The John 3:16 Conference was a theological conference held in 2008<\/strong> (with a follow-up conference in 2013<\/strong>) to examine and critique five-point Calvinism (TULIP)<\/strong> from a conservative, non-Calvinist Southern Baptist perspective. It was never intended to argue against Calvinists as fellow Christians, but rather to discuss important doctrinal differences within the SBC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The conferences were organized primarily through the leadership of Jerry Vines<\/strong>, pastor emeritus of First Baptist Church of Jacksonville, Florida.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Several well-known Baptist institutions supported the original conference, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The organizers intentionally chose John 3:16<\/strong> because they believed it expresses the universal offer of salvation:<\/p>\n\n\n\n “For God so loved the world…that whoever believes in Him should not perish…”<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Their concern was that some expressions of Calvinism (particularly Limited Atonement<\/strong>) were difficult to reconcile with the straightforward reading of this verse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jerry Vines emphasized that:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The conference largely followed the five points of TULIP.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The speakers generally affirmed that humanity is deeply fallen and incapable of saving itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, they rejected the Calvinist conclusion that people are unable even to respond to God’s gracious call<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Instead, they argued:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The conference rejected the Calvinist idea that God chose certain individuals for salvation apart from any response of faith.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Instead they emphasized:<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the strongest presentations came from David Allen<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n His basic argument was:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Christ died sufficiently for everyone and intentionally provided salvation for the whole world.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Allen even pointed out that several respected Calvinists throughout history rejected Limited Atonement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The speakers argued that:<\/p>\n\n\n\n They believed Scripture repeatedly portrays people rejecting God’s invitations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This was handled somewhat differently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Most speakers still affirmed eternal security<\/strong>, which is common among Southern Baptists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The disagreement was not over whether believers are secure, but over how<\/strong> salvation occurs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some of the best-known participants included:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Many of these names are familiar because they have written extensively on the debate over Calvinism in the SBC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The second conference shifted away from simply walking through TULIP.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Instead it addressed questions such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The conference papers were expanded into an influential book:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Whosoever Will: A Biblical-Theological Critique of Five-Point Calvinism<\/em><\/strong>, edited by David L. Allen<\/strong> and Steve Lemke<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This book became one of the primary scholarly responses to Calvinism from a Traditional Southern Baptist perspective.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Historically, the John 3:16 Conference became one of the defining moments in the modern discussion over Calvinism in the Southern Baptist Convention. It gave voice to pastors and theologians who believed the SBC had always included both Calvinistic and non-Calvinistic traditions, and who wanted to defend a theology emphasizing:<\/p>\n\n\n\nSponsors included<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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\n\n\n\nWhy was it called “John 3:16”?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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\n\n\n\nThe Five Major Topics<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
1. Total Depravity<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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\n\n\n\n2. Unconditional Election<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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\n\n\n\n3. Limited Atonement<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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\n\n\n\n4. Irresistible Grace<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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\n\n\n\n5. Perseverance of the Saints<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nMajor Speakers<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
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\n\n\n\nThe 2013 Conference<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
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\n\n\n\nThe Book that Came From It<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nWhy it Matters<\/h1>\n\n\n\n