219 – Soteriological Election – A Baptist Doctrine

SEMESTER 2

219 – Soteriological Election – A Baptist Doctrine

BIBLE INSTITUTE OF CORRESPONDENCE

COURSE:  SOTERIOLOGY II LESSON # 19
SOTERIOLOGICAL ELECTION, A BAPTIST DOCTRINE

INTRODUCTION:

1. Such a subject should be preceded by stating that there is no value in Baptist doctrine, that is not Bible doctrine.
2. However, if it be asserted that Bible doctrine and Baptist doctrine are equal, then whatever we claim to be Bible doctrine should be taught by Baptists.

i. Conversely, those who find it unbiblical, should reject not only the doctrine, but the name of those who have traditionally taught it.

3. There have been splinters calling themselves Baptist, like “Hardshell Baptists” on the hyper-Calvinistic end and “Freewill Baptists” on the Arminian end, and small groups leaning in both of these directions, which claim the name, and yet frustrate this doctrine.
Ill: These are like leeches on a turtle.
4. Notwithstanding, true Baptists have essentially, and consis­tently held to the Bible doctrine of sovereign election.
5. The tendency among so-called Baptists of today to explain it away, or ignore it is the effect of the ecumenical taint among “Baptists” of the last half century.

I. BAPTIST PROGENITORS BELIEVED IT

Whereas Baptists have not always been called Baptists, we should consider the earlier groups through which we came.

1. The Paterines, (Hear on tape, quote from W.A. Jerrell’s Church Perpetuity.)
2. The Waldenses and Albigenses, (Hear on tape Spurgeon’s quote of their ancient confession of faith.)

i. Hear on tape quotes of the two groups “Calvinistic Leanings” by A.A. Hodge and others, both Baptists and non-Baptists.

3. The Anabaptists: Who all conceded to the forerunners of true Baptists. (Hear on tape.)
4. The Particular Baptists of England. (Hear on tape.)

II. BAPTIST CONFESSIONS OF FAITH

Again, I assert that these are Bible truths first, and Baptist confes­sions second. Hear the following quotations on tape, all of which affirm sovereignty in soteriological election.

1. The Philadelphia Confession.
2. The New Hampshire Confession.
3. Many other Baptist confessions.

III. REPRESENTATIVE BAPTIST PREACHERS AND WRITERS

A good challenge to the skeptic is this: Find any Baptist preacher who has written extensively and left a written work of any volume behind him, who denied this doctrine.

Hear on tape quotes from the following men, some well known: 1. J. W. Porter, 2. F. F. Gibson, 3. John Clark, 4. Roy Mason, 5. David Burris, 6. R. A. Venable, 7. Robert Watts, 8. J. B. Moody, 9. D. F. Estes, 10. D. B. Ford, 11. A. N. Arnold, 12. Alva Hovey, 13. W. T. Conner, 14. B. H. Carrol, 15. J. R. Graves, John A. Broadus, 17. J. M. Pendleton, 18. E. C. Dargan, 19. A. H. Strong, 20. E. Y. Mullins, 21. J. P. Boyce.

Conclusion: Since these men spoke with one voice on the subject, the man who denies the scripturality of soteriological election should prove that these men were not really Baptists, or confess that he is not really a Baptist.