Insights That Shaped My Thinking on Salvation
I want to address the conviction of salvation outlined in the Baptist Faith and Message (BFM). According to the BFM, Salvation is the redemption of the whole man because he accepts God and has deep personal faith in Jesus Christ as Lord. The BFM indicates that salvation has to do with the rebirth that results from repentance, faith, and a change of heart.
According to Romans 10:9-10, “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. // For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified.” A thoughtful analysis of this quote helped me overcome a barrier in understanding how faith must come from the heart and what will enable me to reach salvation. Spurgeon’s perception of salvation allowed me to accept the inevitability of repentance, which seemed like an insurmountable barrier. Ultimately, my acceptance is as much the Lord’s reward as all his other gifts.
Additions to the Salvation Belief Confession
It would be good to add an interpretation of what suffering means and the concept of repentance, since a person may not fully understand them. Even if he follows the proper way and fully follows Scripture, understanding how to perceive repentance as part of salvation must be given. According to Peter 2:22-25: “When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.” In this way, the concept of faith becomes clear and transparent, making it possible to grasp the value in a way many others would not understand.
Regarding the 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith, I want to consider part 14, paragraph 2, which states that faith “bears forth the glory of God in his attributes, the excellency of Christ in his nature and offices, and the power and fullness of the Holy Spirit in his works and operations.” This is the most precise and accurate meaning given by Scripture to solidify the idea of faith and its meaning. I could only fully grasp this when I realized how much a belief in one’s faith characterizes a person. There is no other way to describe belief more clearly and faithfully than in this denomination.
However, changing the presentation of leaving the faith for whatever reason would be possible. There are always periods of doubt, and it is the task of Scripture to explain ways to return to and maintain faith. It is necessary to label this doubt to ensure the understanding that faith is a journey that must be followed for a long time before one can experience God. Scripture can explain how and why the journey of faith, the surrender of the heart and mind to God, can change oneself and give a sense of protection and faith in salvation.
Bibliography
Baptist Faith & Message 2000. BFM. Web.
Earls, Rod. Spurgeon’s Theology for Multiplying Disciples and Churches: The Story of How Spurgeon and the Metropolitan Tabernacle Followed Christ. Eugene: Wipf & Stock, 2022.
McClendon, Adam, and Kimbrough, M. Square One: Back to the Basics. Untreed Reads Publishing, 2018.
The 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith. The 1689 Confession. Web.
The Holy Bible: NIV. Bible. Web.