In an article entitled "THE BLESSED OF THE LORD" in "The Gospel Messenger" (1887) we read that even at that date, "Primitive Baptists" were still contending that "obedience to God" was necessary for being finally saved. This is the paper that Elder Sylvester Hassell was associated with and the citation is from an issue before he took over ownership and editorship.
"Why should such things as these be alleged against the doctrine of reigning grace? Does the fact that God's grace and gift of
the Spirit being the origin of the obedience of the saints lessen the importance of that obedience! Contrariwise, it seems clear to my mind that God's gift of his Spirit fully insures the obedience of the saints and all that follows upon it. After all of their cavil, the quarrel between Predestinarians and Arminians is not as to whether obedience to God is necessary and indispensable in order to salvation, for we as fully affirm the importance of that obedience as they. But the difference lies here: We look to God's predestination and election, together with the gift of his Spirit, as the things in principle which has produced all the obedience we can boast of..." (The Gospel Messenger 1887 - see here)
How far art thou fallen O Hardshell of today who affirms that there is no obedience necessary for final salvation!
No comments:
Post a Comment