Statements of Belief

Since almost everything I write about hinges on my belief in God, I thought it a logical idea to actually explain what I believe in. To put it as simply as possible, I hold to the beliefs of a Reformed Baptist which basically means that I side with traditional Baptists views but also accept the teachings of John Calvin. I also adhere to the 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, and the Westminster Confession of Faith. Instead of making this a terribly long post, I'll just post the links to both confessions below.

Those confessions eloquently map out my belief and I doubt I could do any better. Along with these I'll add the Calvinist side of my convictions.

Five Solas

1) Sola Scriptura - I believe only the Bible as God's inspired and written word. I also believe that it is the only source for Christian doctrine, is self-interpreting, and thus needs no affirmation from any other source. 2 Tim. 3:16, "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness..."

2) Sola Fide - I believe that salvation is by faith alone given by God and is in no way merited by man. Gal 3:11, "Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for 'The righteous shall live by faith.'"

3) Sola Gratia - I believe that salvation comes by God's unmerited favor and is only accessible through His grace. Eph. 1:7-8, "In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace, which He lavished upon us..."

4) Solus Cristus - I believe that Jesus Christ is the only mediator between God and man and is the only way of salvation. Acts 4:11-12, "Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

5) Soli Deo Gloria - I believe that all glory is to God and Him alone. Rom 11:36, "For from Him(God) and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be glory forever. Amen."

TULIP

Total Depravity - I believe that all men are sinful and are not able to please God or merit salvation through themselves. Men, in their complete enslavement to sin, cannot ever choose to follow God apart from His efficacious grace. Rom 8:7-8, "For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God."

Unconditional Election - I believe that God has predestined a people for salvation, a choice that is not depended on the supposed righteousness of a person or the foreseen merit or faith in a person. Eph. 1:4-5, "even as He(God) chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of His will..."

Limited Atonement - I believe that Christ's death was atonement for an elected people and not atonement for the whole world. This is the most controversial and requires multiple references. Matt 7:13-14, "Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. John 10:27-28, "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. . I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand."

Irresistible Grace - I believe that God's grace, when effectually applied to an individual, cannot be resisted. Instead, the work of grace changes that person's heart so that they desire God's grace. John 6:37, "All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and whoever comes to Me I will never cast out."

Preservation of the Saints - Your eyes aren't deceiving you..I did write preservation, not perseverance. I believe that the genuine believer cannot and will never be able to fall away from salvation. I changed the word because perseverance can give the image that saints in themselves persevere to the end. Rather, we are preserved by God to the end, for if it was depended on ourselves, we'd fall away quite quickly. Phil. 1:6, "And I am sure of this, that He(God) who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ."

So there you are, my beliefs in a nutshell. However, I do not allow my personal convictions to separate me from other believers of different convictions. I hope that all do the same.

Solus Christus,
Ashley

http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/1689_Baptist_Confession_of_Faith
http://www.reformed.org/documents/index.html?mainframe=http://www.reformed.org/documents/westminster_conf_of_faith.html