SBC Seminary President Apparently Denies Hybrid Calvinist Heresy
Brother Bob Ross posted this comment today. The Flounders are not going to like it!It appears that Dr. Akin's book has covered the doctrine of regeneration in detail. I wonder if he has been reading any particular blog on the subject? :-)
Charles
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SBC SEMINARY PRESIDENT'S BOOK APPARENTLY DENIES "BORN AGAIN BEFORE FAITH" HERESY
Bob to Charles:
A few weeks ago, one of the anonymous bloggers said --
Daniel Akin has edited a new systematic theology that will likely be the new standard text for systematic theology in SBC seminaries: "A Theology for the Church."
I have examined Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary President Daniel L. Akin's book, Charles, and it appears that the book evidently is much more in accord with the Flyswatter's view on the New Birth than with the view of both the "Reformed" pedobaptists and the Hybrid Calvinists of the Flounders group who are greatly influenced by the pedobaptist writers such as Iain Murray, Louis Berkhof, R. C. Sproul, etc.
Although this chapter 12 was written by Dr. Kenneth Keathley of SEBTS and not by Dr. Akin himself, who is the Editor, nevertheless the book mentions Dr. W. G. T. Shedd, for instance, and rejects the common "Reformed" idea about baby regeneration which Shedd expounds. I presume this would also be Dr. Akin's view.
Akin's book also affirms -- contrary to the "Reformed" view of Shedd, Berkhof, and others -- that the Word of God is "the means by which the Holy Spirit imparts the new birth" (pages 740-742).
The book says:
"The Holy Spirit acts as the agent of regeneration, and the WORD OF GOD IS THE INSTRUMENT HE USES . . . the Holy Spirit USES MEANS, and the instruments he employs to achieve regeneration are the gospel (James 1:18, 21; 1 Peter 1:23) and the messengers who share it (1 Cor. 4:15). If the gospel is the means by which the Holy Spirit regenerates, then where the gospel is not available, the saving, regenerating work of the Holy Spirit is also absent. . . .
"Are those who believe in turn born again, or does a person believe because he has been regenerated? Which happens first? . . . the biblical texts seem to come down on the side of conversion resulting in regeneration" (pages 740-741).
The book says "the teaching of Scripture is that regeneration is concurrent, or coincident, with conversion. This means that conversion and regeneration, as events, OCCUR AT THE SAME TIME" (page 742).
While Dr. Akin's book affirms the truth that there is a necessary and preliminary work by the Holy Spirit in a sinner, it is denied that such preliminary work constitutes regeneration (page 743).
How many times have we contended for these exact views on regeneration here on the Flyswatter blog, citing both our Baptist Confessions and our Baptist theologians in support?
It will be interesting, Charles, to observe how the Flounders, Tom Ascol, Tom Nettles, and other Hybrids react to Dr. Akin's book, A THEOLOGY FOR THE CHURCH.
posted by Charles @ 5:04 PM
3 Comments:
Bob, I affirm the Doctrines of Grace . . . but I do affirm the statements that you specifically referenced from the new systematic theology.
We do stress that salvation is a monergistic work by God in the hearts of sinners, but I also affirm that he does this through the word of God. I don't personally know any Calvinists who affirm that people who have never heard the gospel may have faith in that unknown gospel by way of regeneration. Also, I think, to any so-called hybrid Calvinist, they may order it regeneration then faith . . . but also, you order it faith then regeneration. What is clear is: they are go together. Without regeneration, could there be faith? Without faith, could there be regeneration? Without either could there be salvation. Of course, the answer is no.
MISUNDERSTANDING?
anonymous said:
Also, I think, to any so-called hybrid Calvinist, they may order it regeneration then faith . . .but also, you order it faith then regeneration.
I think you have misunderstood my view. I do not make a separation between the two, for I view faith as being a constituent element of the new birth. I have tried to emphasize that when the Holy Spirit, thru the Word of God, has brought a person to repentance and faith, that IS the new birth.
I do not understand regeneration to be an act that either chronologically precedes or follows faith. Rather, it is the creation of faith.
The creation of faith by the power of the Word and Spirit constitutes regeneration, or the new birth, and there is no chronology involved.
In the case of many, however, who deal with this subject, especially the Hybrid Calvinists and non-Calvinists, they completely omit reference to this Creedal view of the new birth, which is clearly taught in the
Confessions of Faith as "Effectual Calling."
See my article on this blog: Regeneration - Calvinism
http://calvinistflyswatter.blogspot.com/2006/03/bob-ross-regeneration-calv_114261719496018943.html
It is referenced on the sidebar of this blog. Please take note in particular the material I quote from the Puritian, Stephen Charnock.
MONERGISM?
anonymous said:
We do stress that salvation is a monergistic work by God in the hearts of sinners . . .
C. H. Spurgeon said, "Not a grain of faith exists in all the world except that which He has Himself created"
(Met. Tab. Pulpit, Vol. 33, p. 279).
The Hybrid Calvinist "monergists" evidently deny this, for if we insist upon faith an a constituent element in the new birth, they allege that this is "synergism," and attribute faith to man.
Hybrid Calvinists usually use the term "monergism" as a ruse to promote "born again before faith" in contrast to the Creedal view on "Effectual Calling" by the Word and Spirit.
Hybrid Calvinists identify faith in the "synergism" category if you do not believe "regeneration precedes" or"born again before faith," according to the teachings of R. C. Sproul, James White, Tom Nettles, the Flounders, and similar Hybrid sources.
The fact is, faith is the GIFT of God and it comes to pass by the Word of God, applied by the Spirit of God. As Spurgeon said "Not a grain of faith exists" except what the Lord has created"
(Met. Tab. Pulpit, Vol. 33, p. 279).
"Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God" (Romans 10:17).
"Of His own will begat he us with the Word of truth" (James 1:18).
"It is the Spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the
words that I speak unto you, they are spirit and they are life" (John 6:63).
The Spirit creates faith by means of the Word, and this is the true "monergism."
The biggest farce going today is what passes as "monergism" among the Hybrid Calvinists who teach that one can be born again before the Spirit creates faith by means of the Word of God.
A better term for it would be "moneyism," for it helps promote the sale of various Hybrid products, plus registration fees charged for Hybrid conferences, tuition for Hybrid seminary courses, salaries for Hybrid ministers, and other forms of Hybrid enterprises devoted to promote the Hybrid Calvinism teaching of "born again before faith."
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