“Seriously, it expanded my horizons and comfort level tremendously when I accepted that God is sovereign in all things - especially in the area of salvation”
Finally understanding sovereignty absolutely changed my life and ultimately my family. I have that same peace and assurance you describe. Ultimately that understanding reworked my priorities and radically altered the way I approach this life, the way I parent, the way I do just about everything. Based on the promises of Scripture, I now have the confidence to be a soul winner, even a foreign missionary, because it’s not up to me, it’s all of His grace. I’m just a vessel to be used. I know if I spread the gospel His sheep will hear His voice and believe. Next to actually being saved, understanding grace is far and away the best thing that ever happened to me.
This morning I had a brief conversation with a stranger and quickly determined he too is a grace believing Southern Baptist. He smiled and said “grace changed my life” and I knew exactly what he meant.
Most baptists who don’t believe in the doctrines of grace don’t actually understand them, they are locked onto a caricature. They’ve been taught by others who don’t believe or understand grace. I particularly enjoy watching those who resisted grace with great zeal come to embrace it, which happens often. Last night at church we said a prayer of thanks after a lady described how her sister, who vigorously defended Arminian freewill for many years, has recently embraced the Doctrines of Grace and is now on fire for the Lord.
Well said. When I was first confronted with the Doctrines of Grace, I decided to read what those believers said about their doctrine, rather than what others said about it. I had done the same in reading Catholic literature, etc. It’s only fair. As you astutely note, once I read the greats, and understood the magnitude of God making things right, of Himself and by Himself, fulfilling all that we can not do for ourselves because we really were dead in sin, it became so overwhelming, I was able to make Christ my life, not just a part of life. He is life.