Series
on Fundamental Faith
INTRODUCTION
As
noted previously, this is a series of articles based on the
"Articles of Faith" held by the Primitive Baptist churches.
These Articles of Faith may vary in their wording from one
section of the country to another, but in essence are the
same as those proclaimed in the London (England) Confession
of Faith in 1644 and the Philadelphia (USA) Confession of
Faith, September 25, 1742. These are the items that our
forefathers in the faith felt were essential in the belief
of the local church. It was never intended that these
Articles of Faith should replace the Scriptures, or be
considered as superior to the Scriptures. Rather they are an
attempt to make a simple statement of the principle
doctrines found in the pages of the Bible.
In listing
the reason we believe the Bible to be God's inspired word, I
have drawn on external evidence to supplement the claims
of the Scripture writers themselves. Having proved that the
Bible is God's inspired word and the only rule for faith and
practice, I have sought no other source to support the
remaining articles other than the Bible. What Primitive
Baptists believe and practice is based on the Bible.
The following is
used by permission of: “The Primitive Baptist, The Christian
Pathway – Gospel Appeal.”
GOSPEL
APPEAL
Established July, 1966
An Earnest Appeal to a
Closer Observance of Gospel Truth
Vol. XLI No. 3 Craigsville, WV
August 2006
FUNDAMENTAL FAITH
By Elder Robert “Bob” Glenn
Dickerson, Jr.
10-5-1930 to 1-12-14
ARTICLE IV:
WE BELIEVE IN MAN'S IMPOTENCY TO RECOVER HIMSELF FROM THE
STATE OF SIN HE IS IN BY NATURE, BY HIS OWN FREE WILL AND
ABILITY.
“Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his
spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do
evil" (Jer. 13:23).
Our previous Article of Faith dealt with the doctrine of
original sin; the total depravity of the entire human
family. Having concluded with the Apostle Paul, the truth of
this doctrine, that the whole world is under sin (Gal.
3:22), we must consider what means (if any) man can use to
remove himself from the condition and resulting damnation of
sin, which is his by nature. Many remedies are recommended
by the religious world today, and we shall examine them in
light of the testimony of the inspired word of God.
By Free
Will? Many (yea, most) people believe that man can simply
exercise his free will and believe in God and His Son, and
believe in God's way, and thus free himself from sin. But we
noted that the death of Adam was not only corporeal but also
in being dead to spiritual life and knowledge, cast out from
the presence of God (Gen. 3:23, 24). Belief in God for
salvation is not the belief one makes with the natural mind,
but is spiritual belief that must be made with the spiritual
mind. It is faith without which we cannot please God
(Heb. 11:6).
Thus,
Jesus affirmed that we must be born again. Faith is a fruit
or result of this new birth (Gal. 5:23; Eph. 2:8). We do not
believe in God in order to be born again (I John 5:1; I Cor.
12:3), but we believe because we have been born of His
Spirit. We have no free will to exercise until God gives us
spiritual life in the new birth (John 6:44; Phil. 2:13).
(2) By
Self-Reformation? Many think that by mending their ways and
turning from the sinful way of the world, they can so reform
their lives as to make themselves acceptable to God. But
God's word declares that man cannot change his nature from
evil to good. See Jeremiah 13:23, Proverbs 20:9, Matthew
12:43-45. Jesus declared, "Ye must be born again" (John
3:7).
(3) By
keeping the law? The Jews believed that salvation was in the
keeping of the law of Moses. But although they lived as a
nation for 1500 years under the law, we have yet to find one
person, other than Jesus, who has completely kept the law
and never transgressed even one teaching of it (See Gal.
3:10; James 2:10). Just one transgression brings the whole
curse of the law upon us.
(4) By
works? Many ask, "Can I not find salvation by my good
works?" Not unless all your works are perfectly good and
there has never been one mistake in your life. Eccl. 7:20.
And then what could you offer to God for your nature of sin?
Isa. 64:6; Gal. 5:19-23. The Bible clearly teaches that the
works of man have no part in our eternal salvation. Gal.
2:16; Eph. 2:8, 9; Titus 3:5; Romans 9:11, 16.
(5) By
doing the best I can? "I know that I make mistakes, but I do
the best I can and I am sure God will take that into account
and save me" is the cry of many. God didn't say you must do
the best you can; but He said "be perfect" (Matt. 5:48). If
we have done all we were told to do, we are yet unprofitable
servants (Lk. 17:7-10). Only complete holiness can stand
before a just and holy God (Ps. 5:4,5).
(6) By
worldly wealth and fame? Neither community respect nor this
world's riches will open Heaven's gate. I Tim. 6:17; Prov.
11:4.
(7) By
education? Six thousand years of the history of man shows
that education has not changed human nature one whit. Where
our early ancestors fought with clubs, we fight with atomic
bombs. Education has improved our abilities and livelihood,
but has not changed the sinful nature of man. The Apostle
Paul was one of the most highly educated men of his day.
Hear him on Romans 7:24 and Philippians 3:8, 9.
(8) By
Baptism and Church Membership? Joining the church won't make
you a Christian any more than sleeping in a garage would
make you an automobile. Consider Simon in Acts 8:12-23 and
others: I Timothy 1:19, 20; Acts 5:1-11.
Now,
what conclusion can we reach? Simply that there is no effort
that man can put forth that will bring salvation for
himself. (Rom. 8:8) Truly, if there be any salvation it must
be as David declared, "Of the Lord" (Ps. 37:39; see also
Jonah 2:9). Our Lord said it plainly: "Ye must be born
again". The whole world, despite 6,000 years of
civilization, still stands guilty before God (Rom. 3:19). As
long as we sin we have no hope in ourselves (John8:34). But
read John 8:36.
“There
is nothing man can do to save himself.” Yes, there is hope,
and that hope is in Jesus Christ our Lord and the sacrifice
He made on Calvary's cross. And before you think there is
something you must do to make that sacrifice effective for
you, ask yourself one question. Since it has been nearly
2,000 years since our Lord died on Calvary, what could
anyone do today that could change or enlarge the ones Christ
died for?
No,
there is nothing man can do to save himself. And think about
it just a minute: if man could have saved himself — if there
was something that we sinful Adams could perfoun that would
save us from the eternal condemnation of sin, then why would
God have sent His beloved Son to suffer and die if there was
another way? When you consider the fact that God had all
knowledge and all wisdom, He certainly would know if there
was any other way of salvation. And He would not have sent
His Son to suffer the ridicule and afflictions of men, and
to die in agony upon the cross if salvation could have been
attained in any other way. The very fact that He did suffer
and die upon the cross declares beyond question that there
is no other way of salvation (Isa. 59:16). |