When Things Happen in a Hurry

From The Primitive Baptist Jul. 2017
 

Elder Mark Green

The time frame of salvation has been different with each individual. In order for one of the elect to live in heaven, he must have been redeemed, and born of the Spirit, and his soul and spirit carried to heaven. (In addition, his body must be changed.) In most cases, these three events occur over a considerable period of time. For example, righteous Abel was regenerated thousands of years before he was redeemed. Because of his great age, Methuselah likely was born again centuries before his soul and spirit ascended to glory. Who knows when the last of God's elect will be born again, but already it has been several centuries since he was redeemed. These examples will suffice to show the spans of time that usually are involved in these several events that must occur in order to the eternal salvation of God's people.

Notwithstanding the — normal examples listed above, in at least one case the time frame of these events was greatly compressed — indeed, into a few brief hours. The thief on the cross had been a hardened criminal and was wholeheartedly engaged in blaspheming the Savior to his face, when all of a sudden he began to praise the Lord and to defend his honor — and to petition Him for a blessing. The lips that had been engaged in blasphemy were immediately turned to prayer and praise. I know of nothing that could accomplish that remarkable change other than the quickening of the Spirit. This happened while the redeeming blood of the Savior was dripping from the cross. In his case, his regeneration literally happened at the same time that his redemption was happening. Then, the legs of the thief were broken to facilitate his death so that his body would not be on the cross on the Sabbath. Thus in a matter of just a few hours, at most, the soul and spirit of the man were delivered to his heavenly home, just as the Savior had promised.

In the case of Abel, his regeneration and his redemption by Christ were separated by about 4000 years. In the case of the thief, there was no such great gap in time.

 


Just Thinking  From: “The Primitive Baptist”  July, 2017  

The minister of Christ is not likely to trouble and destroy the harmony and peace of the church of Christ by crowding and pressing upon her his new and far-fetch notions to the grief and distress of his brethren; but for them and with them he will enquire for the ”old paths.”

This minister is not found in the fields of worldly speculation, making the duties and services of religion bow in subordination to his worldly interests, in pursuit of exhortations, admonitions and reproofs have weight and influence, for th the temper of heart and practice of his life accord with the doctrine of the gospel.           Elder Theodrick Boulware, 1858