"WHAT IS SPIRITUAL LIFE? The answer to this question is actually a refutation of the heresy of the Hyper-Calvinists. Spiritual life, according to the teaching of the Word of God, is a faith-union with God through Christ." (page 10)
Yes, amen. This is what I have constantly affirmed in my writings against Hardshellism. Spiritual life "is a faith union with God through Christ."
Ross wrote:
"But Hyper-Calvinists make spiritual life a sort of spiritual deposit (I prefer to call it “biological” since it has none of the fruits of the Spirit such as love for Christ) which the Spirit makes in men who perhaps have never even heard of Christ, much less have a knowledge of Him. Hyper-Calvinists teach that a heathen person, if he is elect, does not have to learn of Christ or know Christ, for he will be made alive by the Spirit."
"You see, there is no such thing as spiritual life apart from a union with Christ, and there is no union with Christ, apart from a knowledge of Christ. “He that hath the Son hath life” (1 John 5:12); eternal life is to know God revealed in Christ (John 17:3). To think that a man could have the life of the Spirit of Christ and not know Christ is nothing but heresy. Life is union with Christ. The Bible says that those who know not God do not have life. In fact, the Bible teaches: “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” —2 Thess. 1:7,8." (page 11)
"Christ is referred to as the “Bread of Life.” Without eating of Him “ye have no life in you” (John 6:53). To eat of Christ is to partake of Him through a knowledge of Him, which of course involves faith. Notice, it is not eating of the Spirit that gives life, but eating of Christ. It is through Him that we have life."
My writings are filled with such proofs from scriptures against Hardshellism.
Ross wrote:
"When the “eyes” of the spiritually “blind” are opened they immediately see Christ. “The people which sat in darkness saw great light,” and that Light was Christ the Light of the World. When men are given life God commands the light to shine out of darkness to give the knowledge of Christ (2 Cor. 4:6). It is every one that “seeth” the Son who has everlasting life (John 6:40). The one who believes on Christ does not abide in “darkness.” (John 12:46). So the life of the Hyper-Calvinist is wholly different from the life in Christ." (page 11)
"We could go on with the many Scriptures that bear upon this subject, but too many will simply make our article overloaded. So we leave these before the reader with the assurance that the error of the Hyper Calvinist as to spiritual life is clearly seen. Life is not a biological or even a spiritual deposit made by the Holy Spirit, but a spiritual union with Christ brought about by the Spirit of God shedding abroad the knowledge of Christ in the heart." (pg. 11)
"As we have before said, the reason Hyper-Calvinists have a heretical position toward the Gospel is because of their idea of spiritual life. If life is some sort of biological or spiritual deposit from the Holy Spirit without, apart from, and before the use of any means, then of course it is wrong to think that a medium of revelation or a means of the knowledge of Christ is needed. But if eternal life is what we contend— knowing God as revealed in Christ —then a medium of revelation is necessary. In other words, God must give some kind of revelation to man whereby he can know Christ. The Gospel, or glad tidings, of redemption through Christ must be revealed to man some way." (page 12)
Amen. My view exactly.
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