Sunday our Pastor mentioned in his morning sermon that our church subscribes to a statement of faith generally accepted by most Baptist churches in America. That statement is the 1833 New Hampshire Baptist Statement of Faith.
I have issues with what we actually teach and do and what we say we believe as codified in this statement. I won't get these issues resolved any time soon because there are many among us who say they believe one thing but their actions don't align with what they say.
For instance: This Statement of Faith says, in part, (the full section quote is below) "...the new creation is brought about in a manner above our comprehension, not by culture, not by character, nor by the will of man, but wholly and solely by the power of the Holy Spirit in connection with divine truth...." [emphasis mine]. To my mind that seems plain, clear and simple enough for a literate person to understand. The Holy Spirit changes a person internally - the person is unable to comprehend what happened - but he knows he is different. He has been "born again." Yet, we insist that a person must "choose" of his own "free will" to "accept" Jesus as his savior. My question is this, if the new creation is brought about in a manner above our comprehension how is it that the sinner can be expected to comprehend he must "choose" to "accept" Jesus as "his personal savior" solely on the basis of his "free will?" He has been born again - past tense - there is nothing for him to "choose." (Jhn 15:16)
If that is the actual situation, we are saved by means beyond our comprehension, why do we waste so much time trying to ramp-up emotional responses with the "altar call?" Perhaps we really don't believe what we say we believe.
(I) OF GRACE IN THE NEW CREATION. We believe that in order to be saved, sinners must be born again; that the new birth is a new creation in Christ Jesus; that it is instantaneous and not a process; that in the new birth the one dead in trespasses and in sins is made a partaker of the divine nature and receives eternal life, the free gift of God; that the new creation is brought about in a manner above our comprehension, not by culture, not by character, nor by the will of man, but wholly and solely by the power of the Holy Spirit in connection with divine truth, so as to secure our voluntary obedience to the gospel; that its proper evidence appears in the holy fruits of repentance and faith and newness of life. (John 1:12-13, 3:3, 3:6-7; II Corinthians 5:17 & 5:19; Luke 5:27; I John 5:1; Acts 2:41; II Peter 1:4; Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:1 & 5:9; Colossians 2:13; Galatians 5:22)
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