Response to the Great Debate

Our first "Great Debate" has come and gone here at Tabernacle and by all accounts it turned out to be a great night of theological discussion. Our final count was 361 in attendance. I am very thankful for Dr. Gary Gilley, pastor of Southern View Chapel in Springfield, IL, and Dr. Robert Kurka, professor of Theology at Lincoln Christian College in Lincoln, IL.

Both of these men did an outstanding job presenting their perspectives and did so with an atmosphere of Christian brotherhood.

If you did not get a chance to attend you can listen to the debate at http://www.tbcdecatur.org/.

Though both of the speakers did an excellent job, I must say that my position has not changed in the slightest degree. I believe that the Scripture overwhelming demonstrates that a genuine believer is secure in Christ.
A few other things I would have added (though time only allowed an overview) to the position of security are...

1. The totality of forgiveness. The Protestant (and biblical) understanding of justification is that in Christ believers are forgiven of all their sin (past, present, and future). The writer of Hebrews is clear that Jesus would have to be offered over and over if forgiveness was temporary status. Therefore, if we are forgiven of all of our sins then how can a believer fall away when the sin he/she commits is already forgiven in Christ (see Hebrews 10).
2. The Parable of the Sower. Based on my interpretation of the parable of the Sower (or seeds) is that Jesus clearly teaches that there is a seed that produces a temporary fruit but ultimately dies off. It is only the seed that produces good fruit that is the "good soil." Therefore, Jesus teaches that there is such a thing as a temporary belief that is not truly rooted in genuine transformation. This is why I find the argument that "we all know someone who was a Christian and fell away" unconvincing. It doesn't matter who you know, or how they live, whether or not someone is a genuine believer is a matter of them and the Lord. There are many who say "Lord, Lord" but do not actually entire into the kingdom of God.
3. Biblical Warnings. I do not have the time to develop this completely but I believe that the so-called "warning-passages" in the Bible actually serve as the means through which believers will persevere. In Hebrews 6, right after the author warns them about "falling away" he writes "though we speak in this way, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things(vs. 9)". In other words, by warning them of the danger of falling away the writer is actually confident that they will not. The interpretation of the warning passages deserves it's own article. If you want a good book on this I recommend "The Race Set Before Us" by Schreiner and Caneday.

For those who have asked for our own confession I have listed it below. It is from the Baptist Faith and Message 2000.

Election is the gracious purpose of God, according to which He regenerates, justifies, sanctifies, and glorifies sinners. It is consistent with the free agency of man, and comprehends all the means in connection with the end. It is the glorious display of God's sovereign goodness, and is infinitely wise, holy, and unchangeable. It excludes boasting and promotes humility.

All true believers endure to the end. Those whom God has accepted in Christ, and sanctified by His Spirit, will never fall away from the state of grace, but shall persevere to the end. Believers may fall into sin through neglect and temptation, whereby they grieve the Spirit, impair their graces and comforts, and bring reproach on the cause of Christ and temporal judgments on themselves; yet they shall be kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.

Thanks again for all who attended. I have received many emails regarding when the next one will be. Not sure, but there will certainly be more things like this to come.

Pastor Wes