Expert: Bruce Gourley - 10/30/2007

Question
QUESTION: Do Independent Fundamental Baptists believe that you can walk away from your salvation

ANSWER: Jared,

By far, most Independent Fundamentalist Baptists do not believe that one can "lose their salvation" (so to speak), and most would affirm what is sometimes casually referred to as "once saved, always saved." This belief is so entrenched in IFB circles, I would say it is not even a point of (serious) internal discussion, although it is possible that some individual IFB's would disagree with the majority belief (the Baptist belief in local church autonomy and priesthood of all believers always allows the possibility of dissension at the local church and individual levels).

I hope this helps.

Bruce Gourley
www.baptistlife.com
www.centerforbaptiststudies.org
www.brucegourley.com


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: So can you walk away from your salvation?

Answer
I do get asked this question from time to time, and the answer is that some Baptists believe one can lose their salvation, but most do not. For a more detailed analysis, see the following AllExperts link which goes to a previous answer I provided to this question:

http://en.allexperts.com/q/Baptists-954/once-saved-saved.htm

Best wishes,

Bruce Gourley
www.brucegourley.com