My thoughts and questions on "Ten Reasons Primitive Baptists Are Not Calvinists."

Actually, my thoughts on this article are leaning more toward narrowing down what Primitive Baptists ARE and BELIEVE, as OPPOSED to what they ARE NOT.

"...In the minds of most people, Christianity is divided into two major groups, Arminians (those who advocate the theology of James Arminius) and Calvinists (those who advocate the theology of John Calvin)...."

The two major groups within Christianity are Arminians, who believe a lost soul initiates the Eternal Salvation of their soul and Calvinites who believe a lost soul "must be born again" and that all lost souls are Naturally born into life, as being dead to The Spirit Realm of God and that God, Who is Spirit must Quicken the soul that is dead to God, by the Holy Spirit in The New Spiritual Regeneration and Birth from above, for that soul to receive Eternal Salvation.

Then, in order to not be one who believes either man, or God, initiates the Salvation of the soul, I fail to grasp what claim `Primitive Baptists` have to any other description, or articulation, of what they consider Salvation to be, as an experience in life, in so many words.

I`m just asking them to share with us, if any of this makes sense to them.

Or, see, does `Salvation` just happen to fall down from Heaven on them one day, in some tangible way, where they know now that they are one of The Elect?

I am of the opinion that they do not have a Plan of Salvation, in relation to themselves, as individuals, or for other individuals. I only see them as having just a general idea similar to anyone else in the World who thinks, "I hope I`m saved", or "I hope, or think, I`m among The Elect of God", for some reason, but why?

And, of course, I stand to be corrected quick enough on that thinking I have, as of right now...

Do they know of any practical way of being Saved?

Who knows? What `Primitive Baptist` knows for certain, beyond any shadow of a doubt, that they have the absolute Assurance that they are one of the Elect who has a Home in Heaven waiting for them?

What are they depending on? that would grant them any Assurance in their heart and soul, to rest Assured that, "All is Well" with their soul?

Were they Born Again, at some point, or other, that they can look back on and say that they have been Quickened by God and Born from Above, by the Holy Spirit? Jesus said to the lost souls that they "must be born again". If that is so, did the `Primitive Baptist` have that experience sometime during their lifetime?

If not, were do they derive the concept of being Assured that they are in possession of Eternal Life?

Where is there any difference between, saying, "I believe God Elected some who will Go to Heaven when they Die" and "I hope I Go to Heaven", as the average man on the street might think and say, or anybody else anywhere around the World?

Is there an "ah-hah" moment of eureka they have had, or something like that, when they could know personally, "I`m one of the Elect and I am going to Heaven when I die, for sure, without a doubt"? Which one of them can tell us about that moment and what happened and why they could tell us that they think it did?

What is there Religious belief concerning their own personal Salvation?

Do any of them have a `Salvation Testamony`?

We have several `Primitive Baptists` here on the BBF, who I take it are saying that they are Baptists, because they are Christians, so I am wondering what it is that has led them to that `belief`? How did their soul become associated with Justification before God? In Eternity Past? And, then they have been clued in on them being among those who were Justified in Eternity Past, when, where, how, & why?

Am I to be despised for wondering and asking to know a reason why they would personally believe they are one of the Elect? It`s just a honest question, isn`t it?

From this article;
Ten Reasons Primitive Baptists Are Not Calvinists.
By Elders Michael Gowens and Lonnie Mozingo, Jr.,

this is their point #3. Saving Faith.

"Primitive Baptists believe that Scripture teaches that the subject of justification has various phases (by grace, by blood, by faith, and by works), some of which do not have eternal implications; hence, the word "alone" is misleading."

Does that statement ring true to you, as to what you profess to believe?

How does what it says and these two other statements below impact, or influence, how you feel about your soul?

Do you agree with what they say? What do they mean to you?

"If we were forced to employ the word "alone", we would rather speak of "justification by grace alone" or "justification by blood alone".

Justification when, how, where, why? And, how is it that you believe that Justification applies to your soul, for sure, or do you? Please, explain:

"Further, we interpret justification by faith in terms of the assurance of salvation, not the application of redemption."

Is there Assurance of Salvation for you? When, how, where, why, do you believe this, if so?

Romans 3:24 “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:”

Is this Justification by Grace something that has happened to you, do you believe? When was that? And how, if you don`t mind me asking?

Romans 5:9 “Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.”

Are you personally sure that you have been Saved from His Wrath? I`m just asking, to try to hear why?

Romans 5:1 “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:”

Then, I`m curious what this Scripture might have to do with the Assurance of Salvation that you may say you have, as being Justified and whatever that might mean to you, etc.

James 2:24 “Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.”

That`s not too much to ask, I hope!

No, seriously, if you see one or two things above that you care to comment on, to help me clarify my understanding of the positions you hold, I would appreciate it.

Peace and Love.

 

Well, thank you, Br. Dr. Bob, and so you know, I re-double my attempts to not be taken for questioning anyones testimony of salvation, so that is never my intent, even if someone may cry foul! I apologize, in advance and will assure them that I meant no harm. The salvation experience is assumed to be a given for anyone I see on here.

Thanks a couple of million!,
Alan Gross