Hardshells contradict themselves on the use of the term "believer." Sometimes they will say that the regenerated man is designated a "believer" in scripture. But, at other times, they will say that one does not have to be a "believer" in order to be saved or regenerated.
Some will try to avoid this glaring contradiction by saying that all the regenerated are "believers" but not gospel "believers," not believers in Jesus or in the one true God. All the regenerated have "faith," but not that "faith" which comes by hearing the gospel.
Elder W. H. Crouse, in 1928, wrote a book in which he tried to show that the historical position of the original Baptists denied the use of the gospel in saving the elect. The book was titled "Regeneration or The New Birth." In this book he wrote:
"They say they believe in election as firmly as any man, and that ALL the elect will be saved in spite of all the powers that may oppose. That sounds good. And they say they believe that everyone for whom Christ died will be saved. That sounds good. BUT they then explain that the elect, and those for whom Christ died, are BELIEVERS.
Turn back and read Elder Screws’ interpretation of this text and you will see that he states that ALL the elect who were to be given to Christ, as above explained, were those who should believe on Christ through the word preached. True, they try to explain that this belief is as much the gift of God as eternal life; but we know that the Bible teaches that men believe through the gospel (Romans 10); and they time and again cite us to this scripture to show how faith comes; and if this be true, deny as they may, salvation is confined to the scope of the gospel." (Chapter 1, page 34)
This book is highly valued by the Hardshells. But, it is easy to prove its errors. Crouse says that John Gill believed Hardshell views, but he clearly does not. Crouse even denies that Elder John Watson believed in means, but this too is a gross falsehood.
But, notice from the above citations, that Crouse confesses: 1) The term believer is not a term for the regenerated person, and 2) one is made a believer through the gospel.
Crouse was being honest in these confessions. Most Hardshells, however, will not affirm these things, but will rather argue that "faith is implanted in the soul when one is regenerated" and that "there are two kinds of faith," one that comes apart from knowledge of the gospel and one that comes through it.
When these Hardshells are asked - "what is it that the regenerated soul believes?" - they generally refuse to answer. R. V. Sarrels, Hardshell apologist, however, did answer it in his book on "Systematic Theology." He stated that the regenerated soul believes that God is Creator, Savior, and Helper. By this definition he was able to make pagans into "believers." The idol worshipping "Pygmy," he affirmed, had as much a genuine faith as any Christian believer, and was a "regenerated" soul. His "gods" were viewed by him as being creators, deliverers, and helpers, and this proves that he was a "believer." By this definition, Sarrels would call Muslims "believers."
But, the confession of Crouse is the more honest Hardshell position. Hardshells really believe that "regenerated" souls are not "believers." In disproving the position of Crouse, all one has to do is to show how the scriptures join faith and salvation together in an inseparable manner and to show that the destiny of all unbelievers is one of eternal condemnation and death. This, of course, is easy to do, for the scriptures are clear in showing the unbreakable bond between faith and regeneration, and that all unbelievers will be damned, and in showing how saving faith comes by hearing the gospel, and that it knows of no other kind of saving faith.
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