christians believe in something other than immediate Holy Spirit regeneration. Many will suggest that the grace of eternal salvation is imparted to God's people through means - either by the gospel, or by repentance and faith, or by church membership, or by the so-called sacraments, or by water baptism, etc. Primitive Baptists have long held that the impartation of eternal life is not by any such means but rather by the direct or immediate operation of God upon a subject that is spiritually dead.  

Long Ere the Sun

The song service has long been an important part of Primitive Baptist worship. One of the first songs I learned when I began attending the church was Long Ere the Sun. The way that this song embraces and glories in the beautiful truth of sovereign election and salvation by an everlasting covenant really struck a chord with me. As a result it has been one of my favorites from that day forward. It is for this reason that I decided to republish the lyrics here and provide a brief commentary regarding the truths contained therein.  

Enjoy!

Primitive Baptist Articles of Faith Commentary

Introduction

For those wondering what the Primitive Baptists believe, this short commentary is intended to provide an introduction. The 13 Articles of Faith below are from Harmony Primitive Baptist Church in Donaldson, AR, and are extremely similar to the articles of faith found in other Primitive Baptist churches around the world.

What is the Church?

As I drive to work each day, I am certain that I pass a dozen or more houses of worship.  There are Southern Baptists, Catholics, Adventists, Presbyterians, Missionary Baptists, Lutherans, Pentecostals, and a host of others. A reasonable question for anyone seeking the identity of the Lord's church is - Which of these numerous denominations most closely resembles the institution the Lord Jesus Christ established? Since each of these churches teaches a distinctly different doctrine and practice, it is obvious to any reasonable person that they cannot all be right. Which church then most closely resembles the doctrine and practice of the apostles?