Free Will Baptist Church (or Free Will Baptists) is a group of churches that share a common history, name, and an
acceptance of the theology of free grace, free salvation, and free will (whether, and in what sense, rational persons
exercise control over their actions and decisions.), based on the idea of general atonement. Free Will Baptists share
similar views of salvation through Jesus Christ with General Baptists, Separate Baptists and some United Baptists.
The autonomous powerof the local church is highly valued. The denomination remains relatively rural and is especially
strong in the southern United States.
Distinguishing Doctrinal Features
Free Will Baptist Doctrine is distinguished from the majority of Baptist groups (including the Southern Baptist
Convention and her offshoots, as well as fundamentalist Baptists) in that Free Will Baptists reject the popular
Baptist view of "unconditional perseverance of the saints," (also commonly referred to as the "Doctrine of
Unconditional Eternal security" or "once saved, always saved"). Instead, Free Will Baptist Doctrine holds to the
traditional Arminian position, based on the belief in a General Atonement (the belief that Jesus died as a
propitiation for the benefit of mankind without exception), that it is possible to commit apostasy, or willfully
reject one's faith. Faith is the condition for salvation, hence Free Will Baptists hold to "conditional eternal
security." An individual is "saved by faith and kept by faith." The concept is not of someone sinning occasionally
and thus accidentally ending up "not saved", but instead of someone "repudiating" their faith in Christ. Free Will
Baptists believe that an individual maintains his or her free will to follow Christ, but in the event a believer
turns from faith in Christ, there is no remedy for this apostasy (based on an interpretation of Hebrews 6:4-6).
Free Will Baptists also observe foot washing as a third ordinance of the church along with Baptism and Communion, a
rite occurring among some other evangelical groups but not practiced by the majority of Baptist denominations.
Additionally, Free Will Baptist congregations believe the Bible is the completed, inerrant word of God, and believe
in a primarily literal interpretation of Scripture.
Free Will Baptist congregations hold differing views on the End of Days. Traditionally, churches in the eastern part
of the country have tended to follow a premillennial interpretation (the belief that Christ will literally reign on
the earth for 1,000 years at his second coming), while western churches often hold an amillennial view )the number of
years in Revelation 20 is a symbolic number, not a literal description). Churches commonly advocate (voluntary)
tithing, totally abstaining from alcoholic beverages, and not working on the Sabbath.
Free Will Baptists are involved in mission efforts around the world.
|