Baptists/Free Will Baptist Doctrine

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Expert: - 5/19/2005


Question
Can you tell me where to find the Doctrine of the Free Will baptist. I do not know what it is.
Thanks, Linda  

Answer
Hi Linda,
   The following is a link to their official doctrinal statement.    http://www.coacb.org/church/firstfreewill/doctrine.html

    Free Will Baptist are Arminians...meaning the follow the teachings of Jospeh Armius.   The appear to preach and teach the Gospel, but there is a problem.

     They believe that a person can be saved, become a child of God and then if they fail and get into sin....God will withdraw their salvation and they can go to hell.   Basically that means they are working to keep themselves saved by their good works and faithfulness.     In other words Jesus only made the down payment on their salation and they have to keep themselves saved by their works.   Of course that is gross error and a perversion of the Gospel.    They teach a false Gospel of works for salvation.
    When they preach messages on godly living and against sin....they are actually preaching salvation by works. That fools a lot of people who hear them because that is not explained.  Lots of people hear them preaching against sin and think they are doctrinally sound.   I have know many of them...living for many years in Eastern North Carolina where there are many of their churches.  They teach that doing good works...being faithful to the end and God will save you.

   The Bible teaches salvation is by God's grace....and is not mertied or earned by good works or faithfulness.
   I have an article at
http://bible-truth.org/assuran2.html  will explains the biblical teaching that once a person is saved they become a child of God and received ETERNAL LIFE... and it is God that keeps us saved.   If we sin we confess out sins and God helps us to overcome them...but He never rejects His children whom He has given eternal life.

    There are other problems also with them...but this error shows they do not really know or follow God's word...
If you have further questions please write.
Cooper Abrams

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Cooper P. Abrams III

Expertise

Independent Fundamental Baptist missionary and pastor, ThB, MBS. I began pastoring in 1981, and have taught in churches, a Bible college, and a Bible Institute. I have written numerous articles on various subjects from a biblical perspective and many are posted on my web site Bible Truth ( http://www.bible-truth.org ). Bible Truth receives over sixty thousand visits per month. Since 1998 I have answered Bible related questions via e-mail. My answers are straight forward and biblical. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE -----DO NOT ASK A QUESTION AND THEN NOT READ THE ANSWER! ABOUT FOUR IN TEN QUESTIONS ASKED ARE NEVER READ. I FREELY GIVE MY TIME TO GIVE HELPFUL ANSWERS. OFTEN THE ANSWER WILL REQUIRE AS MUCH AS A HOUR OR MORE TO RESEARCH AND THEN TO FORMULATE THE REPLY. IF YOU SEND A QUESTION PLEASE BE THOUGHTFUL ENOUGH TAKE THE TIME TO READ IT. MOST PEOPLE DO...BUT ALL SHOULD. THANKS

Experience

I have been a pastor since 1981 and a Independent Baptist missionary church planter since 1986. I have seen the Lord establish four Bible believing churches in Utah. My web site Bible Truth ( http:\\bible-truth.org ) continues to grow presently over 60,000 visits per month. The materials on the web site are mostly written by myself and contain sermons, Bible commentaries, articles on various biblical subjects.

Publications
- Appeared on Grizzly Adams DVD documentary "End Times: How Close Are We?" (http://www.grizzlyadams.com/Public/ChristianDVDs/index.cfm?productID=49). - Article "Are Mormons Christians" "O Timothy Magazine" Way of Life Literature (http://www.wayoflife.org/files/9959c77e05b303248173195e72476459-60.html)

Education/Credentials
ThB and MBS from Piedmont Baptist College, Winston-Salem, NC

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