A Summary of the Seven Theological Points Disputed
The ‘Reformed Baptist Fraternal’ boldly designated their views as the ‘Standard Reformed’ view. The following is a comparison of the ‘Standard Reformed’ view of the RBF and the view of one non-conformist Particular Baptist on the seven doctrinal issues raised by the RBF.
Author: Effectual calling unto eternal life is by the immediate life-giving call of the Triune God. Gospel preaching is not a necessary means for God to bestow spiritual life to His elect.
‘Standard reformed’: Repentance and faith secure eternal life. You
repent and believe IN ORDER THAT you may receive eternal life.
Author: Repentance and faith evidence eternal life. You repent and
believe BECAUSE God has effectually called you to eternal life.
‘Standard reformed’: The gospel is ‘‘if… then." If you
respond, then God will do something wonderful for you. You must believe in
order that you may have eternal life from God.
Author: The gospel is “because… therefore.” Because God has done
this wonderful thing to you, therefore you respond. God has bestowed you with
eternal life, therefore you believe.
‘Standard reformed’: Gospel preaching is necessary because it is
the instrumental means for the regeneration of the spiritually dead elect.
Author: Gospel preaching is necessary because it is the
instrumental means for the conversion of the ignorant, uninformed regenerated
elect.
‘Standard reformed’: Faith secures your justification before God.
God justifies when you believe. By faith, the condemned shall be justified and
live.
Author: Faith evidences your justification by God’s free grace.
God justified us when we were enemies. The justified ones shall live by faith.
‘Standard reformed’: Irresistible grace is the powerful working of
the Spirit in gospel preaching to bring the spiritually dead elect to
conversion.
Author: Irresistible grace is the powerful working of the triune
God to bring the spiritually dead elect to eternal life.
‘Standard Reformed’: All the elect will be saved eternally because
they will hear and believe the gospel, and God’s power keeps them in a life of
faith and holiness, and thus all persevere in a life of faith and holiness to
the end and shall be eternally saved.
Author: All the elect shall be saved eternally because God
effectually calls them to eternal life, and God perseveres to preserve His
elect in the state of grace, and they shall remain in that state of grace and
be eternally saved.