In the previous chapter it was shown how the doctrine of the saints sure and certain perseverance was the original old Baptist position, the position set forth in the oldest confessions and articles of faith. It was also shown how the present generation of Hardshells, who claim to be "primitive" or "original" in their Baptist beliefs, are not so as regards their rejection of the doctrine of perseverance. This ought to make them rather uncomfortable regarding their claims to being "primitive" or "old school."
In the previous chapter the reason for this change in doctrine was also introduced. The "no means" position brought about a change in the description of the nature of the change effected in "regeneration" (or in being 'born again'), and that change in doctrine brought about a change in the kind of "preservation" that the scriptures and the old Baptist confessions describe, a preservation that included perseverance.
The denial of perseverance represents an evolution in traditional hardshellism. As the history of the anti-mission movement demonstrates, there has been a varied evolution in doctrine by the members of the movement. Neo-Hardshells may deceive themselves into thinking that they have had no changes in fundamental doctrine over the past two hundred years, but the facts show otherwise. Today's Hardshells are not like the old Baptists of the pre-19th century. They are not even like their founding fathers of the early 19th century, and not like their forefathers who attended the Fulton Convention. Novelty in doctrine is characteristic of the growth and development of the "Primitive Baptist Church."
The original error that spawned all the others was the belief that faith in Christ, by the preaching of the gospel, was unnecessary for being regenerated or eternally saved. Such a view forced the Hardshells to "water down" what it meant to be "born again." In this altogether new paradigm of regeneration, conversion was totally eliminated. Regeneration took on a strictly physical or metaphysical definition. Regeneration became a change of the substance of the heart, mind, or soul. It was no longer viewed as a strictly moral change. Regeneration now became vaguely defined as simply giving ability or powers to the soul, a kind of empowerment. There was no change in beliefs, for regeneration became "non-cognitive" and a "sub-conscious" experience. No longer was regeneration equated with conversion. People could be regenerated who remained impenitent and unbelievers, who remained worshippers of idol gods. Regeneration no longer saved a man from unbelief, or from worship of false gods, nor bring one into a knowledge of truth about God and the way of salvation. Regeneration involved no revelation or enlightenment. One did not come to "know" the Lord in being born again.
Naturally then, such a doctrinal alteration in the nature of the change wrought in regeneration also brought about an alteration in what it means for the regenerated to "persevere." Persevere in what? It could not be a perseverance in grace, holiness, or salvation, for these things, in scriptures and the old confessions, are tied to continuance in faith and repentance. What is it that God keeps and preserves from what was given in the experience of regeneration? Not faith, for there is no faith given in regeneration, according to neo-hardshellism. Not in allegiance to Christ, for there is no allegiance to Christ established in regeneration, according to neo-hardshellism. The only thing that Hardshells can say is "preserved" and maintained is the "life" or "seed" given in regeneration. But, what kind of "life"? It is a "watered down" definition of spiritual "life," a "life" that excludes love for God, faith in Christ, and knowledge of the gospel.
The Hardshell description of one who is spiritually alive is similar to a person who is comatose, or in a vegetative state. However, in scripture, spiritual "life" involves being "spiritually minded" (Rom. 8: 6), and in knowing God and Christ (John 17: 3), a coming to Christ in faith (John 5: 40; 20: 31), a "repentance unto life" (Acts 11: 18), and "justification of life" (Rom. 5: 18), because "the Spirit is life because of righteousness" (Rom. 8: 10). Further, spiritual "death," in scripture, involves inner "blindness" and "ignorance," and so spiritual "life" involves enlightenment. (Eph. 4: 18) Further, the "life" given in regeneration is that which is "lived," as Paul said - "the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God..." (Gal. 2: 20) This "life" is connected with "faith." The apostle John said:
"He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life." (I John 5: 12)
The word "hath" (echÅ) means to have or to hold, to have (hold) in the hand, for instance. To have or hold in the sense of wearing, to have (hold) possession of the mind, to hold fast, keep, to have or comprise or involve. Thus, to "have" Christ is to lay hold of Christ with the heart, mind, and understanding. It is a cognitive "having." It is simply preposterous to affirm that heathens "have" Christ even though they have no knowledge or faith in him.
A couple typical neo-Hardshells wrote:
"Calvinism asserts that all the elect will persevere in faith and holiness. If an individual does not persevere, then he proves by his apostasy that he was merely a professor, not a possessor, of eternal life. Primitive Baptists insist that Divine Preservation, rather than human perseverance, is the Biblical emphasis, preservation being the term employed in Scripture to describe the eternal security of God’s people." ("Ten Reasons Primitive Baptists Are Not Calvinists" By Elders Michael Gowens and Lonnie Mozingo, Jr.)
See here
The above comments set up a false dichotomy between preservation and perseverance. The scriptures, rather than emphasizing only the former, emphasize both. The above statement affirms that perseverance is not emphasized in scripture, and yet nothing is more false. The scriptures abound with emphasis on perseverance. Let us notice some of the verses that emphasize perseverance in the context of salvation.
"But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved." (Matt. 24: 13; see also Matt. 10: 22)
"And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel..." (Col. 1: 21-23)
"But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end." (Heb. 3: 6)
"For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end." (Heb. 3: 14)
"Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul." (Heb. 10: 38, 39)
"Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son." (II John 1: 9)
"To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God." (Rev. 2: 7)
"He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death." (Rev. 2: 11)
"He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels." (Rev. 3: 5)
Obviously there are many more scriptures that might be cited to demonstrate how perseverance is greatly emphasized, which overthrows the assertion of Mozingo and Gowens. Clearly the above verses deal with eternal salvation and affirm that perseverance is required. The scriptures put both faith and perseverance together as conditions for being finally and eternally saved.
"That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises." (Heb. 6: 12)
"Patience" here is from the Greek word "hupomeno" and may be translated as "perseverance." This fact disproves another false assertion of today's Hardshells which asserts that the word "perseverance" is only used once or twice in scripture. Yes, it is true that the word "persevere" is only used once or twice in scripture, but synonymous words are used, such as the words endure, continue, patience, overcome, etc.
Clearly two things are essential for "obtaining the promises." They are faith and patience (perseverance). However, Hardshells deny that faith and perseverance are necessary conditions for being eternally saved. They believe that most people who go to Heaven do not have faith and perseverance.
Clearly today's Hardshells are against both the scriptures and their own oldest confessions of faith.
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