Questions 9-10: (SW – Sam Waldron, CD – Curt Daniel
SW: “In your view does the Confession teach the view of the free offer (7:2) and common grace (14:3) which you hold and defend?”
CD: “I agree with the 1689 in upholding the free offer of the Gospel (7:2) and common grace (14:3).”
1689:7:2 Moreover, man having brought himself under the curse of the law by his fall, it pleased the Lord to make a covenant of grace, wherein he freely offereth unto sinners life and salvation by Jesus Christ, requiring of them faith in him, that they may be saved; and promising to give unto all those that are ordained unto eternal life, his Holy Spirit, to make them willing and able to believe
1689:14:3 This faith, although it be different in degrees, and may be weak or strong, yet it is in the least degree of it different in the kind or nature of it, as is all other saving grace, from the faith and common grace of temporary believers; and therefore, though it may be many times assailed and weakened, yet it gets the victory, growing up in many to the attainment of a full assurance through Christ, who is both the author and finisher of our faith.
SW: “What is at stake in Reformed Baptists today continuing to hold clear views of the free offer of the gospel?”
CD: “Reformed Baptists must uphold the doctrines of grace as Biblical and not succumb to the temptation to misuse them in order to deny the free offer, Duty Faith or common grace. Once those truths are rejected, our evangelism suffers enormously. There is a tendency to lose zeal for lost souls, decrease in obedience to the Great Commission, and to lessen prayer for the lost. I have found that Hyper-Calvinism also breeds a dry, proud and moribund attitude, sometimes also legalism and an unhealthy introspection. We need to maintain the biblical balance of divine sovereignty and human responsibility. I agree with great Calvinists in the past on these issues, such as Spurgeon and Edwards.”
Dr. Sam Waldron is the Academic Dean of CBTS and professor of Systematic Theology. He is also one of the pastors of Grace Reformed Baptist Church in Owensboro, KY. Dr. Waldron received a B.A. from Cornerstone University, an M.Div. from Trinity Ministerial Academy, a Th.M. from Grand Rapids Theological Seminary, and a Ph.D. from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. From 1977 to 2001 he was a pastor of the Reformed Baptist Church of Grand Rapids, MI. Dr. Waldron is the author of numerous books including A Modern Exposition of the 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, The End Times Made Simple, Baptist Roots in America, To Be Continued?, and MacArthur’s Millennial Manifesto: A Friendly Response.
