S. Hassell On Conditions of Salvation

Elder Sylvester Hassell (1842-1928)

"The Error of Conditionalism"

The Gospel Messenger-September, 1894

"All the promises of God in Christ are yea and in Him Amen, unto the glory of God by us." {2Co 1:20} All the unconditional spiritual promises of God, from the beginning to the end of the Scriptures, engage to work in His people all the conditions of the conditional promises, and thus ensure their salvation. (Ge 3:15; 12:3; 2Sa 23:5; Ps 110:3; Isa 27:13; 35:10; 42:16; 45:17; Jer 31:33-37; Eze 36:25-27; 37:1-14; Zec 12:10-14; 13:1,7-9; Mt 1:21; 25:34; Joh 6:37-40; 10:15,27-30; 17:2-3,24; Ac 13:48; Ro 5:19-21; 8:28-39; 2Th 3:18,18; 2Ti 1:9-10; 1Pe 1:1-2; 1Jo 5:11-12; Re 1:5-6; 21:27)"

Is faith in Christ and the word of God a condition of salvation? Yes. Does this mean that salvation is uncertain? No. Does this mean that salvation is by free will and by works? No. Does this mean that salvation is in some sense unconditional and in some sense conditional? Yes. Did Hassell state the traditional and regular Baptist view in the above words? Yes. Are the above words against the teaching of most of today's Hardshells? Yes. Are they "primitive" or "original" or "old school" therefore? No.

The above teaching of Hassell is the view we entertain here at the Old Baptist Test. It is the view of our forefathers. Besides faith, repentance and perseverance are also conditions which the sovereign Lord requires, but which he also "engages to work" in his people to perform. The series we wrote titled "Conditional or Unconditional" looked at this subject exhaustively, both from the standpoint of scripture and Baptist history.

"O Lord, command what you will and give what you command." (Augustine)