Calvary Baptist Church

WHEREAS the subject of the cross of Christ is central and indispensable to the gospel (1 Cor. 1:17—2:2) and is vitally related to Bible doctrines such as substitutionary atonement, propitiation, redemption, justification, and reconciliation; and

WHEREAS the cross of Christ reveals to humankind something about the very nature of God, including His justice (Rom. 3:25, 26), His love (Rom. 5:8), and His wisdom (the message of the gospel, including the crucifixion of Christ, is the very wisdom of God; 1 Cor. 2:6–8); and

WHEREAS the death of Christ on the cross is the basis for the believer’s justification (Rom. 3:25, 26), the ground for the believer’s cleansing (1 John 1:7), and victory over sin (Rom. 6:1–10), and the foundation for the judgment of Satan and his demons (Col. 2:15; John 12:31); and

WHEREAS the cross of Christ influences the believer’s life by ensuring peace with God (Rom. 5:1, 9, 10; Col. 1:20), by fostering a changed relationship to the world (Gal. 6:14), by establishing a new life of faith (Gal. 2:20), and by supplying a model for Biblical love (Eph. 5:1, 2); and

WHEREAS the cross of Christ is a prominent theme in Scripture, evidenced by Isaiah’s reference to the suffering Servant Who was ―wounded,‖ or ―pierced,‖ for our transgressions (Isa. 53:5), by David’s description of the pierced hands and feet of the Messiah (Ps. 22:16), by Jesus’ foretelling His own crucifixion as He moved toward Jerusalem (Matt. 20:17–19), by Jesus’ indication that He, the ―Son of Man,‖ would be ―lifted up‖ (John 3:14; 12:23–33), by Peter’s preaching after Jesus’ death and resurrection that Jesus was murdered, crucified, and hung on a tree (Acts 2:23, 36; 4:10; 5:30; 10:39), by Paul’s teaching concerning Christ’s suffering and execution (Acts13:28, 29; 17:3), and by John’s revelation of the glory and praise that Christ, the slain Lamb, will receive in the future for His suffering and death (Rev. 1:5, 6; 5:5–9, 11–14; 13:8); and

WHEREAS the cross of Christ is an offense to many (Gal. 5:11), an object of stumbling to some (1 Cor. 1:23), and foolishness to others (1 Cor. 1:23); and whereas some even posture themselves as enemies of the cross (Phil. 3:18); and

WHEREAS there are those today who deny that Jesus really died on the cross or deny that His death was a vicarious sacrifice for sin, some advocating that the only real value of Jesus’ death was its moral influence, or its example, and some who, while regarding themselves as evangelicals, contend that the traditional view of penal substitution is wrong and describe it as ―a form of cosmic child abuse‖;1

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that we, the messengers of the churches in fellowship with the General Association of Regular Baptist Churches, meeting for our 76th Annual Conference in Ankeny, Iowa, June 24–27, 2008, affirm that we believe ―Jesus Christ, the

BE IF FURTHER RESOLVED that we faithfully proclaim the cross of Christ, that we not be drawn to the supposed wisdom of the world but value the message of the cross (1 Cor. 1:17, 18), that we remain willing to bear any persecution related to identifying with the cross (Gal. 6:12; Heb 13:12, 13), that we not boast in the flesh but rightly boast in the cross (Gal. 6:14), that we live in the light of the rich benefits of the cross, and that we thank God for Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross on our behalf.

2. GARBC Articles of Faith, Article VIII.

As a result of God’s sovereign choice, the people of Israel are beloved for the sake of the patriarchs (Romans 11:28). God entrusted them as a people with His oracles (3:2). He adopted them as sons; He revealed to them His glory; He brought them into a covenantal relationship with Himself; and He blessed them with the Torah, the temple service, and the promises (9:4). Also, the people of Israel are the ones through whom the Messiah, Who is over all, entered into this world according to the flesh (9:5).

These gifts of God to Israel and His sovereign election of this people are irrevocable (Romans 11:29). Thus, God most certainly has not cast them away (11:1), nor has He renounced His promise that the Land belongs to the descendants of Abraham through Isaac and Jacob forever (Genesis 13:15; Exodus 6:8).

In light of these Biblical truths, we reaffirm our steadfast adherence to our Articles of Faith that express our shared belief "in the sovereign selection of Israel as God’s eternal covenant people" (Article XVIII).

Recently, on May 8, 2008, the Jewish people of the modern State of Israel celebrated the 60th anniversary of their independence as a nation. In response to these celebrations, we, the messengers of the churches in fellowship with the General Association of Regular Baptist Churches, meeting for our 76th Annual Conference on the campus of Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary in Ankeny, Iowa, during the days of June 24–27, 2008, congratulate the people of Israel for their sixty years of industry and tenacity.

In six short decades, Israel has become a leader in various sectors of manufacturing, banking, technology, and arid agriculture. All the while, Israel has defended herself against aggressions close at home and from censures coming from afar. These constant difficulties in no way diminish Israel’s accomplishments but instead heighten the magnitude of her achievements. Israel has done so much, with so little, against so many, in so short a time. Indeed, this is a cause for celebration.

We also commend Israel’s desire to be a free, sovereign, and prosperous country that guarantees religious freedom for all of its citizens and provides a secure homeland for all those who wish to emigrate from the Jewish Diaspora. We concur with our American president, George W. Bush, who declared before the Israeli Knesset on May 15, 2008, that "we consider it a source of shame that the United Nations routinely passes more human rights resolutions against the freest democracy in the Middle East [i.e., Israel] than [against] any other nation in the world."

Many of us have traveled extensively throughout the country of Israel, and we wish to express our gratitude for the ways in which the Israeli government has preserved and protected the holy sites and the archaeological remains. We appreciate the ease of travel, the modern amenities, the sense of security, and the ease of accessibility that we have found on our pilgrimages to these places of Biblical and historical interest.

Furthermore, we resolve to "pray for the peace of Jerusalem" (Psalm 122:6). We will pray in response to the current political unrest, terrorist attacks, and border disputes. Most importantly, we will pray for the spiritual needs of both the Jewish and the Palestinian peoples of Israel, "for

neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation" (Romans 10:1; Galatians 6:15, 16).

Meanwhile, we will worship our great, trustworthy God, Who will fulfill these prophecies. He will do so not because the church, Israel, or the nations deserve such blessings, but because He has determined to sanctify Himself among the nations and before Israel by demonstrating His faithful love. We will testify to the love of Christ for all peoples, and together with Saul of Tarsus we will exclaim, "Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! . . . For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen" (Romans 11:33, 36).