The Independent Fundamental Baptist movement is popular because the preachers espouse “conservative” beliefs while delivering fiery sermons with lots of audience interaction. I understand the appeal of this and even admit that I’m entertained by the wild statements, the stories, and the theatrical meetings.
IFB sermons are laced with some truths, but it’s important to listen carefully, because these fiery and theatrical sermons often fail to convey the simple truths and the pure beauty of the everlasting Gospel.
Some IFBs claim that there are multiple conflicting gospels between Peter, Paul, and Jesus, some say there was no gospel at all in the Old Testament, and some say the gospel is about faith alone, while neglecting God’s grace entirely.
Sure, you’ll hear Ephesians 2:8 repeatedly, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God…”, but the words “grace” and “gift of God” are overlooked while emphasis is placed on the human will to put faith in Jesus.
First, there are no conflicts. There is only one everlasting Gospel from the beginning of time to the end, with multiple administrations and Jesus Christ as the culmination of them all. Jesus Christ is God in flesh. He is the ultimate sacrifice and he has existed since the beginning of time. This is the Gospel.
Second, faith is a gift of God and it is bestowed on us by God himself. We must not get this backwards, thinking that because we had the sense to put faith in Jesus Christ, we are then saved. We are saved by God’s grace alone, which grants us the ability to live by faith in our Lord and Savior. It is not that we made a choice to put faith in a thing. It is that God graced us with the ability to act on faith.
Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you…
-John 15:16
"When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek..."
-Psalm 27:8
I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word.
-John 17:6
I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.
-John 17:9
God has chosen those on earth who will come to the Christ by faith. If we believe this to be offensive to the idea of free will, then we should continue to Ephesians 2:9, “Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
Salvation is not a personal achievement and there is no place for boasting as if we were accepted into Harvard Law School. When we are called, we are called to turn our eyes to the Lord and not to ourselves.
“But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.”
-2 Corinthians 10:17
And this is the danger of free-will faith. You are able to glory in yourself, that you were wise enough, humble enough, self-aware enough on your own to "choose" Christ, as if your conscience were unspotted by sin. Theologians call this darkened understanding the noetic effects of sin. Our reasoning is darkened by sin prior to conversion. Jesus said that "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." How can you choose what you are not even able to begin to see?
Once you believe you’re good enough to say that sinner’s prayer (under the pressure of a somber hymn and a fast-talking deacon of course) and to make that choice for Jesus, you’ve just put the weight of salvation on your own shoulders rather than attributing it to God.
There may come a time after when you are tried and you will think of how good and strong you were that day, but you will fall because your faith will have been misplaced.
Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
-1 Corinthians 10:12
I have learned that it is a great error to neglect God’s free grace and I pray that God would use erroneous teachings to magnify the truth, the simplicity, and the beauty of the everlasting Gospel in his Word.
Amen
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