Dear Brother Ed Sutton:
I thank you very much for your concern regarding what I believe, but the Scriptures you have cited are the very same Scriptures that I have used in arguing against this doctrine or belief that I now hold when I was in a struggle with my brethren, the Primitive Baptists, prior to my baptism, since baptism implies as well that we are in accord with the doctrines and practices of the church we are being baptized by..
After much study on this subject, of whether the gospel, its preaching, and its acceptance is a necessary adjunct (for want of a better word) to the finished work of Christ on the cross for and in behalf of His elect (or the whosoevers, whichever side of the soteriological fence we happen to be), I can only come to the doctrinal conclusion that to be faithful to the Scriptural teaching of grace in regards to the eternal salvation of sinners and the broad scope in human chronological history in which this salvation was made available by God thru and in Christ, then the gospel must be seen for what it is: good news. It effects no salvation, it does not produce life, and with or without it preached, known, accepted, and believed in, the eternal blessings which eternal salvation intended to bestow on God’s people is not at all negated or enhanced.
However, that is not to say that once the gospel is made known to men by those whom God called into the ministry, the redeemed sinners, who profess Christ as Savior after having come under the hearing and instruction of the gospel, have no obligation to repent, and to live in a gospel manner which glorifies the God and the Christ whom he professes to believe in, and I believe this is what Paul, throughout his ministry, consistently preached, and that while eternal salvation makes no demands on the sinners it has redeemed, timely or gospel salvation has prerequisites, and these are made known by Scriptures as well.
Please be assured that while I stand solidly and firmly on grace and Christ’s finished work alone as the ONLY requisite to eternal salvation, I am by no means an antinomian.
And I have come to believe this is what Paul was preaching to the Corinthians in the Scripture which you cited. That they have not only been saved eternally, but now have been saved from the ungodly life, dead faith, and unprofitable religion and rituals that they were caught up in when they first heard the gospel, and learned of their salvation, and of their Savior, and therefore should strive to live within such gospel, if they are to escape from the dread consequences of sin in this life, which is to be separated from the blessings and protection of God, as Adam was separated from his fellowship with his creator in the garden.
I believe this is made plain once we continue to read Paul’s letter.
Again, I thank you for your concern, and love.
I thank you very much for your concern regarding what I believe, but the Scriptures you have cited are the very same Scriptures that I have used in arguing against this doctrine or belief that I now hold when I was in a struggle with my brethren, the Primitive Baptists, prior to my baptism, since baptism implies as well that we are in accord with the doctrines and practices of the church we are being baptized by..
After much study on this subject, of whether the gospel, its preaching, and its acceptance is a necessary adjunct (for want of a better word) to the finished work of Christ on the cross for and in behalf of His elect (or the whosoevers, whichever side of the soteriological fence we happen to be), I can only come to the doctrinal conclusion that to be faithful to the Scriptural teaching of grace in regards to the eternal salvation of sinners and the broad scope in human chronological history in which this salvation was made available by God thru and in Christ, then the gospel must be seen for what it is: good news. It effects no salvation, it does not produce life, and with or without it preached, known, accepted, and believed in, the eternal blessings which eternal salvation intended to bestow on God’s people is not at all negated or enhanced.
However, that is not to say that once the gospel is made known to men by those whom God called into the ministry, the redeemed sinners, who profess Christ as Savior after having come under the hearing and instruction of the gospel, have no obligation to repent, and to live in a gospel manner which glorifies the God and the Christ whom he professes to believe in, and I believe this is what Paul, throughout his ministry, consistently preached, and that while eternal salvation makes no demands on the sinners it has redeemed, timely or gospel salvation has prerequisites, and these are made known by Scriptures as well.
Please be assured that while I stand solidly and firmly on grace and Christ’s finished work alone as the ONLY requisite to eternal salvation, I am by no means an antinomian.
And I have come to believe this is what Paul was preaching to the Corinthians in the Scripture which you cited. That they have not only been saved eternally, but now have been saved from the ungodly life, dead faith, and unprofitable religion and rituals that they were caught up in when they first heard the gospel, and learned of their salvation, and of their Savior, and therefore should strive to live within such gospel, if they are to escape from the dread consequences of sin in this life, which is to be separated from the blessings and protection of God, as Adam was separated from his fellowship with his creator in the garden.
I believe this is made plain once we continue to read Paul’s letter.
Again, I thank you for your concern, and love.
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raying: