The Five Points of Reformed Baptist Churches

A brief out-line of our distinctive convictions

I REFORMATIONAL

A. Sola Scriptura  -  The Bible is the complete, closed and clear authority in all matters of faith.

B. Solus Christus  -  Our confidence is in Jesus Christ alone for salvation.

C. Sola Gratia  -  Grace secured redemption without reference to works.

D. Sola Fide  -  We are declared righteous by God through faith alone.

E. Soli Deo Gloria  -  Goal of creation and redemption is God‘s praise.

II CALVINISTIC

A. Total Depravity  -  The fall of Adam affected the totality of man’s person.

B. Unconditional Election  -  Election is not based on foreseen faith or works.

C. Limited Atonement  -  Redemption was accomplished by Christ for elect.

D. Irresistible Grace  -  Regeneration by the Holy Spirit is efficacious for elect.

E. Perseverance of the Saints  -  God will, by grace, complete what He began in regeneration of the elect.

III PURITAN

A. Godliness in Worship  -  Regulative Principle of Worship, the Lord’s Day as a Christian Sabbath.

B. Godliness in Preaching  -  Primacy of preaching. Both exposition and application emphasized.

C. Godliness in Instruction  -  Confessional and catholic. Publishing what we believe the Bible teaches.

D. Godliness in Family  -  Parents are to instruct (catechize) and discipline their children in the Lord.

E. Godliness in Behavior  -  Maintaining a good conscience before God and man.

IV COVENANTAL

A. Unity of the Bible  -  Many parts yet one message.

B. Christ-centered interpretation  -  Jesus’ person, work and kingdom is the theme of the Bible.

C. Law / Gospel distinction  -  Law commands and condemns. Gospel saves.

D. One way of salvation  -  Christ has saved all the elect throughout all the ages.

E. Optimistic view of history  -  Jesus Christ is now King ruling over all. He will soon come again.

V BAPTIST

A. Biblical Church Practice  -  Ordinances for believers only. Church discipline lovingly exercised.

B. Biblical Church Freedom  -  The state is not to intrude into matters of conscience.

C. Biblical Church Government  -  Elders and deacons. The local congregation chooses its leaders.

D. Biblical Church Growth  -  Gospel proclamation to the world. Repentance and Faith demanded of all.

E. Biblical Church Ministry  -  Priesthood of all believers.

HT:  Reformed Baptist Fellowship

Once Saved, Always Saved?!?!

Today’s popular evangelical maxim “once saved, always saved” while based in the Biblical truth of justification by faith alone has morphed into a virtual get-out-of-jail-free card for far too many. The church’s duty to make disciples of all nations has been downgraded to an optional extra. The gospel call to repent and believe has become a plea for sinners to assent to the facts of the gospel, pray a prayer, and join the cool Christian club called churchianity. Gone are the stern warnings to “watch and pray” and “endure to the end”. Gone are the bold exhortations to “make your calling and election sure” and “be diligent to be found in [Christ] without spot or blemish”. In their place are the warm assurances “since you confessed you are saved” and “since eternal life is a free gift, God cannot take it back”, and the friendly reminders “everybody makes mistakes” and “don’t sweat: remember, we’re under grace!” The old doctrine that saints must diligently make a personal effort to persevere in faith has been overshadowed by the new doctrine that saints can live just like anyone else in the world and as long as they once assented to gospel truths they are most certainly bound for heaven.

I wish I was merely exaggerating the situation. But when a nationally well known evangelical leader like Charles Stanley seriously believes and teaches that people who actually stop believing in Christ and walk out on God are still eternally secure, I can hardly be accused of overstating my case. In the article linked to above he claims, “The Bible clearly teaches that God’s love for His people is of such magnitude that even those who walk away from the faith have not the slightest chance of slipping from His hand.” He goes on to only deal with Eph. 2:4-9 and 1 Cor. 1:21, while adding in a good portion of reasoning and illustrations. In his book Eternal Security: Can You Be Sure? he makes the startling claim that salvation can be compared to receiving a tattoo. Even if moments later, you regret receiving the tattoo, it cannot change the fact that you have it! (pg. 80)    Keep Reading>>>

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Why I Am Convinced that the So-Called Five Points of Calvinism are True (Part 1)

I don’t believe in Calvinism because of the authority of John Calvin. In fact I know of very few people who feel comfortable calling themselves Calvinists that agree with him on everything the man taught. In fact, Calvin would be appalled that Christians are naming their theology after him (much as Luther was upset when he heard the early Protestants calling themselves Lutherans!). Calvin was a godly man and a fine teacher of the word of God…but he was merely a man. It’s really sad that the people you spoke to about this couldn’t explain it from the word of God but instead repeated what they’ve heard others say. Now to a degree that’s not bad, because we all help one another learn more about the Scriptures. But at the end of the day, it’s God speaking in Scripture that dictates what we should believe as followers of Christ. Continue reading HERE

The Five Points of Calvinism – David N. Steele & Curtis C. Thomas

Total Depravity

Because of the fall, man is unable of himself to savingly believe the gospel. The sinner is dead, blind, and deaf to the things of God; his heart is deceitful and desperately corrupt. His will is not free, it is in bondage to his evil nature; therefore, he will not–indeed he cannot–choose good over evil in the spiritual realm. Consequently, it takes much more than the Spirit’s assistance to bring a sinner to Christ–it takes regeneration by which the Spirit makes the sinner alive and gives him a new nature. Faith is not something man contributes to salvation but is itself a part of God’s gift of salvation–it is God’s gift to the sinner, not the sinner’s gift to God.
(Genesis 2:15-17, Romans 5:12, Psalm 51:5, 1 Corinthians 2:14, Romans 3:10-18, Jeremiah 17:9, John 6:44, Ephesians 2:1-10)

Unconditional Election

God’s choice of certain individuals unto salvation before the foundation of the world rested solely in His own sovereign will. His choice of particular sinners was not based on any foreseen response or obedience on their part, such as faith, repentance, etc. On the contrary, God gives faith and repentance to each individual whom He selected. These acts are the result, not the cause of God’s choice. Election therefore was not determined by or conditioned upon any virtuous quality or act foreseen in man. Those whom God sovereignly elected He brings through the power of the Spirit to a willing acceptance of Christ. Thus God’s choice of the sinner, not the sinner’s choice of Christ, is the ultimate cause of salvation.
(Romans 9:10-21, Ephesians 1:4-11, Ephesians 2:4-10, Romans 8:29-30, Acts 11:18, Acts 13:48)

Limited Atonement

Christ’s redeeming work was intended to save the elect only and actually secured salvation for them. His death was a substitutionary endurance of the penalty of sin in the place of certain specified sinners. In addition to putting away the sins of His people, Christ’s redemption secured everything necessary for their salvation, including faith which united them to Him. The gift of faith is infallibly applied by the Spirit to all for whom Christ died, thereby guaranteeing their salvation.
(Matthew 1:21, Romans 5:12-21, Romans 3:21-26, Ephesians 2:8-10, Titus 3:5-6, Philippians 1:6, John 10:11-30, John 17:6-12, Romans 8:28-30, John 6:44, Acts 20:28)

Irresistible Grace

In addition to the outward general call to salvation which is made to everyone who hears the gospel, the Holy Spirit extends to the elect a special inward call that inevitably brings them to salvation. The external call (which is made to all without distinction) can be, and often is, rejected; whereas the internal call (which is made only to the elect) cannot be rejected, it always results in conversion. By means of this special call the Spirit irresistibly draws sinners to Christ. He is not limited in His work of applying salvation by man’s will, nor is He dependent upon man’s cooperation for success. The Spirit graciously causes the elect sinner to cooperate, to believe, to repent, to come freely and willingly to Christ. God’s grace, therefore, is invincible; it never fails to result in the salvation of those to whom it is extended.
(John 3:16, Matthew 22:14, Acts 17:29-31, Matthew 23:37-39, John 6:44, Romans 8:28-30, John 1:12-13, John 3:1-8, Ephesians 2:8-10)

Perseverance of the Saints

All who were chosen by God, redeemed by Christ, and given faith by the Spirit are eternally saved. They are kept in faith by the power of Almighty God and thus persevere to the end.
(John 3:16, John 6:35-40, John 6:44, Philippians 1:6, Philippians 2:12-13, Jude 24-25, Ephesians 1:13-14, Romans 8:28-30, Romans 8:35-39)

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