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. 6 Craigsville, WV December 2006

FUNDAMENTAL FAITH

By Elder Robert “Bob” Glenn Dickerson, Jr.

10-5-1930 to 1-12-14

Article VII

“WE BELIEVE THAT ALL OF GOD'S ELECT SHALL BE CALLED,

REGENERATED AND SANCTIFIED BY THE HOLY GHOST.”

"All that the Father giveth me shall come to me: and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out" (John 6:37).

We have seen in prior articles of faith our belief in the one true God, the Father and Son and Holy Ghost, and yet but one God (I John 5:7), and have noted the work of the Father in salvation in the choice and eternal purpose of His children, and the work of the Son as their redeemer upon Calvary's cross. In this article we come to the work of the Holy Spirit. For God's decree of election and predestination to stand, those elected and predestinated to live with God in glory must be called and changed. For us to be "holy and without blame before him" (Eph. 1:4) we must be called forth from this world of sin and given spiritual life (regenerated). In this life, only the inner man (born of the Spirit of God) can be said to be holy and without blame, but in the resurrection this mortal body becomes an immortal body and we shall all stand "holy and without blame before him in love" forever, body, soul and spirit (I Thess. 5:23). This sinful flesh could never dwell with God. And the work of the Spirit here is to call us out of darkness into light, out of death in trespasses and sins into life; and to create a new creature within ("Christ in you, the hope of glory" — Col. 1:27; see also Eph. 4:24).

This is God's purpose and the accomplishment of it is God's work. God has declared this would surely be done, and He has never failed (Dan. 4:34, 35; Isa. 46:9-10; Deut32:4). So our Lord taught the necessity of the new birth ("ye must be born again" — John 3:7), and the sureness of the accomplishment of the new birth in each of God's elect ("all that the Father giveth me shall come to me" — John 6:37; "My sheep hear my voice" and "they follow me" — John 10:27).

Please note that this calling is not the calling of the gospel. The calling of the gospel is directed to those who have first received the calling of the Spirit, and instructs them to take up their cross and to follow Jesus in service. The calling of the gospel thus comes through the voice of men (preachers of the gospel). But the calling of the Holy Spirit takes place in God's own appointed time upon each of His elect, and is not limited to those areas which the gospel can reach. After two thousand years of Christianity, over half the population of the world today has never heard a gospel sermon. The gospel cannot reach the unborn, those without any mind, or those in the Islamic counties where the possession of a Bible or the preaching of it is punished by death. The Primitive Baptists are falsely accused of preaching only a small number will be in heaven and immortal glory — although we preach God's testimony that the number of the elect is as the sand of the seashore, as the stars in the sky, and even as the sand under the sea (Gen. 15:5; 22:17; 26:43; 32:12; Heb. 11:12).

It is really the money based missions of men whose doctrine would result in a small number in Heaven, if it were true. For, they insist, you must hear the gospel (which two-thirds of the world still does not have access to), and you must receive that gospel and accept Christ, and then many of them believe you must live up to the teachings of Christ, and not fall away. Out of the billions who have inhabited the earth that would leave but a small number. But the Spirit of God is not limited as are the efforts of men; and the Spirit of God does not depend upon the monetary contributions of man or the efforts of man. God Himself performs this calling and it is irresistible. The gospel call may be heeded or rejected, but not the call of the Holy Spirit (John 10:37; Rom. 8:29¬30; Eph. 1:10; II Tim. 2:19; John 6:37, 45; 10:14). And the best thing about all of this is that God doesn't miss a one whom He purposed before the foundation of the world to live with Him in glory. Man would overlook some or perhaps purposely skip some, or be unable to reach some; but God effectively calls each one of His own.

Some will object and say that this would violate the free will of man, and would be unfair of God to make them obey. May I ask what good a choice is for a dead man? He cannot make the choice, even the simple one. And the scripture plainly declares that we "were dead in trespasses and sins" (Eph. 2:1). How else can you bring dead people to life, unless you make them alive? Some will say that God never made anybody do anything. But David said "he maketh me to lie down in green pastures" (Psa. 23:2); and Paul said that He "hath raised us up together and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus" (Eph. 2:6). An offer of salvation could never bring life to the dead. The call of the Holy Spirit is effectual because God gives life to those He calls. They are quickened, regenerated, born again, made alive (John 3:6-7; Heb. 8:10-11; Jer. 31:31-34). Those who are thus called are given spiritual life and are able to receive spiritual things, including the gospel (Acts 13:48). But the gospel did not give them life — but it gives light to those who have been given spiritual life (II Tim. 1:10). We were sanctified (set apart) by God the Father in His choice of His own (Jude 1:1); and by our Lord Jesus Christ in His death on the cross, who is our sanctification (I Cor. 1:30; Heb. 10:10), and through the Holy Spirit (I Pet. 1:2; II Thess. 2:13; I Cor. 6:11). The Holy Spirit creates within a new creature (the "new man") who the scripture says "which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness" (Eph. 4:24; see also Eph. 2:10; II Cor. 5:17; Gal. 6:15). To sanctify is to set aside, consecrate or purify. The Holy Spirit sets apart God's elect, and brings forth a pure inner being (the "new man") within each of them at God's appointed time.
Our Lord declared that He had kept all that God gave Him (John 6:39; 17:12) and assured their eternal life and perfection (John 17:2; Heb. 10:14). God foreloved His own and chose them, gave them to Christ, predestinated them unto eternal life, and then called, justified and glorified every one whom He chose (Rom. 8:29-30). Before the foundation of the world He entered their names in the Lamb's Book of Life (Rev. 17:8) and His promise is to deliver every one whose name He placed therein (Dan. 12:1; II Cor. 1:20; John 6:37-40; and 44-45).