All through the new testament scriptures we see how one must "know," intimately and personally, the Lord Jesus Christ in order to be saved from sin, and we also see where one must "love" him too to be saved. I have already dealt with how the Hardshell Baptists deny that one must know the one true God and Christ as Lord and Savior to be saved and denied that such saving knowledge comes by the means of the gospel. It is also true that one cannot love a person that they do not know.
Wrote the apostle Paul: "If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha." (I Cor. 16: 22) Perhaps it is this problem that led Hassell (and C.H. Cayce too) to say:
"Jesus is the Great Preacher, and, by His omnipresent Spirit, He preaches His gospel savingly to His people (Isa. 61:1-3,10,11; Luke 4:16-30; Heb. 2:11,12; Psalm 110:3)."
We will now continue our examination of Hassell's polemic for his "anti-means" view of salvation as given in his January, 1898 editorial "NO HUMAN INSTRUMENTALITY IN REGENERATION," published in Hassell's paper "The Gospel Messenger" (You can read it on page 12 here).
Hassell said further:
"John was the last surviving Apostle, the last inspired and infallible teacher of the Church of Christ. Preeminently endowed with the Spirit of Christ, he caught, retained, recorded, and expounded the deepest sayings of his Master. His writings contain more of the words of Christ than any other Scriptures; and they treat more clearly and fully the vital subject of the Regeneration or the New Birth than any other Scriptures, and in such a manner as to throw a flood of light upon all the apparent obscurities and ambiguities found in other Scriptures on this subject."
If we are speaking of the words "born" of "begotten" or "begat" it is true that the apostle John uses those terms more than any other writer. But, he never used the term "regeneration." Hassell is assuming that the "birth" of the Spirit or God the Father is the same as "regeneration." However, he surely knew that the first "Primitive" or "Old School" Baptists did not believe that they were the same. In this blog I have numerous citations from the first leaders in the new sect who did not believe that regeneration was the same as the "begetting." For instance Elder Joshua Lawrence of the Kehukee Association (Hassell's own association) wrote (emphasis mine):
"Was Jesus Christ a born child of God, when he was conceived by his mother Mary. I answer no, because conception is not born, nor born again, in no sense of that word. Born is a very different word from conception; conception means a child in embryo, but born, or born again, means a child brought forth in full perfection. Then conception is not a born child...Or, to make it plainer, a predestinated child, a promised child, a conceived child, is not an actual child, is not a born child; what say you to this? Then a predestinated child, a promised child, nor a conceived child, is not a born child in no sense of that word, born; for the word born is the finishing stroke, but predestination, promising, and conception of a child, are preparatory causes to produce the effect, born child, or born again — what say you to this? A born child is not a born child until he is born." (See my post here on this)
The following is from Wilson Thompson's book "Simple Truth" published in 1821. It can be downloaded and read (here or read here). It is a composite of several of his sermons. In DISCOURSE #6 "On the Work of the Spirit after Justification" Thompson wrote (emphasis mine):
"This change wrought by the spirit, is called regeneration because it is begetting them unto a divine nature. The first work of the spirit on the heart is regeneration, or the implanting of that incorruptible seed with cleaves to holiness, and so it is sometimes called quickened, because this is a living seed, that causes the motions of life to appear, and this is always followed by the new birth which is effected when the soul is enabled to view Christ by faith, and lay hold of the comfort contained in the gospel, and so they are said to be born again, not of corruptible seed, but of an incorruptible seed, by the word of God."
Elder William Conrad in his autobiography wrote:
"There is also a begetting and being born, but our being born does not give us life; we are born because we have life; but there is a begetting, and previous to this begetting there is no vital or actual existence..." (Chapter 25) (See my post here for further citations from Conrad)
I could multiply such statements from the Hardshells of the 19th century. So, why does Hassell insist the regeneration is the same as being born?
Just because the apostle John used the term "born of God" or its cognates does not mean that he had a better understanding of it than the other new testament writers, nor that he contradicted them. James, as we have seen, spoke of it, saying that sinners are "begotten with the word of truth." Peter says sinners are "born again by the word of God." Paul says he "begat" the Corinthian believers and the slave Onesimus by the gospel. Though Paul did not use the word "born" or "begotten" as much as John, yet he used other words that denoted the same experience, such as being "quickened" or "washed" of sin. Paul often spoke of being "in Christ" which John did not do as often.
So, Hassell is wrong to say that the apostle John had superior understanding of spiritual birth or regeneration that Peter, James, or Paul. John taught the same truth about it as they did, that one must hear the gospel, believe it, and receive Christ by its means to be saved or born again.
Hassell said further, speaking of John's writings on being born of God:
"He uses the word meaning to regenerate (usually translated, in the King James version, "born," "begat," or "begotten") sixteen times in the 1st and 3d chapters of his Gospel, and the 2d, 3d, 4th, and 5th chapters of his First Epistle; and he uses the expression "of God" two times in the 47th verse of the 8th chapter of his Gospel, and five times in his First Epistle, and by this expression it is certain that he means begotten or born of God (see Liddell and Scott's Greek-English Lexicon, 7th edition, page 428, 1st column "Of Origin"; compare John viii. 42, 44, 47 ; 1 John ii. 29; iii. 10; iv. 6, 7; v. 19). Thus John refers directly to God's work in regeneration twenty-three times, which is far more than all the direct allusions to regeneration in all the other Scriptures; and in not one of these twenty-three passages does he intimate, in the most remote manner, that regeneration is by the written or preached word, nor indeed by any other means or instrumentality, except in John iii. 5, where Christ, in explaining and expounding John iii. 3, "Except a man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God," says, "Except a man be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God."
Several things need to be rebutted in the above commentary. First, as far as "regenerate" meaning the same thing as to be reborn, I have already addressed that. It does not, though both words are used to denote what occurs when a person is initially saved. One of the two times the word is used in the Bible it refers to the creating of a new heaven and earth, to a re-genesis. Second, the regeneration of the soul, spirit, heart, or mind of a sinner is also called a "renewing."
The only passage where the word "regeneration" clearly refers to initial salvation (Titus 3:5) we read "washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit." Renewing is clearly something that occurs in sinners by faith and by a choice, God working in them "to will" (Phil. 2: 13).
"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." (Rom. 12: 2 kjv)
"For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day." (II Cor. 4: 16 kjv) And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;" (Eph. 4: 23 kjv)
"And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him." (Col. 3: 10 kjv)
"Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me." (Psa. 51: 10 kjv)
"Renew" means to make new, and involves a continuous change of the mind or thinking. It is connected with "repentance" which also denotes a change of mind. Paul spoke of being "renewed again unto repentance." (Heb. 6: 6) In the above texts we see how renewal is viewed as something being done to believers and in believers and is continuous and not a one time action. We also see where being renewed is an action of God and in some respects the believer is passive in it. On the other hand we also see where people are commanded to be renewed, to choose to be renewed, and we see where the Psalmist David prays for God to "renew a right spirit within" him. We also see that renewing, which begins when one experiences the "washing of regeneration," is a renewal of the inward man, a renewal of knowledge and of the mind, and a renewal of a right spirit. It is inconceivable that anyone could be thus renewed without knowing the word and having the knowledge of God.
Also, "washing" is a chief part of being "regenerated" as the text says that being "saved" involves "the washing of regeneration." So, does this washing exclude the word of God or faith in it as a means? Notice these texts for an answer:
"Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you." (John 15: 3 kjv)
"Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish." (Eph. 5: 25-27 kjv)
"And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith." (Acts 15: 7-9 kjv)
So, seeing that both renewing and cleansing of sin are essential elements of regeneration and are the result of the word of God and faith in it, Hassell's argument that regeneration is not by the word or faith is wrong. Further, as we have seen, since people are born again by faith, and "faith comes by hearing the word of God" (Rom. 10:17), John could not have been teaching differently as Hassell suggests. As far as whether the apostle John rejected the idea that the word of God was a means in regeneration, rebirth, initial salvation, quickening from spiritual death, Hassell is wrong, for the apostle did not contradict Paul, Peter, and James. The apostle John wrote:
"He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." (John 1: 11-13 kjv)
John is very clear that people become birthed children of God as a result of "receiving" or "believing" in Christ. They were "born of God" when they received him, "were born" and "received" are in the same tense. John also wrote:
"But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name." (John 20: 31 kjv)
Obtaining spiritual "life" occurs when one is born of God, and John says people believe in Christ in order to "have life through his name," or to "be born again." John also wrote:
"Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him...For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith. " (I John 5: 1,4 nkjv)
Of course, Hassell and his Brethren will insist that the present tense of the participle "whoever is believing" and the words "is born" is in a past perfect tense and therefore show that the believing resulted from being born of God. However, that argument will not hold water. See my posts on this here, here, here, here. But, let me just say this much now. The text denies that anyone who is not believing in Christ is born of God and that, my friends, uproots Hardshellism. The Hardshell reads the verse this way -- "whoever is believing that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and also many more who do not believe that Jesus is the Christ have also been born of God."
The apostle John also records in his gospel the fact that people believe in order to enter into Christ, and believing of course is by hearing the word of God. In the Gospel of John the phrase "eis auton" (unto him) is used frequently.
"And this is the will of Him that sent Me, that every one which seeth the Son, and is believing on him (eis-unto him), may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day." (John 6:40)
"Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye may be believing on him (eis-unto him) whom He hath sent." (John 6:29)
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that is believing on (eis, unto) Me is having everlasting life. I am that bread of life." (John 6:47-48)
Now let us consider a few things the apostle John wrote in his first epistle. Wrote the man who Jesus loved:
"Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son. Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also." (I John 2: 22-23 nkjv)
"Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world." (I John 4: 2-3 nkjv)
These verses tell us that Muslims cannot be saved because they deny that God is a Father, deny that he has a Son, deny his incarnation. The Hardshells teach, however, that myriads of Gospel rejecting people who are religious have been born of God. According to them heathens who worship many gods and goddesses are born of the Spirit. John also wrote:
"Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love." (I John 4: 7-8 nkjv)
In this verse we have the negative for loving God. Everyone who loves God is born of God is the positive. Everyone who does not love God is the negative. Everyone who does not love (and the same is true with believing) God is not born of God. I say this because it is a common tactic for Hardshell apologists to say that faith in Christ is evidence of regeneration, and in no sense is it essential to it. So, when we cite a positive that says "whoever believes or loves the Lord is saved" they reply by saying the belief and the love is evidence of salvation but such texts do not say belief and love are conditions for salvation.
But, they cannot use this tactic when texts give us the negative. In the above words of the apostle he says "whoever does NOT love God," that is, the one true God, does not know God. Jesus often gave us the negative saying "he who believes not is condemned already because he has not believed in the name of the the only begotten Son." (John 3: 18) "He that believes not shall be damned." (Mark 16: 16) The apostle Paul wrote: "If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha." (I Cor. 16: 22 kjv) John also wrote in the Book of Revelation:
"But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death." 21: 8 kjv)
So, one must know God and his Son Jesus to be saved. One must love God and his Son Jesus to be saved. One must believe in God and his Son Jesus to be saved. One cannot know, love, and "believe in him of whom they have not heard," and cannot hear about Jesus except through a preacher. (Rom. 10)
So, Hassell is dead wrong about the apostle John teaching Hardshell ideas about salvation.
Hassell said further:
"John says that Regeneration is alone of God—that it is not of blood, or the will of the flesh, or the will of man (John i. 13); that is, that Regeneration is not at all of human agency; that the human will, whether of the preacher or the hearer, is not at all concerned in the work; that God regenerates His people, back of or before their will, by an immediate act of His omnipotence, just as He performed all the material and mental miracles recorded in the Scriptures, no medium intervening between His volition and the effect (the attending circumstances not being co-operating causes or means); and all these natural and temporal miracles were intended to symbolize His spiritual and eternal miracles in the salvation of His people."
There are so many things wrong with this commentary and as anyone knows, it takes longer to clean up a mess than it is to make one. Notice that Hassell gives propositions that he has no scripture to support. He cites no scripture in the above words. He says "regeneration is alone of God" and that is about the only thing he got right. He then cites John 1:13 about being "born of God" but then adds his commentary on it, saying "human agency" is "not at all" involved in it. But, that is not true, as we have seen. Paul was God's instrument in begetting the Corinthians and Onesimus. We have also seen where the word of God is a means in people being "born again" per the apostle Peter.
No where in scripture is it taught that the "will" of preachers (tellers of the gospel whoever they may be) is not involved as agents in salvation. Paul preached the gospel because he chose to do so. He said:
"Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory." (II Tim. 2: 10 kjv)
"To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some." (I Cor. 9: 22 kjv)
Where in the Bible did Hassell get his proposition that says "the human will, whether of the preacher or the hearer, is not at all concerned in the work"? Where is the book, chapter, and verse that says this? Where in the Bible does it say "God regenerates His people, back of or before their will"? In the above citation Hassell cites no text of scripture that says such a thing. Believing in Christ is what a man wills to do. In fact, when I was a Hardshell minister I often heard the Hardshells cite the words of Paul who said "work out your own salvation...for it is God who works in you to will..." (Phil. 2: 12-13) and the Psalmist said "thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power" (Psalm 110: 3), all which occurs when one is saved.
I cannot believe that such a learned man as Hassell would say:
"...just as He performed all the material and mental miracles recorded in the Scriptures, no medium intervening between His volition and the effect (the attending circumstances not being co-operating causes or means); and all these natural and temporal miracles were intended to symbolize His spiritual and eternal miracles in the salvation of His people."
God never used human beings as instruments in miracles? Huh? Was not bringing back to life the dry dead bones a miracle? Did God not use the prophesying of Ezekiel to effect it? When Peter and John healed the lame man in Acts chapter three, they said to the people who witnessed it:
"Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?" (3: 12 kjv)
It was Christ and the power of God that miraculously healed the man, and yet Peter and John were means and they both testify to this fact.
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