By Steve Lemke, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary Provost [img_assist|nid=6339|title=Steve Lemke, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary Provost|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=75|height=100]In this series of articles about the biblical reasons supporting the security of the believer, we have already seen three reasons based in Ephesians 1 that we cannot lose our salvation: (1) because salvation is not ours to lose since God provides it, not we ourselves, (2) because it is based upon a life-changing salvation experience with God, and (3) because eternal salvation is a scriptural promise. In this article we examine the fourth reason that we can have confidence that once we are genuinely saved, we are saved forever: because eternal salvation is a logical necessity. We have seen that Ephesians 1:13-14 describes the Holy Spirit as sealing and guaranteeing our salvation. On the basis of this Scripture and many others, we believe the Bible teaches that once someone has a genuine salvation experience is saved forever – sometimes described as “once saved, always saved.” However, other Christians disagree with this teaching. There are two logical alternatives to this view, both of which are held by other Christian … [Read more...]

By Bill Warren, NOBTS Professor of New Testament and Greek Question:When did fasting start, what is it about, and is it still valid to practice today? [img_assist|nid=6120|title=Bill Warren NOBTS Professor of New Testament and Greek|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=75|height=100]Bill Warren responds: I remember preaching on fasting at my first pastorate – on a fifth Sunday when we were having a church dinner. Needless to say I was teased quite a bit on that one and reminded Baptists and fasting don’t always mix well, especially not when a church dinner is waiting. As for when fasting originated, we don’t have firm evidence historically on a precise point of origin, but it is found in the Old Testament from the time of David forward (see the Davidic Psalms 35, 69, and 109). Fasting is linked to mourning in a spiritual sense of seeking God in repentance and contrition. The connection to mourning is understandable – we often don’t want to eat when going through the loss of loved ones with broken hearts. Likewise spiritually, fasting, prayer, and repentance are linked to the sense of loss of closeness to God that weighs heavy upon the heart and soul. In the New Testament period, the Pharisees fasted twice each week (Luke … [Read more...]

By Chad Mills, Pastor First Baptist Church, Oil City I was one of over 11,000 messengers at the Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting held June 15 and 16 in Orlando, Florida. I have been asked about my perception of the meeting – how it went and what was it like? My response has been it was a “convention of contradictions.” Allow me to explain. While statistics indicate the vast majority of the churches that make up the Southern Baptist Convention run 200 or less in Sunday School, most of the speakers, if not all, came from churches that run 1,000 or more in Sunday School. Another contradiction was in the preaching style of some of the Pastor’s Conference speakers. Some preached textual sermons and never let go of their Bible. Other preachers presented topical messages and didn’t even appear to bring a Bible to the platform. I also found it ironic that the messengers passed a resolution taking a strong stand against divorce and affirming marriage. However, the previous night during the Pastor’s Conference, a special recognition was given to a well-known pastor who has been divorced. There was a contradiction in respect to the Cooperative Program. During the Annual Meeting our convention gave special … [Read more...]

By Andy Johnson, Pastor Cross Roads Baptist Church, Farmerville [img_assist|nid=6053|title=Andy Johnson, Pastor Cross Roads Baptist Church, Farmerville|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=75|height=100]There is an interesting verse of Scripture that I read in the book of Revelation recently that totally caught me off guard. Revelation 18:5 reads, “For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.” Allow me to set the context surrounding this verse; Chapters 17 and 18 of Revelation deal with the city named Babylon – an ancient city that is the symbol of idolatry. These two chapters deal with two aspects of a system that is patterned after Babylonian concepts. Chapter 17 speaks of an idolatrous, one-world religious system that has its roots in Babylonian mysticism, while Chapter 18 speaks of the economic, commercial, one-world system of government that will dominate the last days. Both of them are abominable to God. I guess the thing that captivates me the most about Revelation 18:5 can be communicated in the form of a question: How much sin does it take to exhaust God’s mercy? It is such a startling concept that I’m not sure I can grasp it. How much sin – sin upon sin, piled up as high as it … [Read more...]

By Mark Kelley, Baptist Press [img_assist|nid=6473|title=Messengers overwhelmingly vote to adopt recommendations of Great Commission Resurgence Task Force|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=100|height=59]ORLANDO, Fla. (BP) – By an estimated 3-to-1 margin, the Great Commission Resurgence Task Force report was adopted June 15 by messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting in Orlando, Fla. After the historic vote, Task Force Chairman Ronnie Floyd recalled the statement issued by northern and southern Baptists after the 1845 founding of the Southern Baptist Convention and told the assembly: “Following the pattern of our leaders of old, we also would say to the watching world that the differences between those who support the Great Commission Resurgence report and recommendations and those who do not should not be exaggerated. “We are still brothers and sisters in Christ. We differ on no article of faith. We are guided by our shared commitment to the Gospel itself and to the articles of faith identified in the Baptist Faith and Message 2000. The Southern Baptist Convention is a convention of churches that is committed to a missional vision of presenting the Gospel of Jesus Christ to every person in the world and … [Read more...]

By Erin Roach, Baptist Press [img_assist|nid=6475|title=Frank Page|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=100|height=72]ORLANDO, Fla. (BP) – Frank Page was elected as the next president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Executive Committee June 14 in Orlando, Fla. A former SBC president, Page will succeed Morris H. Chapman, who is retiring after 18 years in the position. Page, 57, most recently served as vice president of evangelization for the North American Mission Board and was pastor of First Baptist Church in Taylors, S.C., for nine years and SBC president from 2006-08. Executive Committee members deliberated for nearly two hours in a closed session Monday afternoon before announcing a decision to call Page as president, and he accepted the role with “a great sense of destiny and awareness that God has a great future for Southern Baptists.” Page told the Executive Committee his goal is that the group will be unified in its passion to see the world won to Jesus Christ, and he pledged to love the committee members and to work with all his might. In comments to Baptist Press after the vote, Page said he is following the call of God and is excited about the future. “I’m somewhat nervous because the task before me … [Read more...]

By Philip Timothy, Message Staff Writer WINNFIELD – Jeremy Albright, youth minister at First Baptist Church Winnfield, knows the impact summer camp can have on a student’s life. The Alabama transplant is also acutely aware of the impact the economy has had on families and churches throughout the country, especially in Winn Parish. Therefore, Albright, with the backing of First Winnfield, is financially enabling several  churches to take their kids to summer camp – LifeWay’s Centrifuge at Union University in Jackson, Tenn.  The camp is July 12-17. “God has given our church numerous blessings and we want to share those blessings with others,” Albright said. “I am not trying to steal anybody’s kids. As a matter of fact, I have told each church that when we get there we can do things together, but I also want them to take their own students and have a small-group Bible study. “All we are trying to do is to show we are here to serve the same God,” Albright said. “We want to be the vessel to help our sister churches get their kids to camp.” The congregation of First Winnfield has embraced the idea wholeheartedly. The church is paying for a 56-seat charter bus and will take care of the driver’s room and board for the … [Read more...]