Returning to the Old Paths - by Thomas Ascol

Returning to the Old Paths

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Not Just Any Doctrine
Early Southern Baptists were not content to believe just any ol' doctrine. They were concerned with sound doctrine. There was from the beginning widespread doctrinal agreement among them. The consensus was built around the great salvation doctrines which were commonly referred to as the "doctrines of grace." James Boyce, founder and first president of Southern Seminary, described these doctrines in 1874 as being part of the "prevailing principles" which had guided the denomination to that point .... Forty-four years later in 1918 the second edition of The New Convention Normal Manual made the same claim by declaring, "nearly all Baptists believe what are usually termed the `doctrines of grace.'"

What are these "doctrines of grace?" Specifically, they are those truths of God's Word which reveal His sovereign majesty in salvation. Historically, these doctrines have also been nicknamed "Calvinism," not because John Calvin invented them, but because he very proficiently explained them in a systematic fashion. "Calvinism" has been badly abused as a descriptive theological term. Many people use it pejoratively to refer to fatalism and falsely say that it is opposed to evangelism. Nothing could be further from the truth ....

The biblical understanding of Calvinism may be summarized as follows: All men are totally depraved because of sin. Everyone is born into the world, therefore, without spiritual ability to save himself and is deserving of God's wrath (Rom. 8:7-8; Eph. 2:1-3). Secondly, God is not willing to let the whole human race go to hell and has, from before the foundation of the world, chosen individual sinners to be saved. This choice is not based on any merit or justification found in the individual but is sovereignly exercised by God solely out of His grace and love (John 17:6; Eph. 1:4; 2 Thess. 2:13). Thirdly, those who are elected by God were given to Jesus Christ before the foundation of the world so that He should redeem them from sin (Matt. 1:21; John 6:37-40; 10:11, 14, 15, cf. 26-28). This He did in His earthly ministry by offering Himself as a substitute in His people's place. His death on the cross actually accomplished their redemption (Heb. 9:12, 24ff.). Though His death has some benefit for everyone, it does not actually redeem everyone. Fourthly, God effectively applies to all of His elect that redemption which His Son secured on the cross. He does this by drawing and effectually calling these by the gospel so that they freely come to repent of sin and believe in Christ (Rom 8:30; 2 Tim 1:9). Fifthly, those who have been so chosen, redeemed and reborn will persevere in the faith and thus are eternally secure (Philip. 1:6; John 10:28-29).

...(T)hese doctrines comprised the common understanding of the gospel among Southern Baptists during their first seventy-five years of existence. They are clearly stated and defended in the writings of former convention leaders such as Boyce, Dagg, Broadus, W.B. Johnson, R.B.C. Howell, Basil Manly, Sr., Basil Manly, Jr., Patrick H. Mell, Richard Fuller, and Richard Furman, to name just a few.

Call it what you will--Calvinism, reformed theology, the doctrines of grace--these truths are nothing less than historic Southern Baptist orthodoxy. This is the theology which gave rise to the formation and early development of the great missionary and evangelistic enterprise which we know as the Southern Baptist Convention. This is what our forefathers believed to be the true teaching of Scripture. These are the doctrines on which they built their churches and which undergirded their ministries. And if these doctrines were true then, they are still true today, because the Bible has not changed, God has not changed, and truth does not change.

If we hope to see a renewal in our churches (how we live), then we must be willing to seek a renewal in our theology (what we believe). Our doctrinal heritage can be very helpful as it challenges our thinking and points us forward into a renewed understanding of God's Holy Word.

It is a wonderful providence that the sesquicentennial anniversary of our convention comes at a time when there is a growing recognition of our deep need for revival and reformation. We should take this opportunity to remember the rock from whence we are hewn and listen to those who have gone before us, on whose shoulders we stand-those former faithful servants who, though being dead, yet speak.

Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; then you will find rest for your souls.