How does changing the
scope of a “salvation” text, perceived to be accomplished by works, from
eternal to temporal, relieve it of its Arminian features?
Is not any transaction accomplished by works Arminian, regardless of whether the consequence be eternal or temporal?
Is it the proposition of
those who believe in this so-called salvation by works, that such is not
Arminian, so long as the consequence is temporal? But if the same scheme was of eternal consequence, now suddenly it is Arminian?!!!
If of works, then how is it of grace? (see Rom. 11:6)
If of works, then how is it not Arminian? Do tell.
Does not categorizing a text as Calvinistic or Arminian have solely to do with the actual accomplishment of the salvation, rather than the duration of its consequence?
Was not Elder David
Bartley correct in 1905 when he said those who teach this heresy “seem to
think that they take away the objectionable feature of Arminianism or
conditional salvation, by confining it to time, and so they qualify this legal
doctrine of salvation by works by inserting the word "time" between
the two words, conditional salvation, and make it read, "Conditional time
salvation"; that is to say, salvation in time is conditional. If so, then
salvation in time is not by grace, nor of the Lord.”?
Are we supposed to think that a conditional eternal salvation would be salvation by works, but a conditional time salvation is not?
A-R-M-I-N-I-A-N-I-S-M.
Our modern "Time Salvation" PBs remind me of the way people throw out the term "racist" today. People are accused of being racist for almost anything. But, do our Hardshell brothers not throw around the term "Arminianism" and accuse others of being "Arminian" in the same way? The modern PB definition of it is "anyone who disagrees with me." Same way with the term "racist."
ReplyDeleteClark and Watson both decried this practice of the Two Seeders and other Hardshells who "sought to find Arminianism where it is not."
Blessings,
Stephen