An example of Hardshell hermeneutical error and illogical reasoning my be found in these words:
"A person may say that he believes in salvation by grace, but if he sets forth any act of man's will, such as repentance, faith, baptism, or hearing the gospel, as a condition for obtaining it, then this position must be put on the works side. Primitive Baptists believe that salvation is of the Lord, that it is by His grace, and that nothing needs to be added to it." ("What Primitive Baptists Believe")
I dealt with these sorts of errors in my posting "Hardshell Presuppositions". And, particularly in my posting "Demolishing Hardshell Reasoning" I overthrew the precise argument as presented by the above citation but which was put out by another Hardshell apologetic web page,
In my previous postings I showed how the reasoning that since salvation is not by works, therefore one does not have to repent, believe, etc., to be saved, is false and heretical. The Hardshell, in his reasoning, affirms that the salvation which comes by faith, or by repentance, is of works, and not by the grace and work of God. He also reasons that such "works" are not necessary for being eternally saved.
Notice also how, in cult fashion, this Hardshell equates believing that salvation is by grace and that it is of the Lord with his peculiar Hardshell presupposition. Only they reason the way they do on what it means for salvation to be by grace. Only they preach salvation by grace!
Wednesday, June 22, 2016
Tuesday, June 21, 2016
From Discipleship to Sonship
"From Sonship to Discipleship" by Elder E.D. McCutcheon (SEE HERE) promotes the standard and now popular theological motto in which Hardshells affirm that one becomes a son or child of God first, and then possibly becomes a disciple. This teaching affirms that many who are not disciples of Lord God, or of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, being even disciples of false gods and lords, are nevertheless "regenerated" and "born again" and therefore sons of God. This is all promoted as being against the common Christian view that some discipleship precedes conversion or regeneration.
In the future, the Lord willing, I will show the falsity of this idea in the context of writing a series of articles on the new testament teaching regarding "the adoption of sons." Hardshells, like many others, are as much in error in understanding biblical adoption as they are in understanding regeneration and new birth.
In a mini ordo salutis regarding the time period between becoming "children" (Grk. "teknon") by birth and becoming mature glorified, and perfected "sons" of God (what our English version erroneously calls "adoption") there is growth, which is the substance of discipleship.
We are predestined not to become simply "children" of God, babies, but to become "men" or "sons" of God, fully grown into the full stature of the measure of Christ, But, Hardshells do not realize that being predestined to sonship, with all that such entails, involves predestinating the children to grow and mature and reach the end for which they were born or created.
So, we are born to become children of God, and having become children of God, we then progress to full sonship, and to that time when we will be fully like our Father and have all his authority and blessing, which makes "adoption" (huiosethia or son placement) entirely future. More to come.
In the future, the Lord willing, I will show the falsity of this idea in the context of writing a series of articles on the new testament teaching regarding "the adoption of sons." Hardshells, like many others, are as much in error in understanding biblical adoption as they are in understanding regeneration and new birth.
In a mini ordo salutis regarding the time period between becoming "children" (Grk. "teknon") by birth and becoming mature glorified, and perfected "sons" of God (what our English version erroneously calls "adoption") there is growth, which is the substance of discipleship.
We are predestined not to become simply "children" of God, babies, but to become "men" or "sons" of God, fully grown into the full stature of the measure of Christ, But, Hardshells do not realize that being predestined to sonship, with all that such entails, involves predestinating the children to grow and mature and reach the end for which they were born or created.
So, we are born to become children of God, and having become children of God, we then progress to full sonship, and to that time when we will be fully like our Father and have all his authority and blessing, which makes "adoption" (huiosethia or son placement) entirely future. More to come.
Monday, June 20, 2016
Human Wit Found An Escape!
In his Systematic Theology the great Presbyterian theologian Robert L. Dabney stated with regard to the mention of faith in John 3:16, Acts 8:37, John 11:26, and Mark 16:16:
“No human wit can evade the fact that here God proposes to man something for him to do, which, if done, will secure redemption; if neglected, will ensure damnation, and that something is in one sense a condition” (R.L. Dabney, Chapter 33: The Covenant of Grace).
Well guess what, sir, human wit found a way! But only if we define wit not as heightened insight, but as a cunning, deceptive manipulation of the truth. This wit reared itself in the latter part of the 19th century among the Hardshells. It invented two dogmas to get around all “faith” passages of scripture:
1) If the blessing or condemnation mentioned in the text IS NOT explicitly stated to be eternal, then it is assumed to be temporal, and the faith mentioned is evangelical, optional, and acquired by works.
but…
2) If the blessing or condemnation mentioned in the text IS explicitly stated to be eternal (so that the time salvation argumentation can not work), then the faith mentioned is non-evangelical, certain, and acquired by grace.
These premises are not biblical, but are rather the invention of a deceitful mind with a previous commitment to anti-means.
“No human wit can evade the fact that here God proposes to man something for him to do, which, if done, will secure redemption; if neglected, will ensure damnation, and that something is in one sense a condition” (R.L. Dabney, Chapter 33: The Covenant of Grace).
Well guess what, sir, human wit found a way! But only if we define wit not as heightened insight, but as a cunning, deceptive manipulation of the truth. This wit reared itself in the latter part of the 19th century among the Hardshells. It invented two dogmas to get around all “faith” passages of scripture:
1) If the blessing or condemnation mentioned in the text IS NOT explicitly stated to be eternal, then it is assumed to be temporal, and the faith mentioned is evangelical, optional, and acquired by works.
but…
2) If the blessing or condemnation mentioned in the text IS explicitly stated to be eternal (so that the time salvation argumentation can not work), then the faith mentioned is non-evangelical, certain, and acquired by grace.
These premises are not biblical, but are rather the invention of a deceitful mind with a previous commitment to anti-means.
David Pyles on Interpretation of Prophecy
In "The New Heavens and Earth," Elder David Pyles wrote (HERE): (emphasis mine)
"Many Bible students agree this is one of the most interesting passages in Bible prophesy. Unfortunately, this interest has resulted in much disagreement about its interpretation, even among Primitive Baptists. These disagreements are not peculiar to our era. History will show that our brethren in every age have had differing individual views, both on this passage and on the book of Revelation in general. However, most have been tolerant of opinions differing from their own, provided these opinions were in accordance with doctrinal essentials. This freedom of interpretation has been afforded because all would readily admit a need for further enlightenment on the subject. We admit the same, and are therefore willing to handle the subject with an open mind, and strongly encourage others to respectfully consider alternate views."
I certainly admire David's desire to interpret prophecy literally, particularly concerning the "new heavens and earth." Yet, in doing so, he runs smack into the Hardshell penchant for interpreting such prophesies in the most non literal fashion, and giving wing to all sorts of fanciful interpretation.
It is clear that David is trying to buffet any attacks on him and his literal interpretation by telling his spiritualizing brethren to be tolerant as were their forefathers on this issue. Good luck with that David! Good luck trying to get such folks to have an "open mind" and "to respectfully consider alternate views"!
He also wrote:
"We are always pleased to find believers in grace with an interest in resolving biblical prophesy. The most popular interpretations of prophesy offered by the world today are too crippled by Arminian thinking to walk on their own feet. It seems highly doubtful that an accurate picture of prophesy can be painted on a backdrop of erroneous doctrine. Consequently, we are persuaded that if biblical prophesy is ever to be resolved, then believers in salvation by grace must do it."
Does anyone see the bias in interpretation in these words? Does he also believe that only believers in grace (i.e. Hardshells) can understand prophecy of the first coming? Does he think that only non Arminians can understand such doctrines as the Trinity, the inspiration of Scripture, etc.?
Notice the Hardshell jargon. Notice how he uses the term "the world" in conjunction with "Arminian." To Hardshells like David, any interpretation regarding prophecy that comes from outside the Hardshell ranks is automatically suspect. He is telling his cult followers to expect proper eschatological teaching to come only from Hardshells, especially from brethren like he is.
He wrote further:
"It is our hope and expectation that a greater light will be granted on this subject as the end of time approaches. We base this belief on the statement of the Lord to Daniel: But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased. - Dan 12:4"
But, to whom will this "greater light" be given? To believers in grace, which, to Hardshells, describes them and them only. I suggest that the light has been there all along, and that the Hardshells, for the most part, have closed their eyes to it.
My own view is this: the Hardshell ministry and cult is the last place I would expect to find light on this subject.
(Note: I originally took these citations from David's first writing. But, this has seemingly been removed from the Internet and replaced with a revised writing, which is interesting in itself. Apparently, he got some heat from his brethren. The link above takes you to his latest revision.)
"Many Bible students agree this is one of the most interesting passages in Bible prophesy. Unfortunately, this interest has resulted in much disagreement about its interpretation, even among Primitive Baptists. These disagreements are not peculiar to our era. History will show that our brethren in every age have had differing individual views, both on this passage and on the book of Revelation in general. However, most have been tolerant of opinions differing from their own, provided these opinions were in accordance with doctrinal essentials. This freedom of interpretation has been afforded because all would readily admit a need for further enlightenment on the subject. We admit the same, and are therefore willing to handle the subject with an open mind, and strongly encourage others to respectfully consider alternate views."
I certainly admire David's desire to interpret prophecy literally, particularly concerning the "new heavens and earth." Yet, in doing so, he runs smack into the Hardshell penchant for interpreting such prophesies in the most non literal fashion, and giving wing to all sorts of fanciful interpretation.
It is clear that David is trying to buffet any attacks on him and his literal interpretation by telling his spiritualizing brethren to be tolerant as were their forefathers on this issue. Good luck with that David! Good luck trying to get such folks to have an "open mind" and "to respectfully consider alternate views"!
He also wrote:
"We are always pleased to find believers in grace with an interest in resolving biblical prophesy. The most popular interpretations of prophesy offered by the world today are too crippled by Arminian thinking to walk on their own feet. It seems highly doubtful that an accurate picture of prophesy can be painted on a backdrop of erroneous doctrine. Consequently, we are persuaded that if biblical prophesy is ever to be resolved, then believers in salvation by grace must do it."
Does anyone see the bias in interpretation in these words? Does he also believe that only believers in grace (i.e. Hardshells) can understand prophecy of the first coming? Does he think that only non Arminians can understand such doctrines as the Trinity, the inspiration of Scripture, etc.?
Notice the Hardshell jargon. Notice how he uses the term "the world" in conjunction with "Arminian." To Hardshells like David, any interpretation regarding prophecy that comes from outside the Hardshell ranks is automatically suspect. He is telling his cult followers to expect proper eschatological teaching to come only from Hardshells, especially from brethren like he is.
He wrote further:
"It is our hope and expectation that a greater light will be granted on this subject as the end of time approaches. We base this belief on the statement of the Lord to Daniel: But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased. - Dan 12:4"
But, to whom will this "greater light" be given? To believers in grace, which, to Hardshells, describes them and them only. I suggest that the light has been there all along, and that the Hardshells, for the most part, have closed their eyes to it.
My own view is this: the Hardshell ministry and cult is the last place I would expect to find light on this subject.
(Note: I originally took these citations from David's first writing. But, this has seemingly been removed from the Internet and replaced with a revised writing, which is interesting in itself. Apparently, he got some heat from his brethren. The link above takes you to his latest revision.)
Saturday, June 18, 2016
Who Did I Forget?
First Hardshell Leaders (1830s)
- Daniel Parker
- John Taylor
- Gilbert Beebe
- Samuel Trott
- James Osbourn
- Daniel Jewett
- Mark Bennett
- Joshua Lawrence
- John Leland
- C.B. Hassell
- Burwell Temple
- Lawrence Greatrake
- John M. Watson
- Wilson Thompson
- Grigg Thompson
- Stephen Gard
- John Clark
- Thomas Dudley
- William Conrad
- Hosea Preslar
- Joel Hume
- Richard Newport
First Periodicals (1830's)
- The Signs of the Times (Gilbert Beebe)
- The Christian Doctrinal Advocate and Spiritual Monitor (Daniel Jewett)
- The Church Advocate (Daniel Parker)
- The Old Baptist Banner (Washington Lowe and John Watson)
- The Primitive Baptist (Mark Bennett and Joshua Lawrence)
Now, I know what these men believed and what these periodicals affirmed as being "Primitive Baptist" belief and practice. For any Hardshell to come along and pretend that I do not know what "Primitive Baptists" believe, is truly a sign of cult brainwashing and Hardshell stubbornness.
First of all, let them tell me who I omitted among the first Hardshell leaders. Of course, I could name lessor figures, but who can doubt that I named nearly all the well known spokesmen for the anti mission movement? How many of today's Hardshells know these things? How many have read the writings of these first leaders? How many really know what they taught?
Oh yes, today's Hardshells know what Cayce, Daily, Dalton, Redford, Newman, and such taught, but these men did not teach what the first generation Hardshells taught on the new birth.
- Daniel Parker
- John Taylor
- Gilbert Beebe
- Samuel Trott
- James Osbourn
- Daniel Jewett
- Mark Bennett
- Joshua Lawrence
- John Leland
- C.B. Hassell
- Burwell Temple
- Lawrence Greatrake
- John M. Watson
- Wilson Thompson
- Grigg Thompson
- Stephen Gard
- John Clark
- Thomas Dudley
- William Conrad
- Hosea Preslar
- Joel Hume
- Richard Newport
First Periodicals (1830's)
- The Signs of the Times (Gilbert Beebe)
- The Christian Doctrinal Advocate and Spiritual Monitor (Daniel Jewett)
- The Church Advocate (Daniel Parker)
- The Old Baptist Banner (Washington Lowe and John Watson)
- The Primitive Baptist (Mark Bennett and Joshua Lawrence)
Now, I know what these men believed and what these periodicals affirmed as being "Primitive Baptist" belief and practice. For any Hardshell to come along and pretend that I do not know what "Primitive Baptists" believe, is truly a sign of cult brainwashing and Hardshell stubbornness.
First of all, let them tell me who I omitted among the first Hardshell leaders. Of course, I could name lessor figures, but who can doubt that I named nearly all the well known spokesmen for the anti mission movement? How many of today's Hardshells know these things? How many have read the writings of these first leaders? How many really know what they taught?
Oh yes, today's Hardshells know what Cayce, Daily, Dalton, Redford, Newman, and such taught, but these men did not teach what the first generation Hardshells taught on the new birth.
Friday, June 17, 2016
Cracking Hardshells?
Recently I got the following comment for Chapter 1 - The Primitive Baptist Church ("The Hardshell Cult") (SEE HERE). Ironically, this Hardshell chose an Internet name that indicates that Hardshells are hard nuts, and which I have posted two chapters on cracking Hard shelled nuts. Also, this Hardshell does not want us to know who he is.
You cant crack them Hardshells said...
"He doesn't know Jack about primitive Baptist and in a debate with someone like elder Sonny Pyles would skin him alive in a debate or even his son David Pyles. I been a pb. Over 40 years he knows nothing about us." (June 3rd, 2016)
Garrett doesn't know anything about the Hardshells and the history of the old Baptists? Garrett would lose in a debate with David or Sonny Pyles?
Chapter 14 - Hard-Shell Busters (HERE)
(First Cracking)
Chapter 17 - Hardshell Busters (HERE)
Second Cracking
This person is really not worth responding to, especially since he wants to remain a ghost figure.
You cant crack them Hardshells said...
"He doesn't know Jack about primitive Baptist and in a debate with someone like elder Sonny Pyles would skin him alive in a debate or even his son David Pyles. I been a pb. Over 40 years he knows nothing about us." (June 3rd, 2016)
Garrett doesn't know anything about the Hardshells and the history of the old Baptists? Garrett would lose in a debate with David or Sonny Pyles?
Chapter 14 - Hard-Shell Busters (HERE)
(First Cracking)
Chapter 17 - Hardshell Busters (HERE)
Second Cracking
This person is really not worth responding to, especially since he wants to remain a ghost figure.
Faith = Fruit, Yes, But
The following is from chapter 89 ("Hardshell Proof Texts XI" - See HERE) of my ongoing book "The Hardshell Baptist Cult." I publish it here so that it might be further looked at and because I am tired of the false argumentation that Hardshells make on the statement of Scripture that "faith is a fruit of the Spirit."
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law." (Gal. 5: 22, 23)
Scriptures speak of being "born again" of the Spirit (John 3: 3-8), or of being "begotten of God." (I John 5: 18) In this "birth" or "conception" something is begotten or produced. All recognize that "life" is the chief product. Also, that a "person" is created or brought into existence. When a person is "born of God," he becomes a child of God, a "new creature," a spiritual being. But, is "life" and "existence" the only things begotten? Or, are there other things that are "begotten" when life is begotten? What saith the scriptures?
"For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith." (I John 5: 4)
"Faith" is here identified as being that which is "begotten." Faith overcomes because it is born of God. When a person is spiritually begotten life is begotten, but so also is faith "begotten."
Some will argue that this proves that one is born again "before" faith, but this would be an error. It would be wrong because the birth experience does not comprehend merely the cause, but also the effect. If we say that one is "begotten before life" we do not mean that one can be "begotten" who does not live and exist. We cannot say that "begotten" refers to the cause separate from the effect. A person cannot be said to be born until he is actually born.
This is why I have opposed the idea of placing a strict chronology on the relationship between faith and birth. They are concurrent, or simultaneous, and so intimately connected together that one cannot experience one without the other. When a man is born again, he is born "unto" something. Effects are immediate and automatic. Those effects include life, faith, hope, knowledge, and love for God and his Son Jesus Christ.
Men are begotten to life, but there is no gap in time between being begotten and being alive. Likewise, when men are begotten to life, they are at the same time begotten to faith, and there is no gap in time between the two, for there is only one "begetting" and not two separate ones.
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead." (I Peter 1: 3)
Peter says men are "begotten unto a living hope," which is similar to John saying men are begotten to faith. Hope implies faith. They are joined together by an unbreakable bond.
If a person does not have Christian faith and hope, then he has not been "begotten" of God.
Hope and faith also implies knowledge and understanding, and if men are begotten to hope and faith, then they are likewise begotten to saving knowledge. Those who are begotten, in scriptures, instinctly and naturally recognize their Father in Heaven, and their Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, for this too is a part of what it means to have Christian faith and hope begotten in a person.
"And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father." (Gal. 4: 6)
The immediate result of the Spirit entering a soul, in this divine begetting, is the soul crying out, in recognition, of their Heavenly Father.
The verse above also says that people are "begotten" unto "love," as it is said of faith and hope. In our opening passage, love is identified as being a "fruit" of the Spirit.
"Fruit" here is from the Greek word "karpos" and may denote, besides the fruit of trees, the fruit of one's loins, of what is begotten or produced. The context will determine the precise usage. It often signifies "that which originates or comes from something, an effect, result." Thus, love for God and Jesus is begotten.
The Hardshells cite this verse and use it to uphold their view that regeneration precedes conversion, and that the former can exist without the latter. To the Hardshells, "faith" being a "fruit of the Spirit" means "faith is an after-effect of being begotten of God." Then, having proven this, they then take giant leaps in logic and argue that since fruit is what comes after the tree is first in existence, and oftentimes many years later, so also is it with one "begotten" of God. A spiritually born soul may be fruitless (without any effects of being begotten) for many years before he possesses faith, hope, love, peace, etc.
Faith, hope, love, and peace, etc., are "begotten" (produced, as immediate effects) when a person is "begotten." Thus, we have shown what we are begotten "unto." These things define the kind of "life" begotten. To affirm that any unbeliever in Jesus, that any who have not repented and converted to Christ, are "begotten of God," is a severe error, a "heresy."
John Gill wrote:
"Love. This the apostle begins with, it being the fulfilling of the law, the bond of perfectness, and without which a profession of religion is insignificant; it may be understood of love to God, of which every man's heart is destitute, being enmity against God, until regenerated by the Spirit of God; when he sheds abroad the love of God in the heart, and which is the ground and reason of any man's truly loving God: and also of love to Christ, which the natural man feels nothing of till the spirit of wisdom and revelation, in the knowledge of Christ, opens his eyes to see the loveliness of his person, the suitableness of his grace, righteousness, and fulness, and the necessity of looking to him for life and salvation; and likewise of love to the saints, which a carnal man is a stranger to, until he is renewed by the Holy Ghost, who in regenerating him teaches him to love the brethren; and which is the evidence of his having passed from death to life, through the mighty power of his grace. Moreover, love to the house and worship of God, to the truths and ordinances of the Gospel, all which men have naturally an aversion to, may be included in this first fruit of the Spirit..."
Imagine a person who is, supposedly, in possession of the Spirit of God, but who has no fruit of love for God! Yet, this absurd idea, is exactly what the Hardshells attempt to affirm in their interpretation of this passage. If "fruit" is that which comes later, often much later, after one is regenerated, then we are affirming that there are those who have no love for God or Christ who are yet regenerated! But, the scriptures teach that the experience of regeneration is one in which one is brought to love God.
Besides, the "fruit" of faith, hope, and love, are themselves means for obtaining eternal life, just as the "fruit" of sin is a means for obtaining eternal death.
"What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life." (Rom. 6: 21, 22)
"For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death." (7: 5)
Notice how the "fruit" of sin is "unto death." Notice that the "fruit" of righteousness is "unto holiness" and "everlasting life."
So, we may say that the fruit of faith, hope, and love, are "of the Spirit," but that they are also "unto everlasting life."
"For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth." (Col. 1: 5, 6)
This verse tells us that Christian "fruit" is not only "of the Spirit" but also "of the truth of the gospel." The gospel "brings forth," or "begets," the blessed fruits of the regenerated state, just as does the Spirit. Like the old confessions, regeneration is by both God's word and Spirit, not his "word alone" nor his "Spirit alone."
"These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots." (Jude 1: 12)
What is the condition of those who do not have the "fruit" of love, faith, and hope? Does not Jude say that such are "dead"? This in itself is enough to destroy the Hardshell notion that people who are without love for God, and faith in Christ, are nevertheless spiritually alive.
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law." (Gal. 5: 22, 23)
Scriptures speak of being "born again" of the Spirit (John 3: 3-8), or of being "begotten of God." (I John 5: 18) In this "birth" or "conception" something is begotten or produced. All recognize that "life" is the chief product. Also, that a "person" is created or brought into existence. When a person is "born of God," he becomes a child of God, a "new creature," a spiritual being. But, is "life" and "existence" the only things begotten? Or, are there other things that are "begotten" when life is begotten? What saith the scriptures?
"For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith." (I John 5: 4)
"Faith" is here identified as being that which is "begotten." Faith overcomes because it is born of God. When a person is spiritually begotten life is begotten, but so also is faith "begotten."
Some will argue that this proves that one is born again "before" faith, but this would be an error. It would be wrong because the birth experience does not comprehend merely the cause, but also the effect. If we say that one is "begotten before life" we do not mean that one can be "begotten" who does not live and exist. We cannot say that "begotten" refers to the cause separate from the effect. A person cannot be said to be born until he is actually born.
This is why I have opposed the idea of placing a strict chronology on the relationship between faith and birth. They are concurrent, or simultaneous, and so intimately connected together that one cannot experience one without the other. When a man is born again, he is born "unto" something. Effects are immediate and automatic. Those effects include life, faith, hope, knowledge, and love for God and his Son Jesus Christ.
Men are begotten to life, but there is no gap in time between being begotten and being alive. Likewise, when men are begotten to life, they are at the same time begotten to faith, and there is no gap in time between the two, for there is only one "begetting" and not two separate ones.
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead." (I Peter 1: 3)
Peter says men are "begotten unto a living hope," which is similar to John saying men are begotten to faith. Hope implies faith. They are joined together by an unbreakable bond.
If a person does not have Christian faith and hope, then he has not been "begotten" of God.
Hope and faith also implies knowledge and understanding, and if men are begotten to hope and faith, then they are likewise begotten to saving knowledge. Those who are begotten, in scriptures, instinctly and naturally recognize their Father in Heaven, and their Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, for this too is a part of what it means to have Christian faith and hope begotten in a person.
"And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father." (Gal. 4: 6)
The immediate result of the Spirit entering a soul, in this divine begetting, is the soul crying out, in recognition, of their Heavenly Father.
The verse above also says that people are "begotten" unto "love," as it is said of faith and hope. In our opening passage, love is identified as being a "fruit" of the Spirit.
"Fruit" here is from the Greek word "karpos" and may denote, besides the fruit of trees, the fruit of one's loins, of what is begotten or produced. The context will determine the precise usage. It often signifies "that which originates or comes from something, an effect, result." Thus, love for God and Jesus is begotten.
The Hardshells cite this verse and use it to uphold their view that regeneration precedes conversion, and that the former can exist without the latter. To the Hardshells, "faith" being a "fruit of the Spirit" means "faith is an after-effect of being begotten of God." Then, having proven this, they then take giant leaps in logic and argue that since fruit is what comes after the tree is first in existence, and oftentimes many years later, so also is it with one "begotten" of God. A spiritually born soul may be fruitless (without any effects of being begotten) for many years before he possesses faith, hope, love, peace, etc.
Faith, hope, love, and peace, etc., are "begotten" (produced, as immediate effects) when a person is "begotten." Thus, we have shown what we are begotten "unto." These things define the kind of "life" begotten. To affirm that any unbeliever in Jesus, that any who have not repented and converted to Christ, are "begotten of God," is a severe error, a "heresy."
John Gill wrote:
"Love. This the apostle begins with, it being the fulfilling of the law, the bond of perfectness, and without which a profession of religion is insignificant; it may be understood of love to God, of which every man's heart is destitute, being enmity against God, until regenerated by the Spirit of God; when he sheds abroad the love of God in the heart, and which is the ground and reason of any man's truly loving God: and also of love to Christ, which the natural man feels nothing of till the spirit of wisdom and revelation, in the knowledge of Christ, opens his eyes to see the loveliness of his person, the suitableness of his grace, righteousness, and fulness, and the necessity of looking to him for life and salvation; and likewise of love to the saints, which a carnal man is a stranger to, until he is renewed by the Holy Ghost, who in regenerating him teaches him to love the brethren; and which is the evidence of his having passed from death to life, through the mighty power of his grace. Moreover, love to the house and worship of God, to the truths and ordinances of the Gospel, all which men have naturally an aversion to, may be included in this first fruit of the Spirit..."
Imagine a person who is, supposedly, in possession of the Spirit of God, but who has no fruit of love for God! Yet, this absurd idea, is exactly what the Hardshells attempt to affirm in their interpretation of this passage. If "fruit" is that which comes later, often much later, after one is regenerated, then we are affirming that there are those who have no love for God or Christ who are yet regenerated! But, the scriptures teach that the experience of regeneration is one in which one is brought to love God.
Besides, the "fruit" of faith, hope, and love, are themselves means for obtaining eternal life, just as the "fruit" of sin is a means for obtaining eternal death.
"What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life." (Rom. 6: 21, 22)
"For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death." (7: 5)
Notice how the "fruit" of sin is "unto death." Notice that the "fruit" of righteousness is "unto holiness" and "everlasting life."
So, we may say that the fruit of faith, hope, and love, are "of the Spirit," but that they are also "unto everlasting life."
"For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth." (Col. 1: 5, 6)
This verse tells us that Christian "fruit" is not only "of the Spirit" but also "of the truth of the gospel." The gospel "brings forth," or "begets," the blessed fruits of the regenerated state, just as does the Spirit. Like the old confessions, regeneration is by both God's word and Spirit, not his "word alone" nor his "Spirit alone."
"These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots." (Jude 1: 12)
What is the condition of those who do not have the "fruit" of love, faith, and hope? Does not Jude say that such are "dead"? This in itself is enough to destroy the Hardshell notion that people who are without love for God, and faith in Christ, are nevertheless spiritually alive.
God's Library
From "My Daily Bread" (SEE HERE)
God's Library
"As I looked, "thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his head was white like wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze. A river of fire was flowing, coming out from before him. Thousands upon thousands attended him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. The court was seated, and the books were opened." (Daniel 7: 9, 10 NIV)
"And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books...If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire." (Revelation 20: 12, 15 NIV)
"The books were opened." What books? Are they not the books, scrolls, annals, records, logs, journals, of God?
God has a library. He has his place where records and documents are kept. He has his royal "recorders" or heavenly scribes, or God the king's official historians and chroniclers.
In the Old Testament we have several of God's books mentioned. There is the "Book of the Covenant" (Exodus 24: 7 NIV), and the "Book of the Law of God." (Joshua 24: 26 NIV)
There is also mention of such books as the "Book of the annals of the kings" and the "Book of the annals of King David." (I Chronicles 27: 24 NIV) There is often reference to "genealogical records," and to the records of "vital statistics," a journal of who has been born and who has died, who is among the living, and who is among the dead.
Kings and governmental leaders had their "book of records of the chronicles" (Esther 6: 1 KJV) of their decrees and official acts.
Lord God, being King of kings, and Governor among the nations (Psalm 22: 28 KJV), keeps records and has many books. Some of these books were written before the creation of the world, and may be called "prophetic books" or his book of destiny, and the book of God's judgments, statutes, and decrees. Other books are still being written, for they are record books.
Why are they "opened"?
First, in order to record the proceedings of the trial and thus preserve them. Second, in order to produce the prosecutorial evidence against the criminally condemned. This latter evidence would consist in the statute or law books, together with the records of the witnesses, and other legal documents of the prosecution.
Certainly, by "the books" (plural) would include the book of God's purposes and decrees concerning the fate or destiny of the world, together with every creature in it. They certainly include, as we shall see, the "Lamb's book," or the "book of life," with several other important books in the divine library. Also, all the books of the bible are part of the library of God, at least the ones he has been pleased to share with us. (See Deuteronomy 29: 29)
"If you, O LORD, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand?"(Psalm 130: 3 NIV)
"The guilt of Ephraim is stored up, his sins are kept on record."(Hosea 13: 12 NIV)
Lord God has a record of every deed and every thought and choice of every man, good or bad. This record will be used in the Day of Judgment, when every man is on trial for his sins. When the books are opened, included will be these personal record books that have each man's personal history preserved.
For the acquitted or justified soul, to the believer in Jesus, the"record" has been "purged" and his crimes "expunged," as it were, from the divine record.
A believer in Jesus is no longer "under the law." The law has already exacted its vengeance and penalty upon the believer in his substitute, the Lord Jesus Christ. Thus, the law can no longer condemn him, for this would be a case of "double jeopardy," and an injustice unworthy of the divine being.
"Joseph stored up huge quantities of grain, like the sand of the sea; it was so much that he stopped keeping records because it was beyond measure." (Genesis 41: 49 NIV)
Joseph may have been unable to make such a vast record of things in the realm of his governorship, but not so with Lord God. All has been faithfully and accurately recorded so that everything the sinner has said and done "can and will be used against him in the court of law." Said Jesus:
"But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment." (Matthew 12: 36 KJV)
That is a lot of divine record keeping! To record everything a person has said and done! The billions of people!
"To execute upon them the judgment written: this honour have all his saints. Praise ye the LORD." (Psalm 149: 9 KJV)
The Day of Judgment, the great day of trial for every condemned sinner of our fallen race, is the day when the Lord will finally "execute" the prior "judgment written." He will at that day "carry out" the "indictment" and judicial sentence of heaven's court.
"My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." (Psalm 139: 15, 16 NIV)
"But the very hairs of your head are all numbered." (Matthew 10: 30 KJV)
"Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?" (Psalm 56: 8 NIV)
God's private records of every person includes the most minute ofdetails. Besides even the "idle words" that a person speaks, so too with every idle thought, and with personal details like the number of hairs on the head and the record of all a person's "wanderings" or"goings." Every tear that is shed is known and recorded by God.
"Also now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and my record is on high." (Job 16: 19 KJV)
Job knew that God was a faithful recorder and omniscient. He realized God had his "books," both public and private, and personal records on himself, declaring his destiny.
"Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name." (Malachi 3: 16 NIV)
Here is no doubt one of the favorite books of our Lord! Oh yes, he prizes that record and memorial of the godly tears of his people, but he also loves that book that records the conversations of his people, of the times of their fellowship together! Surely more Christians would meet more frequently together if they realize how precious these times together are to the Lord and how he is recording and memorializing them forever!
"Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written." (John 21: 25 NIV)
But, it is all recorded in heaven! We believe all is recorded. Yet, we are not familiar with the entire record. He has given us a sufficient record book to bring us to a knowledge of God and faith in Christ Jesus and the way of salvation.
"He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son." (I John 5: 10, 11 KJV)
"Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.' " (Hebrews 10: 7 KJV)
The bible we have is the book of God that reveals the person and career of the Lord Jesus Christ. Whoever believes this record that God has given of his Son is promised eternal life.
In the opening words of this study, depicting the Day of Judgment, when all the books are opened, there was mention of "another book," a different kind of book, a very special book, call the "book of life." Here are other scriptures that mention this "book of life" or the "Lamb's book of life."
"But now, please forgive their sin—but if not, then blot me out of the book you have written." The LORD replied to Moses, "Whoever has sinned against me I will blot out of my book." (Exodus 32: 32-34 NIV)
"Charge them with crime upon crime; do not let them share in your salvation. May they be blotted out of the book of life and not be listed with the righteous." (Psalm 69: 27, 28 NIV)
"Yes, and I ask you, loyal yokefellow, help these women who have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life." (Philippians 4: 3 NIV)
"He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels." (Revelation 3: 5 NIV)
"All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world." (Revelation 13: 8 NIV)
"The beast, which you saw, once was, now is not, and will come up out of the Abyss and go to his destruction. The inhabitants of the earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the creation of the world will be astonished when they see the beast, because he once was, now is not, and yet will come." (Revelation 17: 8 NIV)
"Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life." (Revelation 21: 27 NIV)
Friend, you can be sure that your name is written in the Lamb's book, even though it was written before your were born. Every believer in Jesus, every "overcomer" in his name, is declared to have his name recorded in that precious book! Jesus said to his followers - "rejoice, because your names are written in heaven." (Luke 10: 20 KJV)
God's Library
"And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books...If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire." (Revelation 20: 12, 15 NIV)
"The books were opened." What books? Are they not the books, scrolls, annals, records, logs, journals, of God?
God has a library. He has his place where records and documents are kept. He has his royal "recorders" or heavenly scribes, or God the king's official historians and chroniclers.
In the Old Testament we have several of God's books mentioned. There is the "Book of the Covenant" (Exodus 24: 7 NIV), and the "Book of the Law of God." (Joshua 24: 26 NIV)
There is also mention of such books as the "Book of the annals of the kings" and the "Book of the annals of King David." (I Chronicles 27: 24 NIV) There is often reference to "genealogical records," and to the records of "vital statistics," a journal of who has been born and who has died, who is among the living, and who is among the dead.
Kings and governmental leaders had their "book of records of the chronicles" (Esther 6: 1 KJV) of their decrees and official acts.
Lord God, being King of kings, and Governor among the nations (Psalm 22: 28 KJV), keeps records and has many books. Some of these books were written before the creation of the world, and may be called "prophetic books" or his book of destiny, and the book of God's judgments, statutes, and decrees. Other books are still being written, for they are record books.
Why are they "opened"?
First, in order to record the proceedings of the trial and thus preserve them. Second, in order to produce the prosecutorial evidence against the criminally condemned. This latter evidence would consist in the statute or law books, together with the records of the witnesses, and other legal documents of the prosecution.
Certainly, by "the books" (plural) would include the book of God's purposes and decrees concerning the fate or destiny of the world, together with every creature in it. They certainly include, as we shall see, the "Lamb's book," or the "book of life," with several other important books in the divine library. Also, all the books of the bible are part of the library of God, at least the ones he has been pleased to share with us. (See Deuteronomy 29: 29)
"If you, O LORD, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand?"(Psalm 130: 3 NIV)
"The guilt of Ephraim is stored up, his sins are kept on record."(Hosea 13: 12 NIV)
Lord God has a record of every deed and every thought and choice of every man, good or bad. This record will be used in the Day of Judgment, when every man is on trial for his sins. When the books are opened, included will be these personal record books that have each man's personal history preserved.
For the acquitted or justified soul, to the believer in Jesus, the"record" has been "purged" and his crimes "expunged," as it were, from the divine record.
A believer in Jesus is no longer "under the law." The law has already exacted its vengeance and penalty upon the believer in his substitute, the Lord Jesus Christ. Thus, the law can no longer condemn him, for this would be a case of "double jeopardy," and an injustice unworthy of the divine being.
"Joseph stored up huge quantities of grain, like the sand of the sea; it was so much that he stopped keeping records because it was beyond measure." (Genesis 41: 49 NIV)
Joseph may have been unable to make such a vast record of things in the realm of his governorship, but not so with Lord God. All has been faithfully and accurately recorded so that everything the sinner has said and done "can and will be used against him in the court of law." Said Jesus:
"But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment." (Matthew 12: 36 KJV)
That is a lot of divine record keeping! To record everything a person has said and done! The billions of people!
"To execute upon them the judgment written: this honour have all his saints. Praise ye the LORD." (Psalm 149: 9 KJV)
The Day of Judgment, the great day of trial for every condemned sinner of our fallen race, is the day when the Lord will finally "execute" the prior "judgment written." He will at that day "carry out" the "indictment" and judicial sentence of heaven's court.
"My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." (Psalm 139: 15, 16 NIV)
"But the very hairs of your head are all numbered." (Matthew 10: 30 KJV)
"Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?" (Psalm 56: 8 NIV)
God's private records of every person includes the most minute ofdetails. Besides even the "idle words" that a person speaks, so too with every idle thought, and with personal details like the number of hairs on the head and the record of all a person's "wanderings" or"goings." Every tear that is shed is known and recorded by God.
"Also now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and my record is on high." (Job 16: 19 KJV)
Job knew that God was a faithful recorder and omniscient. He realized God had his "books," both public and private, and personal records on himself, declaring his destiny.
"Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name." (Malachi 3: 16 NIV)
Here is no doubt one of the favorite books of our Lord! Oh yes, he prizes that record and memorial of the godly tears of his people, but he also loves that book that records the conversations of his people, of the times of their fellowship together! Surely more Christians would meet more frequently together if they realize how precious these times together are to the Lord and how he is recording and memorializing them forever!
"Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written." (John 21: 25 NIV)
But, it is all recorded in heaven! We believe all is recorded. Yet, we are not familiar with the entire record. He has given us a sufficient record book to bring us to a knowledge of God and faith in Christ Jesus and the way of salvation.
"He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son." (I John 5: 10, 11 KJV)
"Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.' " (Hebrews 10: 7 KJV)
The bible we have is the book of God that reveals the person and career of the Lord Jesus Christ. Whoever believes this record that God has given of his Son is promised eternal life.
In the opening words of this study, depicting the Day of Judgment, when all the books are opened, there was mention of "another book," a different kind of book, a very special book, call the "book of life." Here are other scriptures that mention this "book of life" or the "Lamb's book of life."
"But now, please forgive their sin—but if not, then blot me out of the book you have written." The LORD replied to Moses, "Whoever has sinned against me I will blot out of my book." (Exodus 32: 32-34 NIV)
"Charge them with crime upon crime; do not let them share in your salvation. May they be blotted out of the book of life and not be listed with the righteous." (Psalm 69: 27, 28 NIV)
"Yes, and I ask you, loyal yokefellow, help these women who have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life." (Philippians 4: 3 NIV)
"He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels." (Revelation 3: 5 NIV)
"All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world." (Revelation 13: 8 NIV)
"The beast, which you saw, once was, now is not, and will come up out of the Abyss and go to his destruction. The inhabitants of the earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the creation of the world will be astonished when they see the beast, because he once was, now is not, and yet will come." (Revelation 17: 8 NIV)
"Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life." (Revelation 21: 27 NIV)
Friend, you can be sure that your name is written in the Lamb's book, even though it was written before your were born. Every believer in Jesus, every "overcomer" in his name, is declared to have his name recorded in that precious book! Jesus said to his followers - "rejoice, because your names are written in heaven." (Luke 10: 20 KJV)
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