Want Peace?

Who can put a price on peace? Peace in external life, freedom from want and trouble, is indeed precious! Absence of conflict! Absence of disturbance! Nothing but tranquility! Political and national peace is highly valued, as it should be. So too peace in a family! But, peace of mind is precious beyond all! Men look for it in every place but the right place. It is so sad.

Men are plagued with guilty consciences, haunted memories of depravity, phobias of every kind (some real, some not), anxieties galore, a spirit of foreboding about the future, perplexities, restlessness, etc. The record of scripture is clear: "There is no peace," says the Lord, "to the wicked."

"But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked." (Isa. 57:20-21 kjv)

But, peace can only be found in Christ and in his salvation. Announced Jesus:

"Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." (John 14:27)

This peace, which "surpasses comprehension" (Phil. 4:7), is free to all! Come to him today and take up your cross and follow him. You will surely find peace, both now and forever. Don't spend your money trying to find peace in any other thing.

Is It Sin To Call Upon Men To Know The Lord?

In my last posting I called or invited all to know the Lord. Let me give this homily on that subject, beginning with a citation from a leading Hardshell apologist and debater of the 19th century.

Wrote Elder Lemuel Potter:

"If any man claims to be teaching men to know the Lord, I want him to show me his authority for it. The commission does not say any thing about teaching men to know the Lord. Aquila and Priscilla taught the way of the Lord more perfectly to Apollos, but they did not teach him to know the Lord. The New Testament says, “Thou shalt not teach every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, to know the Lord for all shall know him, from the least unto the greatest,” and it has never contradicted it, and as it says that, and not one syllable of authority to any man to go about teaching sinners to know the Lord, I want to know why that does not look like it belongs to the new dispensation—the new covenant. I would as soon a brother would say he could impart eternal life as to say he could teach men to know the Lord." (Debate on Foreign Missions-Chapter 14 - MR. POTTER’S SEVENTH SPEECH) Potter - Yates Debate (See HERE for the rest of the citation)

First, of all, it is sin NOT to teach men to know the Lord and to love and fear him, and to believe all that he has communicated to men. Therefore, in not teaching men to know the Lord, it is the Hardshell who is sinning.

So, who is sinning, the Hardshells or I?

What Hardshell wants to come and discuss it? To be sure, one of us is sinning in this regard! Either I am sinning in telling men to know the Lord (PB position) or the Hardshells are sinning in not doing so.

What think ye? Important question to know the truth concerning, hey?

Also, answer this question: does regeneration bring one into a knowledge of the one true and living God, and of the Lord Jesus? If not, then the above passage about coming to know the Lord cannot be regeneration, right? But, if not regeneration, then it must be a conversion experience. And, this being so, is it not right to call upon men to come to know the Lord in conversion?

Do You Know Jesus?

Not know about Jesus, but do you know him personally? If you do not, then you are lost and doomed. Salvation is only in and by the Lord Jesus Christ.

"And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." (John 17:3 KJV)

"I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine." (John 10:14)

"And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power..." (II Thess. 1: 7-9)

It is a wonderful life knowing the Lord! Don't miss out! He is such a "friend of sinners." Get to know him today!

Except You Eat My Flesh and Drink My Blood

Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him." (John 6: 53-56) 

This is another passage that deals with the application of the blood of Christ to a soul. 

Salvation is sometimes described as Christ being incorporated into a believer, and is sometimes described as the believer being incorporated into Christ. This is symbolized in the two ordinances of the Christian faith, in Baptism and in the Lord's Supper. 

In the typology of baptism, the sinner is pictured as being incorporated into Christ, but in the Supper Christ is pictured as being incorporated into the sinner. 

So, how is Christ incorporated into the sinner? It is by appropriating the sacrifice of Christ by believing in Christ and accepting his atonement. On this Dr. Gill wrote: 

"But the words design a spiritual eating of Christ by faith. To eat the flesh, and drink the blood of Christ, is to believe that Christ is come in the flesh, and is truly and really man; that his flesh is given for the life of his people, and his blood is shed for their sins, and this with some view and application to themselves...only such that believe in Christ are living souls...between these acts of faith, and eternal life, there is an inseparable connection." 

This is the old Baptist position and it is false for the Hardshells to claim that they are "Old Baptists" when they reject that position. (Taken from "The Gospel - The Means of Grace XVII" - see here)

My questions today for my Hardshell brothers are: 1) Explain how the unregenerate sinner eats the flesh of Christ and drinks his blood in order to have Christ in him; And, 2) If regeneration is a sub conscious experience, requiring no cognitive eating of Christ, then explain the words of Christ who made eating (action of the sinner) his flesh and drinking (action of the sinner) his blood to be a condition for obtaining union with Christ and spiritual life.

Is Jesus not referring to a gospel conversion experience when he speaks of eating his flesh and drinking his blood? Something that men do in their hearts and minds, that is, in their thoughts? And, this being so, does Jesus not make gospel conversion necessary for spiritual life?

Are You Washed In The Blood?

This song is a wonderful and popular song with evangelicals. It is also sung by some "Primitive Baptists" (see here). But, how can PBs consistently sing it? Do they ask sinners the questions propounded in the song? What principles of truth are set forth in this hymn and which are denied by most of today's Hardshells? Before answering, let us first give the lyrics to the hymn.

1. Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing pow’r?
   Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
   Are you fully trusting in His grace this hour?
   Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
   • Refrain:
     Are you washed in the blood,
     In the soul-cleansing blood of the Lamb?
     Are your garments spotless? Are they white as snow?
     Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
2. Are you walking daily by the Savior’s side?
   Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
   Do you rest each moment in the Crucified?
   Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
3. When the Bridegroom cometh will your robes be white?
   Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
   Will your soul be ready for the mansions bright,
   And be washed in the blood of the Lamb?
4. Lay aside the garments that are stained with sin,
   And be washed in the blood of the Lamb;
   There’s a fountain flowing for the soul unclean,
   Oh, be washed in the blood of the Lamb!

Not only are lost sinners, who are not presently washed in the blood, asked pointedly if they are cleansed of their sins by the blood of the Lamb, but positively exhorted and commanded to do something in order to be cleansed by that blood. "Lay aside the garments that are stained with sin and be washed in the blood of the Lamb." And with intense pleading sinners are again told - "Oh, be washed in the blood of the Lamb." How do they do this? By turning away from sin and self and to Christ, trusting only in his sacrificial death for forgiveness.

Being cleansed involves trusting in the work of Christ, resting "each moment in the Crucified." Those who are not putting their "faith" for salvation "in the blood" have no propitiation. "Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus," wrote Paul, "whom God set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood." (Rom. 3:24)

"Propitiation" is a result of the sinner placing his trust in the sacrifice of Christ, in the righteousness of Christ. Again, this is in direct opposition to Hardshellism which teaches that faith in the blood of Christ is no condition or means for obtaining propitiation. 

On this verse, Dr. Gill wrote: 

"...'faith' in his blood is the means by which persons become partakers of the benefits of his propitiation; such as peace, pardon, atonement, justification, and adoption..." (Commentary) 

Propitiation occurs through application of the blood of Christ. In the old testament typology, the blood was applied to the mercy seat and also applied to the people by sprinkling. During the inaugural of the first passover, the Lord instructed the people to apply the blood of the sacrificial lamb to the doors of their homes and this typifies the sinner's application of the blood to his own case by believing in Jesus. Further, in old testament atonement, the individual was required to lay his hands upon the sacrificial lamb and confess his sins as a way of appropriating the benefits of the atoning sacrifice. 

Thus, since propitiation requires faith, and faith requires the hearing of the gospel, then the gospel is a means of grace and salvation. 

"And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." (Rev. 7: 14) 

The Greek word for "washed" is in the active voice, according to Robertson. Thus, regeneration is not, in every respect, a passive or monergistic experience. How do sinners wash their robes? Wrote Dr. Gill: 

"The "robes" which they washed in his blood may either design themselves, their consciences, which this blood purges from dead works; or their outward conversation garments, which have their spots, and need continual washing; or else the robe of righteousness, and garments of salvation, or their justification, which is by the blood of Christ, Ro 5:9. The act of washing from sin, by the blood of Christ, is sometimes ascribed to Christ himself, as in Re 1:5; but here to the saints, and designs the concern which faith has in the blood of Christ, which deals with it for justification, peace, and pardon, for the removing of sin from the conscience, and for cleansing from all impurity, both of flesh and Spirit: and the effect of this is, that their robes were "made white"; that is, that they were freed from all sin, were without fault before the throne, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing. This shows that these persons had no trust in themselves, or dependence on their own merits, and works of righteousness, but wholly trusted to, and depended on the blood and righteousness of Christ; which is the only way to come out of tribulation, and enter the kingdom." (Commentary) 

(From my posting here)

Full Of The Spirit?

Of John the Baptist it is said that he would be "filled with the Holy Spirit from his mother's womb." (Luke 1: 15) But, it is also said about John the Baptist, the one who went forth "in the spirit and power of Elijah." (vs. 17), that he "worked no miracle"; And, in this respect, he was wholly unlike Elijah, who was indeed a miracle worker.

I have some thoughts to share about this. "Penny for your thoughts"?

First, one can be "filled with the Holy Spirit" and yet work no miracles, nor speak in tongues, nor heal anyone. Thus, being filled with the Spirit does not equate with working miracles.

Second, though the Baptist worked no miracle, yet this does not preclude him having the power to do so. A man filled with the Spirit can indeed work miracles, though he may not. There was a reason for John to not work miracle.

Third, believers are exhorted to "be filled with the Spirit." (Eph. 5:18) Let us not limit the power that comes with being thus filled. Too many of us are but "half full" at best. Lord, fill us now!

Not So, Brother Sylvester!

In this posting I want to critique an article by Elder Sylvester Hassell from "The Gospel Messenger" for May 1926. In his article "ANOTHER UNPROFITABLE AND DEPLORABLE STRIFE OF WORDS" Hassell made some statements that reflect his acceptation of new Hardshell theological novelties, born in the mid to late 19th century. I want to examine those statements in the light of the scriptures and the teachings of our Baptist forefathers.

Wrote Hassell:

"Another equally unnecessary and unprofitable verbal contention among a few Primitive Baptists is one similar to, if not connected with, the controversy on predestination. It is the question concerning what is called "the conditionality of time salvation," and, connected with this, the question as to the ability of the child of God to obey the commandments of his Heavenly Father."

Recall my recent postings about Elder John Clark and his writings in Zion's Advocate in the mid 1850s and how I showed that one of the questions being debated at that time was the "ability" of either the regenerated or unregenerate to do things for salvation, either for time or eternity. Clark affirmed that men were to be preached to and exhorted to do irrespective of ability. He claimed that the unregenerate had no ability, but still must be preached to, and that God would give ability to obey as it pleased him. He also fought against the idea that commands to the regenerated imply ability in them. Hassell mentions "the question concerning the ability of the child of God to obey." What would Clark say to Hassell had he been alive when Hassell wrote the above words?

Hassell continued:

"All Primitive Baptists are agreed upon the unconditionality of our eternal salvation, and the inability of those who are dead in sin to render spiritual obedience to the law of God. Instead of repentance and faith being conditions prerequisite to salvation, we understand that they are the work of the Holy Spirit in the renewed heart, and are thus essential parts of salvation; and, until this spiritual renewal, the fallen child of Adam will love sin and hate holiness and continue in rebellion against God."

Here it is clear that Hassell at this time has accepted the new PB paradigm on salvation. He seems to uphold the premise of Beebe (and of the Pelagians) that "commands imply ability." Yet, in other writings by Hassell, he condemns that motto. He also in other places states that "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." 

Hassell continued:

"But there is an apparent disagreement in two or three of our Associations, among worthy and lovely brethren, who would be heartily fellowshipped and gladly welcomed by other Primitive Baptists everywhere, as to whether our time salvation, that is, our deliverance from spiritual darkness, coldness, distress, and chastisement during the present life is conditioned or dependent upon our obedience to God, and as to whether the child of God is able to obey or not."

Yes, one of the questions is "whether our time salvation...is conditioned or dependent upon our obedience." But, the bigger question, and one not asked it seems, is "whether our time salvation is necessary for final salvation?" Or, "whether our time salvation is the result of God's grace, predestination, and work, just as is our eternal salvation?"

Hassell continued:

"Now, even the authors of dictionaries have no right to manufacture or change the meanings of words; their business is simply to ascertain and state the meanings which words actually and already have in the language of which they treat. It would be deceptive to use words in a different sense from that which they generally have, unless we explain the sense which we mean. The most of controversies are strifes of words; and when words are properly defined, and their correct meaning is accepted by both parties, the controversy ends."

Well, amen to that! Did Hassell himself follow his own advice?

Hassell continued:

"It cannot be denied by any informed and honest man that such Scriptures as the following are conditional: "If His children forsake My law, I will visit their transgression with the rod, nevertheless My loving-kindness will I not utterly take from Him.." {Ps 89:30-33} "If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land; but if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword, for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.." {Isa 1:19-20} "If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.." {Joh 13:17} "If ye live after the flesh, ye shall die; but if ye, through the spirit, do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.." {Ro 8:13} "How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation?" {Heb 2:3} "If we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanseth us from all sin.." {1Jo 2:7} See, also, such scriptures as Le 26; De 4:29-31; 7:12-26; 11:13-32; 28; Eze 18:32: Not only is it certain that these Scriptures are conditional, but it is equally certain that the condition, introduced by "if," necessarily precedes the conclusion, which would not take place unless the condition took place first. If the conclusion in these sentences means eternal punishment, then Arminianism is true; but either the text itself, or the context and other Scriptures, prove that the punishment or chastisement threatened in case of disobedience, is temporal and corrective, and not eternal and destructive, for God gives His children eternal life, and they shall never perish, and though their voluntary sins separate them from His face, nothing present or future can ever separate them from His love. {Joh 10:28-30; Heb 12; Isa 59:2; Ro 8:28-39} Thus the conditionality of time salvation is just as certain as the truth of the eternal word of God. Baptists have always heretofore understood it so; nearly all Baptists understand it so now; and this truth is in perfect accordance with Christian experience."

"If the conclusion in these sentences means eternal punishment, then Arminianism is true."

That is not a true statement. In the next posting, I will prove it. Any thoughts on Hassell's statement before I put it to the test?