A Simple Truth from Romans 1:16

"...the power of God unto salvation..." (Romans 1:16)

Romans 1:16 occupies no small place in the teaching of Primitive Baptists.  It is one of two main places in the book where the novel doctrine of gospel time salvation is set forth, the other being Romans 10:1.  And yet just a slight glance at the text reveals a glaring contradiction with such an idea.  Seeing that the Apostle Paul tells us that the salvation under consideration is effected by the power of God, it must be of the Lord, and therefore, eternal salvation.  This fact alone is enough to establish that my friends are greatly mistaken on this passage, for, by their own admission, a salvation transacted through means cannot be of the Lord, but is rather accomplished by the power of man!  This most glaring feature flies in the face of the modern heresy at the outset, and the fact that it remains unnoticed or ignored reveals the lack of depth behind such an analysis.

Power with or without means

Here’s our point. Whatever kind of salvation is announced by Romans 1:16 it is explicitly said to be effected by the power of God.  And that which is accomplished by the power of God, is of God.  The Apostle therefore in this passage treats of a salvation “of the Lord”; and this, despite whatever instrumentality may or may not occur in the procuring of it. But since the gospel is explicitly proclaimed as being involved in this salvation, it becomes true then that both the gospel and the power of God are means in accomplishing this salvation.  I am not at liberty therefore to form an idea which says that any salvation accomplished by the gospel must be separate and distinct than the one accomplished by the power of God, for here the Apostle mentions them both as being effectual towards one in the same salvation. If the salvation is eternal or temporal, certain or uncertain, accomplished with or without means, for all the elect or some only, one thing is absolutely clear from Romans 1:16. The salvation is accomplished by the power of God.  And if effected by the power of God, then the salvation of Romans 1:16 must not and cannot be that “second” one which Primitive Baptists claim is achieved by the effort of the regenerate child of God who works to save himself, per Acts 2:40!!!

It is obvious to all, especially to my Primitive Baptist friends, that a salvation effected WITHOUT means is of the Lord.  The important point conveyed by Romans 1:16 however, is that one effected WITH means is of the Lord still.  To devise a premise therefore which claims that that which is wrought without means only is of the Lord is an error, and any system of doctrine which relies upon this faulty premise must likewise be in error. If the foundation be faulty, then so must be the house.

Divine authorship does not stand or fall with instrumentality. Our Lord is free to operate however He chooses.  With or without means. In either case, it is of Him. Thus, the very text from which my PB friends proclaim their novel doctrine of gospel time salvation destroys the very premise which upholds it.

If it is plain that a scheme of salvation wrought without means is of the Lord, and Romans 1:16 teaches that one wrought with means is nevertheless of the Lord, what room exists for a salvation effected by the power of man?