September\October 2001

 A Word From the Pastor

Personal Trespasses

      Sometimes one person will get their feelings hurt by the comments or actions of another person in the church.  Often that person will harbor bad feelings or unforgiveness toward the offending party.  This should never be.  The Lord told us in Matthew 18:15-17 how to deal with personal trespasses from fellow church members. 

     Before we consider this passage however, we should ask ourselves, did the other person really trespass against me?  Sometimes the problem lies with myself.  Did I take offense of the other person because I was wearing my feelings on my sleeve?  Or did I take offense because I was tired and irritable and misunderstood what the other person meant.  Probably most of the time the offending party never intended or knew that he/she was offending by their comment/action to another member of the church.

     Once I have determined that I believe I really have reason to be offended, then according to the commandment of our Lord and Saviour I am to go and tell the offending church member his/her fault between myself and him/her alone.  That means that I am not to tell any one else about it, until I have followed thru with the steps outlined in Matt. 18:15-17.  Too often much havoc is wrought in the church because church members rebel against this commandment of the Lord.  When I go to the offending church member I should go humbly and not piously accusing the offending member, but simply laying out what was said and why it hurt my feelings.  Probably, the vast majority of the time that will be enough to bring about the desired result and restored fellowship. 

     However, if the offending party doesn’t hear me, then I am to take one or two more church members so that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.  Now when I go to these “one or two more” I am not to lay out my case to them so as to poison their mind toward the offending member, but simply tell them that I and the offending member have a problem that we need their help with. Once in the presence of the offending member then I can state my case and also the other party can state their case.  Then the other members present can give their advice to the two members.   Usually this will be enough to resolve the few times it ever reaches this stage. 

     Very rarely, after the first two steps have been taken, then the problem will have to be taken to the church and addressed by the church.

     Dear brothers and sisters, this means of solving personal offenses isn’t just a “it sure would be nice if you did things this way,” but it is essential that we follow the commandment of our Lord in this matter.  Sometimes members of the church will just stop going to church because their feelings were hurt by some comment or action of a fellow church member.  To do so is a reproach to the wisdom of our Lord and rebellion against HIS word.   One of the most poisonous things that we can do to ourselves is to harbor hard feelings toward our fellow church members.  This can eat at us and take away our peace for years, if unchecked.

     Failure to follow the above commandment of our Lord in dealing with personal trespasses of our fellow church members has been one of the most hurtful things to the cause of Christ in a local church.  Let us deal truthfully and faithfully with the commandments of our Lord and Saviour and manifest our love toward our fellow church members by taking good heed to Matt. 18:15-17

                                         Vernon Johnson

The Differences with Calvinism

By Todd Nunley, Denton Primitive Baptist Church

Part I - Missions

The purpose for writing these essays are not to cause any hard or ill feelings. The purpose for writing this is for many reasons. One of the reasons that I am writing this is because I know that I am in a blessed condition for what the Lord has revealed to me or by the understanding that the Holy Spirit has given me in regards to the scriptures. Being raised in a Calvinistic church, I have sat under the teachings and preaching of many Calvinistic or Sovereign Grace pastors. And at first, without knowing, you’d say that the differences between the Sovereign Grace Baptist churches (Calvinistic) and the Primitive Baptist Churches aren’t that many. But, a closer look reveals that there are many differences. What I am writing, is only from the experiences that have been revealed to me in such a short period of time.

Without going into great detail, John Calvin was one involved in the reformation of the church. Before him, were Augustine and Paul. Calvin believed and taught what is commonly referred to today as the TULIP Theory, T – Total Depravity of Man, U – Unconditional Election, L – Limited Atonement, I – Irresistible Grace and P – Perseverance of the Saints. But over the recent years, things have changed. There seems to be a push within the Calvinistic churches, as with many other churches, including the Primitive Baptist Churches, to become more lenient or rely more on what man has done. What an outrage! I’ve heard a “Calvinistic” preacher speak on the faith of Job. This preacher spoke on how much faith Job had and what ordeals and hardships Job persevered through. As I was listening to this, I thought, “Where is the glory to God?” Why has there not been one mention as to who gave Job the faith that he had? Not once, did he mention that the faith was of God and not of Job! We must look at who gives us the faith that we have and that is the Lord God Almighty.

In Galatians 5:22-23 the scriptures tell us what the fruit of the Spirit are. One of the many fruit that we, as a child of God, will exhibit is faith. If we are a child of God and have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit, one of the types of fruit that we have is faith. No where do the scriptures tell us that faith is a fruit of the flesh! Faith is not what we have done, but rather what the Holy Spirit has provided His children with. It seems that as time goes by, the more praise and honor man wants to give himself and that it is all of man. Many may say that this is not true but if you take ANY PART of the sovereignty away from God then it is nothing more than an inaccurate erroneous falsehood and could be construed as an Armenian belief.

After listening, studying but most importantly praying and meditating there are several differences that I would like to comment on. First is Missions. Many churches today feel that it is their “duty” to go out and spread the word of God to every creature. Many churches that send missionaries out into the field are ran by a board. This board is a group of men that determine or oversee what financial support to send out and in many cases has restrictions on what can and cannot be preached by these missionaries. In other words, the message they spread must meet a certain criteria, which most of the time puts man in the link of eternal glorification. I am not aware of a board, per say, that is within the Calvinistic churches however, any time you send financial support to another church, there is a sense of “loyalty” as to what can and can not be preached. This is nothing more than man, (which is totally depraved) telling someone what should or is to be preached. Furthermore, if an individual is searching for the truth, the Lord will lead that person where He wants them to be. A side note here, many pastors/missionaries are attempting (in vain) to populate heaven by telling everyone that they need to repent and be saved which, goes against election.

First of all, my question to this is how can a dead man walk much less save himself? The answer, he can’t do either. For we were dead in our trespasses and sin until the Lord breathed life into our soul and were regenerated. This is not speaking of a physical death but a spiritual death. The scriptures tell us in Ephesians 2:1, “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;” and also in Colossians 2:13, “And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;” The scriptures, very plainly, tell us that it is God which quickens us, who were DEAD (spiritually) in trespasses and sins. A dead man can’t breathe life into his own soul much less anyone else’s!

Secondly, be saved from what? Eternal damnation? I think not. The scriptures tell us that the Lord has a covenant with His people. A covenant is a form of a contract. A contract that is sealed by the blood of Jesus Christ. Now, since God has a “contract” with His elect, can God break that contract? NO! One of the things that God can not do is lie. Another is change. If He were to break a contract then God would not be God. And this would be nothing but blasphemous! Can there be additions to a contract once it has been written? NO! So, since there is a covenant between God and His elect, you can not add individuals to this covenant. Hebrews 8:11 tells us that all of God’s elect will know Him, “And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.”

Thirdly and last on this topic is a question. Why do those that follow after John Calvin’s teachings go against what he believed and taught? Most “Calvinists” that I have spoken with will tell you that they believe in what John Calvin taught and preached. However, there is one area that goes against his beliefs that is never heard, and that is Calvin’s belief of not supporting a foreign mission. It is quoted in the book titled “Church History” by C.B. and S. Hassell, “The Protestant Reformers, Luther and Calvin, never thought of sending missionaries to the heathen, Luther denouncing with great emphasis the worldly methods of prosecuting missions; and Calvin, in his comment on the final commandment of Christ to His Apostles (Matthew 28:19), saying nothing whatever of missions to the heathen. It is, therefore, admitted in the article on Missions in the second volume of the Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge, published in 1883, that A CHURCH MAY HAVE A VIGOROUS SPIRITUAL LIFE, AND YET NOT PROSECUTE MISSIONARY ACTIVITY; AND A CHURCH MAY BE ACTIVE IN MISSIONARY OPERATIONS, AND YET BE SPIRITUALLY DEAD.” This comment tells us that John Calvin did not believe in sending missionaries out to preach to every man, woman and child. So this goes against the teachings of a “Calvinistic” Church due to their support of a foreign mission field. One final comment, those doctrines of election and predestination were taught long before John Calvin.

As a closing note on this topic, whatever the Lord desires will take place. There will not be anything that will prohibit the Lord from doing His will. If it is the Lord’s will for a church to be started in a particular place, then the Holy Spirit will lead a laborer or shepherd to lead the flock. It will not be by man’s desire. One thing that should be noted is that there seems to be a concerted effort by not only the Calvinistic churches but also the Primitive Baptist Churches to send missionaries to different parts of the globe. I would like to be clear on the statement that if the Holy Spirit leads a pastor to a foreign field that is admirable. However, if a “missionary” is going to a foreign field why purchase a round trip airline ticket if this is truly the location where the Holy Spirit has lead him? Additionally, if a “missionary” is in this foreign field how can one be ordained as an elder if he has not been tried for a season. The scriptures very plainly tell us that this individual is not to be a novice or someone new to the faith. I Timothy 3:6 gives us one of the qualifications that is speaking specifically about the bishop (or elder) of a church. “Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.” Why are there those that are quick to go against the words of our Almighty God? Why are there those that are quick to ordain a convert after only a period of a few weeks? The scriptures are clear when qualifying a person as an elder and there seems to be some things amiss.

In the next essay, I would like to comment on the differences between the Primitive Baptist and Calvinistic belief on regeneration. May the Lord bless you and your family.

 

The Difference with Calvinism

Part II

      I would like to take this opportunity to speak on the second of several differences that the Holy Spirit has revealed to me between Calvinism and what we as Primitive Baptists believe.  Again, this is not to cause hard or ill feelings but what the Lord has revealed to me.  In this essay, I would like to speak on regeneration.

     When you speak with a Calvinist about regeneration, they will tell you that they believe in election and predestination.  However, when a Calvinist speaks on regeneration, they will tell you that when a person is regenerated, it will be done so under the voice of a pastor, in church and/or in all cases, done so under the teaching/preaching of a gospel minister.  Their form of regeneration is totally dependent upon them literally hearing the word of God being preached.  In other words, dependent upon man or a mediator.

     The scriptures, both in the Old and New Testament, have many cases where Prophets and Apostles were not under the literal preaching the word of God when they were regenerated.  The scriptures also tell us that God calls the elect.  However, we must first know what regeneration means before we go further in this topic.

     Regeneration is described as the new birth or when God breathed life into our soul and gave us a condemning heart.  We received this condemning heart from nothing that we have done but rather what God has done.  It is all of God and nothing of man.

     A mediator is described as one who intervenes between two parties.  Many religions today base their belief on some form of mediator.  This includes Calvinists, Catholics and many other belief systems.  However, the scriptures plainly tell us in I Timothy 2:5 that there is no mediator between Jesus Christ and man, “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;” Therefore, it is only God that deals with man and not man himself.

     The scriptures tell us on many occasions, where prophets and apostles were not under the voice of an individual preaching the gospel or, in other words, not literally hearing the word of God preached.  In fact, the scriptures are very clear of when, where and in what condition that these individuals were in.

     In the book of Genesis chapter 12, the scriptures tell us that God called unto Abram.  Abram was 75 years old when God called him and directed him to Canaan, which he did obey.  Verse 7 tells us that the Lord appeared unto Abram.  No where in these scriptures does it say that Abram or Abraham was under the voice of a pastor, preacher, or gospel minister.  “And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him.”  Also, in Genesis 15:1 the Lord appears unto Abram, “After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.”  Here again, the word of the Lord came to Abram directly from God himself.  The scriptures again, are very plain in telling us that man is not in the channel of communication with our Lord.

     The book of Exodus tells us that Moses had not heard the word of God preached and was a fugitive after killing an Egyptian when God appeared to him in the desert.  Then there is Jeremiah.  In Jeremiah 1:5 the Lord tells Jeremiah, “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.”  Again, no mention of mans preaching.

     In addition to these, there are several others that are mentioned in the bible.  What about David?  What about Saul of Tarsus?  Here is another good example where the apostles, or men, chose Matthias to replace Judas.  However, this was not whom God had chose.  Saul was one of the biggest persecutors of the church or any that called on the Lords name.  Acts 9:1 tells us what kind of person Saul was, “And Saul, yet breathing out threatening and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord.”  But again Acts 9 continues by telling us that Jesus appeared unto Saul while on the road to Damascus.  Again, I see nothing that declares man’s link in the message to Saul.

     Then we have the twelve apostles where Jesus Christ tells us in John 15:16 that they did not chose Christ but that Christ chose them.  “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you.”  Gospel ministers are also called by God.  Luke 10:1-2 tells us of the seventy that the Lord appointed as ministers and directed them into every city, “After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come.  Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.”  Just a side note here; remember, this is the Lord directing the preachers, not men directing them as a modern day foreign missionary is directed by a board or group of men.  This is a major difference and where most people are confused or mislead.

     The previous examples, set forth throughout the scriptures, are no different than God regenerating the elect.  The word elect is used twenty times throughout the Old and New Testament and means chosen or chosen one.  Chosen by whom?  The scriptures are clear in telling us that it is God that chooses and not man.  Ephesians 1:4, “According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:” Man can not choose that which is righteous because we are depraved by nature and will be depraved by nature until we drop this robe of flesh.  This has not changed since the fall of Adam and the only way that we are made righteous is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ.

     The election that is done so throughout the Old and New Testament is done so by God and God only.  It is done so by the good pleasure of God, which He claims the right to do so.  It is not conditioned on our faith or repentance but is done so, which shows the sovereignty of God (Sovereignty, meaning totally independent of man.)  God is not dependent on man but rather man is totally dependent on God.  However, faith and repentance are the “fruit” or exercises of a regenerated soul, which shows God’s work or in other words the new creature or the inner man.  Ephesians 1:5-6, 12 tells us that the ultimate end of election is the praise of God’s grace.

     By nature, how can we praise God who is righteous and without blame when we are totally depraved by nature?  The answer is, we cannot.  It is totally of God and nothing of man.  Titus 3:4-7 tells us plainly that it is God which regenerates man and not man himself, “But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”

     Throughout the scriptures we see where the elect are chosen of God, not man choosing God.  Whether it be the prophets, the apostles, gospel ministers or the elect it does not change.  For God does not change, which Malachi 3:6 tells us, “For I am the LORD, I change not;” If God does not change, then how do so many explain their position on not only these scriptures, but the entire bible?  And if these cases are true (which they are) then how do so many explain Hebrews 13:8, “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.”  For if Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever, then that must mean that He does not change, is not changing, will not change, and can not change.  For if the scriptures were the same in the past, then it must mean that they do not change in the future AND since God regenerated those in biblical times, then God regenerates those in times of today.  May the Lord bless you and your family.

                                             Brother Todd Nunley

 Principles of Giving