Salvation Is Both Free and Costly While Baptists insist that salvation is free, a gift from God, they also proclaim its cost. Salvation cost God the death of his only begotten Son. Salvation cost Jesus the humiliation, suffering, and death by crucifixion on a cross for our sins. Sharing the message of salvation through the centuries has cost a multitude of faithful witnesses torture, imprisonment, and death. Salvation also costs the person who responds by faith to God’s grace gift; it costs that person his or her old way of life, a death to self (Matthew 16:24-25). Therefore, salvation ought never be considered lightly. To speak of salvation flippantly is to deny its vast significance. Baptists believe that the eternal destiny of all persons depends on their faith response to God’s grace gift of Jesus. Therefore, Baptists are noted for passionate evangelistic and missionary efforts. Salvation Is a Process of Grace through Faith Practically all Baptist statements of belief emphasize that the Bible reveals that salvation includes “regeneration” (some statements use “justification”), “sanctification,” and “glorification.” Some Baptists express it this way: We have been saved from the punishment of sin (regeneration), we are being saved from the power of sin (sanctification), and we will be saved from the presence of sin (glorification). Or as others phrase it: We have been saved; we are being saved; we will be saved. In whatever way the truth is expressed, the emphasis remains on grace and faith. God’s grace enables a person not only to begin the Christian journey but also to complete it. The way of salvation is walked by faith (Galatians 2:16-20). The process of salvation results in changed lives, not only for the hereafter, but also for the here and now. Good works do not result in salvation, but salvation is to result in good works (Ephesians 2:10). True Faith Cannot Be Forced Baptists insist that effort should never be made to try to force a person to believe in Jesus for salvation. In fact, Baptists believe that true faith cannot be coerced. Faith to be genuine must be voluntary. Baptists note that Jesus never compelled anyone to follow him. Jesus’ ministry indicates that persons have competency to choose to believe in him or to reject him. Although Jesus clearly laid out the consequences of belief and unbelief, he never used any sort of force when he urged persons to follow him. Furthermore, the New Testament records that Jesus’ disciples always presented faith as a voluntary response to the gospel. Therefore, Baptists have insisted that persons should never be coerced into professing faith in Jesus. As George W. Truett observed, “Persecution may make men hypocrites, but it will not make them Christians.” Baptists have consistently advocated freedom of choice—that is, religious freedom. “God’s purpose of grace Indeed, the Scriptures teach that eternity. Before creation an omnisc and would need to be saved. How event did not cause it. It ca man’s f Herschel H. Hobbs Baptist pastor Quote fromThe Baptist Fait
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy ODc4ODgx