Basically,Baptists are Calvinistic. We believe that “Salvation is of the LORD,”and apart from His grace (the unmerited favor of God toward man),no one on earth would ever be saved!
The vast majority of Protestantism,Roman Catholicism,and Greek Orthodox faiths are Arminian. They may declare their faith in the atoning work of Christ and His shed blood as the means of salvation,but will them add that in order to be saved you must be baptized or keep certain commandments or do good works. Thus,they add works to the saving grace of God;and as Paul said,“if it be of works,then it is no more of grace.”
When a preacher or church is termed “Calvinist”this does not mean that the preacher of church holds all the tenets of Calvinism,and teaches and believes all that Calvin taught or believed,any more than an “Arminian”of today would hold to all the doctrines and beliefs of Arminius. These have really become broad terms differentiating between those who believe that salvation is by GRACE through FAITH ALONE,and those who would add some ordinance,ritual,or work to grace in order to be saved,or to keep saved!
Between the two theological schools of thought of Calvinism and Arminianism lies the BIBLE TRUTH of Salvation by Grace which we must know,believe,and agree to,and it is my purpose to set forth that SCRIPTURAL TRUTH OF GOD’S PLAN OF REDEMPTION.
Some may say,“Why not just call yourselves ‘Bible Christians’and let it go at that?”
I am sad to say that in this day and age,we even have to define what we mean by a “Bible-Believing Christian,”or a “Bible Christian!”The Jim Jones Cult called themselves “Bible Christians”in the beginning! Every false cult,false church,and compromiser in the nation that uses the Bible calls themselves a “Bible Christian”and they may be doctrinally 10,000 miles from the truth!
There are many deceivers and deceived,who are “wresting the Scriptures to their own destruction”;therefore terms must be defined and lined out from the Scriptures.
Dr. Bruce D. Cummons 1980 —from his book “Salvation is of the Lord”