Matthew 4:18-20 ; Matthew 7:24-27 ; Acts 9:1-16 ; Hebrews 9:27
One of the basic principles of historic Baptists is the idea of Freedom of Conscience or also known as Individual Soul Liberty. This is the clear teaching of the Scriptures that each individual soul is accountable to God. With that accountability, every person is responsible for his or her own actions, choices, and relationship with God.
As we consider the distinctive of Freedom of Conscience this week, we need to understand its basic tenets. Not only are we responsible for our own decisions related to calling upon the name of the Lord, but we must also realize that no person can be forced to choose Jesus. In other words, every human must make their own choice regarding their relationship with Jesus, and no one can coerce them to submit to believing Biblical Christianity. They have the right to either accept or reject Jesus. They must exercise their own Freedom of Conscience.
Upon reflection, answer the following questions:
- After reading the devotional passages for this week, why do you think it is essential that every person weigh the cost of their eternal destiny?
- If Baptists champion the concept of Freedom of Conscience, how does that impact their opinion if someone decides to be an Atheist or a Buddhist?
- Does believing in Individual Soul Liberty mean that we are not supposed to try to persuade people to consider Biblical Salvation? Why or why not?
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