According to ChatGPT, I may have misrepresented John Darby and for that I apologize. According to the transcript below, John Darby did not hold to millennial or kingdom exclusion and it seems like it was more of an estoeric doctrine that developed within the umbrella of dispensationalism by theologians like Robert Govett.
Also, it seems like John Darby did hold to the view of faith encompassing repentance from sin much like other evangelicals today. Others here more familiar with John Darby's writings can correct me if I'm wrong. It seems like I would agree with Darby on a lot of points except for the timing of the rapture.
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Q: Did John Nelson Darby believe in millennial exclusion?
John Nelson Darby, a 19th-century theologian and one of the founders of the Plymouth Brethren movement, is primarily known for developing and promoting dispensationalism and the pre-tribulation rapture theory. Millennial exclusion, also known as "partial rapture" or "selective rapture," is a belief that only certain believers will be raptured or enter the millennial kingdom based on their level of faithfulness and obedience, while less faithful believers will be excluded or face some form of disciplinary period.
Darby did not advocate for millennial exclusion. His teachings focused on the pre-tribulation rapture, where all true believers would be taken up before a period of tribulation and then return with Christ to reign during the millennium. Darby emphasized the distinction between Israel and the Church in God's prophetic plan and did not support the idea that some believers would be excluded from the rapture or the millennial kingdom based on their works or faithfulness.
Instead, Darby's eschatology is characterized by the belief in the imminent return of Christ for His Church, where all believers, regardless of their spiritual maturity, would be caught up together to meet the Lord in the air.
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Q: What was John Darby's view of salvation? Do you have to repent?
John Nelson Darby's view of salvation is rooted in the doctrines of grace and the authority of Scripture. He believed that salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone and not by works. This perspective aligns with the broader Protestant understanding of salvation as articulated in the doctrines of the Reformation.
Regarding repentance, Darby did acknowledge its importance in the context of salvation. Here are some key aspects of his views on salvation and repentance:
- Grace and Faith: Darby emphasized that salvation is a gift from God, received through faith in Jesus Christ. He held that human effort or works cannot earn salvation.
- Repentance: While Darby believed in the necessity of repentance, he viewed it as intrinsically linked to faith. Repentance, in his theology, involves a genuine turning away from sin and a turning towards God, which is a natural part of coming to faith in Christ. It is an acknowledgment of one's sinfulness and need for a Savior.
- Conversion and New Birth: Darby taught that true conversion involves a new birth, a transformation brought about by the Holy Spirit. This new birth results in a changed life and a new orientation towards God.
- Security of the Believer: He also believed in the eternal security of the believer, meaning that once a person is truly saved, they cannot lose their salvation. This security is based on God's faithfulness and the completed work of Christ.
In summary, John Nelson Darby held that repentance is an essential aspect of the process of salvation, but it is not a work that earns salvation. Instead, it is a response to God's grace and an integral part of coming to faith in Jesus Christ.
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