Devoted to the Propagation and Defense of New Testament Christianity
VOLUME 1
December 8, 1949
NUMBER 31, PAGE 1

Plainly Stated

Cled E. Wallace

"The way of salvation is plainly stated again and again. Note John 1:12; 3:36; Acts 16:31. Furthermore, the New Testament teaches that a person receives the Holy Spirit the moment he believes on Christ (Ephesians 1:13, 14) and not at some subsequent time as taught by the perfectionists."

(The Baptist Standard)

The texts the Baptist brother notes down are good, but he overlooked a few he should know about. His are worth quoting in full "But as many as received him, to them gave he the right to become children of God, even to them that believe on his name." (John 1:12.) "He that believeth on the Son hath eternal life; but he that obeyeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him," (John 3:36.) "And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus, and thou shalt be saved, thou and thy house." (Acts 16:31.)

Here are a few texts he overlooked: "Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except one be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." (John 3:5.) "Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." (Matt. 28:19.) "And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to the whole creation. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that disbelieveth shall be condemned." (Mark 16:15, 16.) "And Peter said unto them, Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins: and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." (Acts 2:38.) "And now why tarriest thou? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on his name." (Acts 22:16.) "He became unto all them that obey him the author of eternal salvation." (Heb. 5:9.)

Is it possible that the Baptist Standard has overlooked the fact that it is the obedient, and not the disobedient, believer who is saved? When Jesus said that the believer has eternal life, he immediately added: "but he that obeyeth not the Son shall not see life." "See" what he meant? Paul says the gospel was preached "unto obedience of faith among all the nations, for his name's sake." (Rom. 1:5.) The Baptist Standard ought to give up its hobby of salvation by faith before and without obedience, and it would not find it necessary to overlook so many plain passages of scripture.

I am afraid the Standard is also mixed up on the Holy Spirit question. If I am correctly informed Baptist theology demands a direct regenerating influence of the Holy Spirit on the heart of the sinner before he can even believe. You know they say he was born totally depraved and the Spirit has to work on that before he can believe. Take a look at the text: "In whom ye also, having heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation—in whom, having also believed, ye were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise." (Eph. 1:13.) According to Paul they heard the word of truth, believed, and were sealed with the Holy Spirit. According to Baptists, they were regenerated by the Holy Spirit, repented, and then believed. The text does not say "a person receives the Holy Spirit the moment he believes on Christ " before and without obedience to the gospel. On the other hand Simon Peter said, "Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." It looks as though he expected these persons to receive the Holy Spirit after repentance and baptism. And it also looks like their faith came before repentance. "And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God hath given to them that obey him." (Acts 5:32.) The Baptist Standard evidently has a New Testament. It also needs a concordance.