Time Salvation Challenge: Eph. 1:13-19

When I was among the Primitive Baptists few verses caused me more distress of mind than our text of choice today. The first chapter of Ephesians is a staple portion of God’s Word among them, yet a portion of the chapter causes great discomfort for those willing to confront it. There are only two alternatives for those who adhere to conditional time salvation. Either sweep the passage under the rug, or put some sort of temporal twist on it to fit it within their anti-means prejudices. I rarely heard the text mentioned, much less preached upon, so I cannot say for certain how each individual minister chooses to escape the obvious teaching here.

There’s one thing we wish for our reader to know about this heretical system. Take it from one who used to teach this doctrine. When it comes to exegeting the scripture, the method followed strongly resembles that of a tennis match in which the Bible text is often seen as alternating back and forth between eternal and time salvation, sometimes as sudden as one verse to the next. The whole idea of interpreting a passage based on the context is thus destroyed, as certain prejudices consistent with the anti-means paradigm become the determining factor into which category the verse must fall, no matter what may have preceded it. At one moment, the Bible authors may be writing of eternal salvation, yet in the very next breath, they may now be speaking of time salvation!! Back and forth we go…where it lands, only our innovators know!

The book of Romans is where this alternating feature is found the most, especially in chapters 9-11. Yet we also see it here; that is, if our modernists are consistent with their own teaching. I for one know of no significant commentator, author, or theologian who has ever handled the scriptures in this manner. It is our hope and prayer that many would see their own error in this regard and return to the OLD Baptist faith.

“In whom ye also [trusted], after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14. Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. 15. Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, 16. Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; 17. That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: 18. The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, 19. And what [is] the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power” (Eph. 1:13-19)

1) Is Ephesians 1 dealing with eternal or temporal blessings?

2) Does Paul treat of eternal salvation prior to verse 13, switch to time salvation in verse 13, and then return to eternal salvation for the rest of the chapter?

3) If so, did you reach this interpretation based on the context and sound hermeneutics?

4) Must sinners “trust” in Christ for salvation?

5) Is seed trust under consideration in verse 13? If so, is this the same thing as seed faith?

6) Is the belief of verse 13 evangelical?

7) Does the sealing of the Holy Spirit take place in time salvation or regeneration?

8) Is this sealing optional or definite?

9) Is the belief of verse 13 the same or different than the belief in verse 19?

10) If different, does this mean that the Apostle has pulled yet another switch on us?

11) If they are the same, does this mean that God’s power (v. 19) works through the gospel (v. 13)?

12) Is the “word of truth” Jesus or “the gospel of your salvation”?

13) Is the earnest of the Spirit given to all the elect or some only? In regeneration or time salvation?