From  March 2020  The Primitive Baptist   

“For I will not contend forever; neither will I always be wroth; for the spirit should fail before me, and the souls which I have made” (Isa, 57:16).
 

Notice the reason given why Jehovah will not contend forever and why he will not always be wroth. They are not special reasons; and remember also, that God says “He will not always chide neither will he keep his anger forever.” And the reason given is that, “He is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in Mercy.” Besides, if more abundant proof need be given, “I am merciful, saith the Lord and I will not keep anger forever” (Jer. 3:12) These things I present to you from God's precious word. Take them home with you. Read them carefully; ponder over them. And then ask yourselves whether God’s mercy will endure forever, and then if it is possible for God the Father to cast off any if his children forever.

[John Hughes, a Universalist minister, from his debate with Elder John R. Dailey in 1908]

Who would argue that God is not merciful? Certainly not Primitive Baptists. Of all people we insist upon the mercy of God as the reason why men will be spared from eternal woe and misery. We acknowledge and rejoice in the fact that “his mercy endureth forever.” However, the context of the verse from Isaiah 57 quoted by Mr. Hughes deals with God's temporal chastisement of a specific nation of people, not his eternal judgment upon men in general.If the passages that Mr. Hughes cited dealt with God's final judgment for sin, then he meets himself coming back. If God's mercy compels God to suspend his punishment upon men finally, then why is that not true temporally as well? If the fact that God is merciful God prevents Him from punishing any of mankind who lacketh these things. That is the adding to our faith the things, that brings to light, that manifests to us over and over again that we have been purged from our old sins. It seems to me that if we have forgotten that we were once purged from our old sins that surely we had to have once been purged in order to forget it.

This is teaching that a born again child of God can hear the truth, embrace the truth, love the truth, yet quit exercising his faith and become blind, cannot see afar off and forget that he was purged from his old sins. I have seen this happen in the Walker family, my wife`s family and other families. In 1Corinthians 15:2 tells us that there is a must that we keep in memory those things that have been preached unto us, less we have believed in vain. Would not it be sad to become lack in the service of the Lord and finally fall away to your understanding and forget that Jesus died for you! Regardless of how much we strive, of how much we do not strive, of how much we retain or not retain, of how much we persevere or not persevere, the foundation of God still standeth sure having this seal, the Lord knoweth them that are his. We are placed in Christ, preserved in Christ, called in Christ, justified by the blood of Christ and nothing can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Make your calling and election sure. Through adding to our faith brings this calling and election sure to our minds and as long as we keep adding we shall never fall. AMEN.