We are also closing this comment thread. We thank you for your involvement in this discussion and urge everyone to give prayerful consideration to the issue of restoring the practice of a visible, regenerate church membership to all our sister churches within the SBC.

By Grace Alone.

it’s not that we dont like the language of repentance. it’s that we want to know what we should repent of, and if we are guilty, or not. should i repent for the catholics who burned christians at the stake? should i repent for my neighbor who stole another neighbors cow?

david

Does anyone truly think that both of these resolutions will make it out of committee? And does anyone truly wonder which one will prevail?

It seems that many do not understand the nature of corporate repentance. Corporate repentance does not assume every single person within the corporate body is personally guilty. I again refer you to the slavery / racism resolution.

If Dr. Ascol’s resolution is not worthy because he is a “controversial” Founder’s person and we don’t like the language of repentance, then let’s have the courage to kill it for those reasons and not the disingenuous and intelligence insulting reasons given previously.

david

I am glad to have answered your question, although I did not actually intend to do so. If you were edified, that was purely by accident on my part and entirely by divine intention. Dr. Patterson and I wanted to add a strong statement on holiness and baptism from Romans 6 to the Resolution, but Bart was correct in letting us know that the SBTC already agreed to a resolution and we should not change it anymore, especially since others had also agreed to it.

CB,

I don’t know who Philip Nolan is. I do know who CB Scott is, and he is a hero to me, already.

If all those guys you mentioned are going to somebody can I be our Philip Nolan?

cb

I just want to thank you for risking all to be a man of integrity and honor, in humility before the Lord and man.

May men of faith speak well of your courage and conviction for years to come.

cb

Thank you Malcolm for the more complete answer to my question that I had from the beginning. I think I can concur with those reasonings.

It does appear to me that the magnum opus for “Regenerate Church Membership” was penned by the Apostle Paul to the church in Rome (long format). As translated, it contains sixteen chapters, of which eleven (the overwhelming majority) of the chapters speak to the “identity” of the regenerate church made alive in Christ (gospel), and five of the chapters speak to what the regenerate church is instructed to do in His power.

I find the Apostle Paul’s statements (or indicatives) concerning the regenerate church very truthful, refreshing and substantive. Paul includes baptism (6:3-23) curiously instructive to relationship in Christ and reflective of the reality and substance of the regenerate church.

Using Paul’s Regenerate Church Membership statement may be a good test concerning the validity and helpfulness of other statements that are produced to reflect the truths of scripture. Maybe one formed in light of Apostles’ structure and function may also be helpful and beneficial to the hearers. Possibly, the “worthiness of support” should be measured against the truth expressed by the Apostle Paul’s encouragement to this church in Rome.

Romans 1:11-12 For I long to see you so that I may impart some spiritual gift to you, that you may be established; (12) that is, that I may be encouraged together with you while among you, each of us by the other’s faith, both yours and mine.

Oh that we could have the Apostles’ appeal for relationship with all the churches in the SBC.

Blessings,
Chris