Free Will Baptist [Archive] - Christian Forums

Adammi

4th March 2005, 10:08 PM

Are there any Free Will Baptists here? My family used to be Free Will Baptist and I know that there teachings differ somewhat from usual Baptists. So I was just wondering.

God Bless

Lockheed

4th March 2005, 10:12 PM

arunma

5th March 2005, 03:41 AM

Stupid question, but I just want to make sure. Free Will Baptists are Baptists who aren't Calvinist, right?

5th March 2005, 04:28 AM

I don't have a "free will Baptist" t-shirt. But I'm a Baptist who has free will!

aReformedPatriot

5th March 2005, 05:39 AM

Stupid question, but I just want to make sure. Free Will Baptists are Baptists who aren't Calvinist, right?

Thats right.

There is an actual denomination though of free will baptists. The have a 3rd ordinance, foot washing. While that is a random fact it is interesting nonetheless.:)

rural_preacher

5th March 2005, 10:29 AM

I am not a "Free Will Baptist"; however, here is the website for the

National Association of Free Will Baptists (http://nafwb.net/tp17/Default.asp?ID=767)

-------

I believe in the absolute sovereignty of God. And I believe that God - without giving up any of His sovereignty - has created man with a free will. I do not believe we can explain the harmony of divine sovereignty and human free will with human logic...only divine logic can understand such a thing.

Isaiah 55:8 & 9

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD . "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."

--

BBAS 64

5th March 2005, 11:26 AM

I'm the opposite of a Free Will Baptist... ;)

But I was married in a Free Will Baptist church by a Korean Baptist (Wesleyan) Minister who used the church in the afternoons. I consider myself a 'Reformed Baptist' however and find the 'free will' doctrines antithetical to the Gospel.

Good Day, Lockhead

The word of the Day: antithetical

Websters:

Being in diametrical opposition. See Synonyms at opposite (http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=opposite).
I am a Baptist who holds to the historical "Doctrines of Grace" as the true nature of the Gospel as preached by Paul, Knox, Augustine, Bunyan, and Spurgeon.

I do not come into this pulpit hoping that perhaps somebody will of his own free will return to Christ. My hope lies in another quarter. I hope that my Master will lay hold of some of them and say, "You are mine, and you shall be mine. I claim you for myself." My hope arises from the freeness of grace, and not from the freedom of the will.

Free Will Is Simply Ridiculous

It has already been proved beyond all controversy that free will is nonsense. Freedom cannot belong to will any more than ponderability can belong to electricity. They are altogether different things. Free agency we may believe in, but free will is simply ridiculous. The will is well known by all to be directed by the understanding, to be moved by motives, to be guided by other parts of the soul, and to be a secondary thing.

Philosophy and religion both discard at once the very thought of free will; and I will go as far as Martin Luther, in that strong assertion of his, where he says, `If any man doth ascribe of salvation, even the very least, to the free will of man, he knoweth nothing of grace, and he hath not learnt Jesus Christ aright.' It may seem a harsh sentiment; but he who in his soul believes that man does of his own free will turn to God, cannot have been taught of God, for that is one of the first principles taught us when God begins with us, that we have neither will nor power, but that he gives both; that he is `Alpha and Omega' in the salvation of men.

C.H SPURGEON

For His Glory Alone!

Bill

arunma

5th March 2005, 02:37 PM

Well, I like being a Calvinist Baptist...

Lockheed

5th March 2005, 05:26 PM

Man is born enslaved to his sinfulness... and as Christ says, "Everyone who sins is a slave of sin...(but) if the Son makes you free you are free indeed."

Adammi

5th March 2005, 07:53 PM

Well, by Free Will Baptist I am not refering to baptist who believe in the doctrine of free will, but rather the denomination, Free Will Baptist (proper noun). One of the biggest differences is that they do not believe in OSAS.

Lockheed

5th March 2005, 10:30 PM

Right... which Free Will Baptists believe. ;)

6th March 2005, 12:23 AM

Good Day, Lockhead

I am a Baptist who holds to the historical "Doctrines of Grace" as the true nature of the Gospel as preached by Paul, Knox, Augustine, Bunyan, and Spurgeon.

For His Glory Alone!

Bill[/font]
[/right]

Ack!

However, I admire a calvinist who admits that the "doctrines of grace" are historical and in fact not Biblical. Good on ya Bill!

oh and btw Paul was not a calvinist.

Lockheed

6th March 2005, 08:53 PM

doctrines of grace" are historical and in fact not Biblical.

As to their being "historical", fine: The 'five points' are a summary of a portion of Biblical theology written in history.

arunma

6th March 2005, 09:01 PM

oh and btw Paul was not a calvinist.

No...Paul was a Christian and an apostle. John Calvin didn't have the benefit of divine revelation that Paul, Peter, and the other Biblical authors had. I think Calvin was wrong about a couple of things, and right about a lot of things. That's why I'm a Calvinist.

Lockheed

7th March 2005, 03:32 AM

LOL! Agreed.

holyrokker

7th March 2005, 04:57 AM

I think Calvin was wrong about a couple of things, and right about a lot of things. That's why I'm a Calvinist.

LOL - I'm the opposite. I think Calvin was right about a couple of things, and wrong about a lot of things. That's why I'm not a Calvinist.

(I don't wish to start any debates)

Lockheed

7th March 2005, 04:22 PM

holyrokker,

No offense intended, but if you don't want to start any debates, why bring it up? If you're not secure enough in what you believe, the best way to learn is to bring it to the light of scrutiny and allow people to discuss it.

I for one would like to know what exactly you think Calvin got wrong.... I mean, I don't agree with Calvin 100% on anything, however, I find the doctrines of Grace to be a true expression of Biblical doctrine and as a believer in Christ I think that it is important to discuss and defend Biblical doctrine, don't you?

BBAS 64

7th March 2005, 06:10 PM

Good Day, Bt

I will stick with CH here

I have my own opinion that there is no such thing as preaching Christ and Him crucified unless we preach what is nowadays called Calvinism. It is a nickname to call it Calvinism. Calvinism is the gospel, and nothing else. I do not believe we can preach the gospel . . . unless we preach the sovereignty of God in His dispensation of grace; not unless we exalt the electing, unchangeable, eternal, immutable conquering love of Jehovah; nor do I think we can preach the gospel unless we base it on the special, particular redemption of His elect and chosen people which Christ wrought out upon the cross; nor can I comprehend a gospel which lets saints fall away after they are called, and allows the children of God to be burned in the fires of damnation after having once believed in Jesus. Such a gospel I abhor."

But, I am sure that does not surprize you seeing I am a Baptist in the historical sense of the word. :D

Peace to u,

Bill

arunma

7th March 2005, 06:34 PM

I don't personally think that Calvinism is absolutely essential to salvation. But of all the man-made doctrines out there, I think Calvinism comes the closest to explaining the Gospel.

Lockheed

7th March 2005, 08:09 PM

Spurgeon was right.

holyrokker

9th March 2005, 12:29 AM

holyrokker,

No offense intended, but if you don't want to start any debates, why bring it up?

:scratch:
I think Calvin was wrong about a couple of things, and right about a lot of things. That's why I'm a Calvinist.

LOL - I'm the opposite. I think Calvin was right about a couple of things, and wrong about a lot of things. That's why I'm not a Calvinist.

My purpose wasn't to start a debate. I was only commenting on someone else's earlier comment. I simply found it ironic that arunma's comments were the exact opposite of my opinion regarding Calvin.

Is it not possible for this to occur inside Christianity? Must it be meant for debate?