“According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, To the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the beloved.” Ephesians 1:4-6

Just today I was asked, “Are you a Calvinist?” Most often the name Calvinist is used as a term of derision. Frankly I am not too crazy about being labeled a Calvinist. Although C.H. Spurgeon didn’t seem to mind, he once said concerning the label; “I have my own opinion that there is no such thing as preaching Christ and Him crucified, unless we preach what nowadays is called Calvinism. It is a nickname to call it Calvinism; Calvinism is the gospel, and nothing else. I do not believe we can preach the gospel if we do not preach justification by faith without works; nor unless we preach the sovereignty of God in His dispensation of grace; nor unless we exalt the electing unchangeable eternal, immutable, conquering love of Jehovah; nor do I think we can preach the gospel unless we base it upon the special and particular redemption of His elect and chosen people which Christ wrought out upon the cross.”  Most people seem to think Spurgeon was okay.

Personally I have never been a big fan of John Calvin. From what I can gather he didn’t care too much for Baptist type folks either. I suppose John Calvin and I probably couldn’t agree that it was daylight outside. That is just one reason I am not too keen on being labeled a “Calvinist”.

But I am what I would call a Historical Baptist. {No, not a hysterical Baptist} In other words I could probably sign off on any Baptist creed or confession before 1930 {excluding the Freewill Baptist creeds and most of those would probably be better than what we got going on today!}

I heard a preacher say one time “I don’t believe that predestination junk!” I’m not too sure what to make of that statement, but I do know this. I was chosen in Him before the foundation of the world. I know that I was predestinated unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will. I know that I’ve obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will. {Ephesians 1} That doesn’t sound too junky to me.

Take a look at the Baptist documents I have listed below. I could have picked a few from the Old Country but I chose to stay on this side of the pond. Maybe you’re a Historical Baptist too or maybe you’re not. One of the things I have found out by studying “church” history is that many {or should I say most} of those people that Christians admire from the past would be labeled “Calvinists”. Do some studying…you might be surprised what you discover.

I am not interested in a debate…It took me quite some time to get here I don’t think I’ll be going back.

Brother Shawn

 The Philadelphia Confession 1742

Principles of Faith of the Sandy Creek Association 1816  

The New Hampshire Confession of Faith 1833 

The Abstract of Principles 1858 

Articles Put Forth by the Baptist Bible Union of America, 1923