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Essay Definitions related to Baptist DoctrinesC - G 4.
Church and State: For
centuries, a State Church, of differing persuasions, dominated the countries of
Europe. Each sought to enforce its religious beliefs upon all other believers;
therefore many, and particularly Baptists, paid a high price for standing firm
in their faith. The separation of church and state under our constitution was
intended to offer to all people of faith equal freedom of expression, and
without the intervention of the state in religious matters. That’s what
America was all about? Regrettably, the so-called “wall” of separation is
being used today to deny Christians of their God given heritage. This we must
strive to change! 5.
Confession: Confession
is “a broken and contrite heart” (Psalm 51), bowed before God, seeking
forgiveness. (And He will forgive all sins completely in Christ Jesus.) The
Bible says, “If we confess our
sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and cleanse us from all
unrighteousness” [1 John 1: 9). Confession is more that admitting that I have
done wrong; in the Christian context, it is that I have done wrong in that I
have offended the holiness of God. 6.
Christian’s conviction of sin: The
foundation of conviction is the Holy Scripture. This is brought about by the
working power of the Holy Spirit in bringing to us an understanding of the
attitude of God toward sin. David is a good example of one being under
conviction. (Psalms 51) Conviction leads to confession and repentance;
repentance is from where we are to the foot of the cross. 7.
Conversion/Redemption/ New Birth:
Redemption is objective: that
is, it is that which is provided for us “in Christ Jesus.” His blood redeems us; our works do not redeem us. We cannot
add to, or take away from the gift of grace, complete in our Lord Jesus Christ;
however, once we are saved, we do good works for Christ’s sake. On
the other hand, Conversion is
subjective. It is that which takes place when Jesus Christ comes into our heart
and life as Lord and Savior. We become a new creation by faith in Christ Jesus;
thus, we are then “born again” or, born from above. This is called,
“conversion.” (Following Pentecost, all believers are given the gift of the
Holy Spirit of God.
We should remember; however, that for this present time, we are still in
this old body of flesh; and the tempter is ever present; therefore we are to be
ever vigilant and ready to seek forgiveness.
To
illustrate: I heard this true story: a very sinful man was saved while attending
a revival service, the next day after his conversion, his hand was jammed in a
fence gate while going to the field to plow; and as before, he cursed. This was
his testimony: “Yesterday it would have made no difference, today I cried.”
The New Birth
is the work of the Holy Spirit in fulfillment of the promised gift of “a new
heart” to the prophets of old, fulfilled at Pentecost. (Jeremiah 34: 31, etc.,
and Acts chapter 2) The
question: how does Pentecost relate to the New Birth? We must remember that men
were saved through the work of God’s Spirit all across the ages, which is by
the faith in the Promise given to Abraham, and fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Jesus
said, “No man can come to me, except the Father who has sent me draws him: and
I will raise him up at the last day,” said Jesus. (John 6: 44) The
Comforter, promised by Jesus to the disciples was not for salvation; this Jesus
had completed at the cross, and validated by the resurrection. Pentecost was the
coming of the Comforter, (promised in Jeremiah 34: 31, repeated in Hebrews 8:
7-13; 10: 14-17, etc.), as a special gift to His people of God who were already
saved. This gift, called the New Birth, is given to us when we trust in Jesus as
Savior and Lord. John said, “He that believes that Jesus is the Christ is born
of God” (1John 5: 1). 8.
Creation: “Bara”
meaning, out of nothing, “God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:
1). “And the Lord God formed man from the dust, and breathed into his nostrils
the breath of life; and man became a living soul” (Gen. 2: 7). After
the flood, God through Noah and his family reestablished man upon the earth. And
after the building of the tower of Babel (in disobedience to the will of God),
God confounded their language and scattered them (by families) to the distant
places of the earth. It was then that they formed their own languages, culture,
etc., as the nations of the world were now formed (Read Genesis chapters 10,11).
9.
Death: Death
simply means separation, either physical or spiritual. We are separated from the
body in physical death, and we are separated from God in spiritual death. It
all began in the Garden of Eden where Adam and Eve disobeyed God, and as a
consequence, “sin came into this world, and death by sin” (Romans 5: 12b).
Death is always the consequence of sin. Adam, the father of us all, sinned, and
that sin nature passed on to all his children. The Bible says, “for all have
sinned” (Romans 3:23). The
consequence is not only physical death, but eternal separation from God apart
from the redemption that God has provided through Jesus Christ His Son (Read
Romans 5: 12-21). The
best illustration (parable) of the spiritual condition, I suppose, would be the
story of the Prodigal Son as recorded in Luke’s gospel. (15: 11-24) The father
said, “This my son was lost (separated from his father), and is found; he was
dead, and is alive again.” In
brief, this is the picture of the lost condition of Adam’s children:
self-centered, independent, wasteful living, pleasure seeking, in a far country,
lost (separated for God); that is, “dead in trespasses and sin.” But
he remembered! Then he said, “I will arise and go to my Father, and he arose
and went…” This
now is the heart of the story. “And when he was a long way off, his father saw
him.” God loves the sinner, (though He hates the sin) just as much as He loves
the righteous. (John 3: 16], “Oh, the depths of the riches of love” Welcome
home son, welcome home! (Read Luke’s Gospel chapter 15: 11-24)
10.
Denomination: Denomination
is a word that means, “to name.” Today, the many world religions are divided
into groups, depending upon the objects of worship and beliefs. The Scripture is
the inspired Word of God. It is truth; but man is fallible, and as a result, we
have divisions within Christendom. 11.
Faith: “Faith,”
simply means to trust, to rely on, and submit to. Etc. Christian faith, as we
understand it, is to trust in the all sufficiency of Jesus Christ as Savior and
Lord as revealed in the Word of God. In Hebrews 11: 1, it is said,
“Faith is the substance [or, assurance] of things hoped for, the
(conviction) evidence of things not seen.”
Jesus said to the disciples, “Because you have seen, you believe.
Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet believe.” It’s like the faith
of a little child jumping into his father’s arms, believing that he will not
fail him. Trust God’s Word! 12.
Evil: “Evil”
is a heart condition that expresses itself in bad deeds. It’s the as act in
disobedience to God and His commandments. Evil has its origin in Satan’s
deception. It all began in the Garden of Eden when our fore-parents failed to
honor God’s plan, and tried to establish their own. The opposite of evil is
“righteousness.” It is imputed (credited) to us by faith in God’s
provisions in and through Christ Jesus. Our righteousness is said to be filthy
rags in the sight of God; therefore, we need redemption that is found only in
Christ Jesus. 13.
Forgiveness: “Forgiveness”
is where the offended says to the offender, “I no longer hold ill will toward
you.” In the Christian context, forgiveness comes by an act of grace on the
part of God as He forgives us our sins “in Christ,” because of His love for
us, and the price paid at the cross. We, therefore, should forgive our brother
because we too have been forgiven. It is not only that our brother is
“freed,” but we who forgive our brother are freed also. There is great
healing power in forgiveness! That’s what the cross of Christ is all about,
forgiveness! The
question is often asked, are the peoples of the world who are competent enough
to have understanding, saved because that have not heard the gospel? The answer
is no. Paul addresses this question in Romans 1: 20 wherein he says: “For the
invisible things of him, from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being
understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead; so
that they are without excuse.” (Gal. 2: 8-9) The Apostle of Paul asked this
question: “how shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how
shall they believe in Him whom they have not heard, and how shall they hear
without a preacher (Romans 10: 14)? The real answer for the Christian is this:
Trust God to do what is right. 14.
Grace/Law: Grace/Law
are opposite realities: Law
says you’re guilty; whereas Grace
says, you’re free! Law sits in
judgment and condemns, but by grace God has provided redemption. “By grace are
you saved through faith...” (Ephesians
2: 8). Grace is the foundation of the Christian faith; whereas faith is the
means by which we embrace grace. Without grace we would all be eternally lost.
Grace is unmerited favor! |