Frequently Asked Questions About Old Line Primitive Baptist
“Be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the
hope that is in you with meekness and fear (1Peter 3:15). This has been
written in order that those who are honest seekers may have a better
understanding of who and what we stand for. These are only a few of the most
frequently asked questions given as an overview.
Table of contents:
1. What is the
difference between Primitive Baptists and other religious orders?
2. What is meant by the term “Old Line?”
3. What do you mean by the name “Primitive Baptist”?
4. How are Primitive Baptists different from Other Baptists?
5. What do Primitive Baptists believe about the scriptures?
6. Why do Primitive Baptists call their ministers elders?
7. Why do Primitive Baptists not have to train their ministers?
8. Why do Primitive Baptists require their elders to be male?
9. How do Primitive Baptists determine questions of Church practice?
10. Why do Primitive Baptists only have communion with baptized believers of the
same faith and order?
11. Why do Primitive Baptists use real wine and unleavened bread in their
communion services?
12. Why do Primitive Baptists wash feet?
13. Why do Primitive Baptists require baptism by full water immersion?
14. Why do Primitive Baptists re-baptize people who come and join them from
other orders?
15. Why do Primitive Baptists not use musical instruments in their worship
services?
16. Why do Primitive Baptists not have Sunday schools?
17. Why do Primitive Baptists not have crosses or pictures of Jesus in their
churches?
18. What do Primitive Baptists believe about speaking in tongues as well as
other miraculous gifts?
19. What do Primitive Baptists believe about the fall of man?
20. What do Primitive Baptists believe about unconditional election?
21. What is meant by the term “predestination?
22. Do Primitive Baptists believe that Jesus Christ died for the whole human
race?
23. If a person is already “saved” why do Primitive Baptists continue to preach?
24. Why do Primitive Baptists not send out missionaries?
25. Are Primitive Baptists “Protestants?
26. Do Primitive Baptists believe in tithing?
27. Do Primitive Baptists receive a salary?
28. Why do Primitive Baptists not preach that God loves everybody?
29. Since Primitive Baptists believe that your eternal destiny is secure in the
hands of God and that you as a man cannot do anything to change it, do you worry
that you may be wrong?
30. If the Primitive Baptists believe that the scriptures were not written in
order to save souls to ever lasting life, what do they believe they were written
for?
31. Do Primitive Baptists believe in preaching the gospel to sinners?
32. Aren’t the scriptures written as a means to get someone to be born again?
33. Do Primitive Baptists believe that it is necessary to call on men to repent
and believe?
34. What do Primitive Baptists mean when they refer to the gospel or militant
church?
35. Do Primitive Baptists preach infants to hell?
1. What is the difference between Primitive Baptists and other religious
orders?
The main difference
is that Primitive Baptist believe salvation comes by free and sovereign grace.
Basically there are two beliefs to be found among those who confess to be
“Christians” in the world. One is that salvation is by grace, and grace alone,
and the other is that salvation is dependant on some form of a works system.
Most people say that they believe in salvation by grace, but add in to it a
belief that this grace is dependant upon the will of man; such as belief,
repentance, faith, baptism, or hearing and receiving the gospel as a condition
on which must be done in order to receive eternal life. Primitive Baptist
believe that the Bible teaches that salvation is of, and by the Lord alone,
apart from any work of man, and that His grace alone, with nothing else added.
2. What is meant
by the term “Old Line?” Put simply it is a term used to describe something
that is very old, marked by being “strait and narrow.”
3. What do you
mean by the name “Primitive Baptist”? The true Church of Jesus Christ has
been known by many different names in the past until this very day. They were
first “called Christians at Antioch” (Acts 11:26). Other names include Donatists,
Waldenses, Albigeneses, and Ana-Baptist, etc. In 1832 there was a division in
the Baptist family of churches in this country. There were those who came in
"among" the Baptist people and insisted on establishing “New” Missionary Boards,
Sunday Schools, as well as other non-scriptural societies in the church, these
who embraced and accepted the changes were referred to as the “New School” or
“Missionary Baptist.”
While those who
opposed these new inventions and who continued to walk in the established “Old
Paths” that became were known as the “Old School” or “Primitive Baptists.” And
so the term “Primitive Baptist” refers to the “Original,” “First of its kind,”
and coming from the beginning of the time of the life of Christ. They are able
to trace their identity back to the first church, which He set up and
established.
4. How are
Primitive Baptists different from Other Baptist? In the United States alone
it’s been estimated that there are well over 53 different types of those who
call themselves “Baptist.” And the first thing that someone notices when they
come and worship with us is the lack of formality in the services toward God.
Nothing has been added to, nor taken away from the service of God, but is kept
as simply as is possible, and as close to the way in which Jesus left it when He
set it up (Rev. 22:19).
5. What do
Primitive Baptists believe about the scriptures? They believe “that all
scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for
reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God
may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Tim. 3:15-16). And
that God has preserved His word over the ages, and that the 1611 King James
Translation is the best translation in the English language. Of all the books
written from that only the King James is regarded as being scripture. This is
maintained by the fact of the superiority of its manuscripts used in its
translating as well as the superior scholarship of its translators.
6. Why do
Primitive Baptists call their ministers elders? There are only two terms
used in the scriptures referring to preachers. These are bishop and the other is
elder (1 Tim. 3:1-7; Tit. 1:5-9; 1 Peter 5:1). The term reverend is used only
once in the scriptures, and it has reference to God (Psalm 111:9). No man is
worthy to hold such a title. As to the term father the scriptures never use it
as a title, Jesus Himself commanded that we are to call no man father upon the
earth (Matt. 23:9).
The term apostle is
clearly used in the scriptures to mean a minister who Jesus Himself called to
that office in the early Church, and they were eyewitnesses to His sufferings
and resurrection. And they were given special powers that elder’s who followed
do not have (Acts 8:18; 2 Cor. 12:12; Heb. 2:2-4).
7. Why do
Primitive Baptists not have to train their ministers? Each Primitive Baptist
Church congregation chooses from their own male members only those who are
proven faithful the truth of the gospel and the church and established
practices. This is shown by having each to speak for a period of time to
determine if they have a gift or calling from God to preach, usually 2 to 5
years or longer. Ministers are expected to seek the wisdom and guidance of God
to guide them in their studies of the scriptures. And are to seek out the
counsel of experienced ministers about any questions of scriptural
interpretation and matters of church practice.
Although Primitive Baptist have not objection to a minister having or seeking an
education, they view theological seminary schools, and preaching seminars as
being unscriptural and the invention of flawed man and are to be avoided. In
this way each elder will learn totally by and through the Holy Ghost, aided by
his fellow ministers, as it was from days of the apostles and the early church.
8. Why do
Primitive Baptists require their elders to be male? Simply because the
scriptures require it to be so ( 1 Cor. 14:35-36; 1 Tim. 2:11-12; 1 Tim. 3:2).
And there are no female elders in the scriptures. And unlike those who disregard
this fact due to popular opinions, the scriptures also state that a woman is not
“to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence (1 Tim.
2:12).
9. How do
Primitive Baptists determine questions of Church practice? All questions of
practice of which the scriptures do not expressly address are to be resolved by
scriptural pattern or example. (1 Cor. 11:1-2; 2 Thess. 2:15, 3:6).
Any tradition that
has no biblical authority are to be considered as hostile to true worship, and
only serve to puff up the flesh (Mark 7:5-13).
10. Why do
Primitive Baptists only have communion with baptized believers of the same faith
and order? In Luke 22:9-20, it was only with the disciples who came to Jesus
and asked Him “Where wilt thou that we prepare” for the Passover that He told to
go into the city and they would see a man carrying a pitcher of water, which,
they were to follow to a certain house. And ask him and he would show “them” an
“upper room” already prepared for that purpose. After which Jesus sat down along
with His “twelve apostles,” where He then “took the cup, and gave thanks, and
said, “take this, and divide it among yourselves: for I say unto you, I will not
drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come. And he took
bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, this is my
body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. Likewise also the cup
after supper, saying, this cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed
for you.”
And the Apostle Paul
also said, “Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the
Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a
man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.
For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to
himself, not discerning the Lord's body” (1 Cor. 11:27-29). People who have not
believed and committed themselves to baptism have not yet examined themselves as
to their Christian duty, and should not enter into the communion. And any Church
who would allow such a one to enter into communion would in effect make baptism
of little or no importance.
The entering into
communion is to be a grave and serious matter, not to be taken lightly. Jesus
also said to His disciples, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing
them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching
them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with
you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen” (Matt. 28:19-20). The proper
order is, first, belief, second, baptism, third, observing all that Jesus
commanded. (See also Mark 16:16; Acts 2:41-42, 8:36-37; Rom. 6:3-4).
11. Why do
Primitive Baptists use real wine and unleavened bread in their communion
services? Jesus himself changed water into wine during a wedding service,
which is evidenced by the statement of the governor of the feast, who remarked
that “every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have
well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until
now” (John 2:1-10). If it were grape juice, as some would suggest, it would have
made little or no difference when it was served. It should also be noted that
the communion took place immediately after the Passover, in which unleaved bread
and wine were used (Exod. 12:3-8; Num. 9:9-11; Deut. 16:1-3; Matt. 26:17; Mark
14:12; Luke 22:7).
12. Why do Primitive Baptists wash feet? The Apostle John explains that,
“And supper being ended,” that Jesus “riseth from supper, and laid aside his
garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.” And “after that He poureth
water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with
the towel wherewith he was girded.” Having completed this He said, “know ye what
I have done to you? Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. If
I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one
another's feet.”
13. Why do Primitive Baptists require baptism by full water immersion? To
begin with the word “baptize” is a Greek word that literally means to immerse or
dip under the water. And this is the example that Jesus Himself has left us to
follow. Immediately after being baptized He “went up straightway out of the
water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God
descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven,
saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matt. 3:16-17; Mark
1:10-11).
14. Why do Primitive Baptists re-baptize people who come and join them from
other orders? In Acts: 19: 19:1-7 we read the Apostle Paul was traveling
through Ephesus, and he found “disciples” who had not even “heard whether there
be any Holy Ghost.” And Paul asked them if in what name were they baptized, to
which they answered that they were baptized by John the Baptist believing that
Christ was still yet to come into the world. This was before John had told all
of them to follow Jesus. And, the scriptures tell us that “when they heard this,
they were baptized’ (again) ‘in the name of the Lord Jesus,” to which they
received the Holy Ghost. (Acts 19:1-7).
Baptism is ordnance maintained by the Church, as a means of entering into the
membership of the church body (Acts 2:41). Three things must be present in order
to have a proper baptism. First, there must be a proper administer, that is a
true gospel minister recognized by the church. Second, there must be a proper
candidate, a believer in the true gospel of Jesus Christ. And third, there must
be a body of water (Acts 8:36). Therefore any former baptism that does not meet
these requirements would not be considered to be proper, such as infant
baptisms, sprinklings, those outside of the church.
15. Why do Primitive Baptists not use musical instruments in their worship
services? The answer to this is straight forward, because is no scriptural
precedent for it in the New Testament. We do however find that there are
repeated instructions to sing in the church (Rom. 15:9; 1 Cor. 14:15; Eph. 5:19;
Col. 3:16; Heb. 2:12; James 5:13). Some object to this and attempt to
refer to Psalms 137:2-3, “We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst
thereof. For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and
they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, sing us one of the songs of
Zion.” But they fail read the third verse, which reads, “how shall we sing the
Lord's song in a strange land?”
Also some refer to Psalms 150, which speaks of the use of many instruments of
music being used to praise the Lord. But these are not referring to the New
Testament Church, by to the old Jewish worship under the Law. And so if this be
true and we are to do these things, then would it not also be true that we ought
to also have animal sacrifices in the churches as well? We cannot simply pick
and choose what we will add; it’s all of the law or nothing. And again
some would insist that there are many things that are found in most, if not all
of today’s modern churches that are without scriptural precedent, such as
electric lighting, air conditioning, carpeting, etc. but none of these things
have anything to do with the worship of God.
16. Why do Primitive Baptists not have Sunday schools? To begin with
there is no scriptural precedence for Sunday schools. Although it’s certain that
the Apostle Paul most certainly admonishes God’s people to study the scriptures
(2 Tim. 2:15). It’s a great benefit to study in a setting with a pastor with
other Christian believers. However there is nothing in the scriptures that we
find which instructs any New Testament Church, or for that matter in the old law
worship, to separate themselves by age, sex, or any other criteria.
Some may insist that
Sunday schools are necessary for the instruction of children. It has been
falsely assumed by “popular opinion” that children cannot be instructed in a
proper church worship service. But this is simply not true, in Matt. 11:25 Jesus
says concerning children, “I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed
them unto babes.” And again in Matt. 21:15, we see a wonderful thing, children
crying out praises to God in the temple, saying, “Hosanna to the son of David.”
In the Old Testament we find that instruction is not just a Sunday event, but an
every day, from the time we rise up in the morning to the time we lay down to
sleep at night event (Deut. 6:6).
17. Why do Primitive Baptists not have crosses or pictures of Jesus in their
churches? To start with the scriptures forbid having any kind of images of
God at all (Exod. 20:4-5). And to do so is considered to be idolatry (1 Cor.
10:14; Gal. 5:19-21; 1 John 5:21). And so having pictures of Jesus: who is God
the Son in the flesh (John 1:1, 5:18, 14, 14:8-9; Phil. 2:5-8), would also be
included in this commandment. And lastly, pictures of Jesus are only products of
man’s imagination. And lastly, “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of
our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising
the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Heb.5:12).
18. What do Primitive Baptists believe about speaking in tongues as well as
other miraculous gifts? They believe that there are always possibilities of
miracles (Matt. 17:19-20; Mark 9:23, 11:23). And most of God’s people have been
witness to having their prayers answered in most miraculous ways.
In the scriptures we
find that miracles are always performed by, in the Old Testament, by the
prophets, and in the New Testament, by Jesus Christ or His Apostles. Special
gifts were given to and where ended with apostles. These gift were given to them
in order to establish the fact that the church early church had arrived with
power. That having been accomplished, and since there not apostles in the world
today, any so-called occurrence of extraordinary spiritual gifts would be a
departure from the scriptural pattern.
There is also
evidence that these gift began to diminish even with the apostles, Paul
instructed Timothy to take a little wine for a chronic stomach problem that he
was suffering (1 Tim. 5:23), and he even wrote of leaving Trophimus who was sick
at Miletum (2 Tim. 4:P20). Wouldn’t be reasonable to assume that he would have
healed these people if he still possessed these apostolic powers?
The practice of counterfeiting miracles in the name of Jesus Christ is condemned
in scripture (Matt. 7:21-23). It is done only to deceive, bringing fame and
monetary gain to those who do so. And lastly it serves to discredit any true
miracles that are recorded in the Bible, and takes away the belief in the power
of prayer to God (2 peter 2:1-2).
19. What do Primitive Baptists believe about the fall of man? They
believe The man Adam was created perfect, and that he willfully sinned in his
disobedience of God’s commandment saying, “of every tree of the garden thou
mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt
not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die”
(Gen. 2:16-17). And that in his disobedience he plunged all of his posterity
into sin and death (Rom. 5:12-19). And that man in his natural state is dead in
his trespasses and sins (Eph. 2:1) and is unable, and unwilling to recover
himself by his own “free-will” (John 1:13; John 6:44; Rom. 3:10-20; Rom. 9:16).
20. What do Primitive Baptists believe about unconditional election? They
believe that God choose out a people before the foundation of the world (Eph.
1:4). And that God sent forth His only begotten Son, born into the world
fulfilling all that was necessary for every one of them to be with Him in Glory.
21. What is meant by the term “predestination? Predestination is a phrase
used in the Bible no less than 4 times (Rom. 8: 29-30, Eph. 1: 5, 11). It is a
word that describes God’s choosing out of the world of Adam’s race a “great
multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people,
and tongues” (rev. 7:9) to be conformed to the image of His Son, the Lord Jesus
Christ (Rom. 8:28-30). It is said by those who object to this doctrine that it
is an unfair doctrine, but Primitive Baptist understand that had it not been for
God’s predestinating according to His sovereign will, the entire human race
would have remained “dead in trespasses and sins” forever. Predestination is not
the sinner’s enemy, but it is his friend, it brings him to a state of salvation
from his ruined condition into a state of grace. Predestination is not “what”
God “foreknows,” but “whom” He “foreknows.”
22. Do Primitive Baptists believe that Jesus Christ died for the whole human
race? No, Primitive Baptist understand that the scriptures do not support
such an idea. Primitive Baptist believe that Christ died for the elect only
(Mark 13:27; 1 peter 1:2). And that the ones that He died for do not have their
trespasses imputed to them and are not condemned (2 Cor. 5:18-19). Jesus said in
John 6:37-39, “all that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that
cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. For I came down from heaven, not to do
mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the Father's will
which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing,
but should raise it up again at the last day.” Jesus came into the world to
“save His people from their sins” (Matt. 1:21; Rom. 8:33-34), and that He
accomplished what His father sent Him to do. And that God “saw the travail of
His soul and was satisfied” (Isa. 53:10-12).
23. If a person is already “saved” why do Primitive Baptists continue to
preach? Primitive Baptist understand that preaching is not for the purpose
of saving someone to eternal salvation, but is for the comfort of God’s people (Isa.
40:1-2, 9; Eph. 4: 11-16). Eternal salvation is a result of a direct operation
of the Holy Ghost causing one to be born again from death in sin, unto life with
God in heaven’s glory world (John 3:6-8). The gospel brings “life and
immortality to light” (1 Tim. 1:10), but it does not produce life.
24. Why do Primitive Baptists not send out missionaries? Primitive
Baptist believe that sense the gospel is not necessary to save someone to
eternal glory, it is not therefore necessary to send forth men to make people
ready, or to “save souls” in order for them to go to heaven. And that God’s
ministers ought to go only where they are directed by the Holy Ghost and not by
a missionary board (Acts 20:22-23). And that if He does cause a minister to feel
that he is called to go out into a foreign country to preach the gospel, that he
ought to go at once, depending on the Lord and those that he is called to serve,
and not wait for someone to pay his way.
25. Are Primitive Baptists “Protestants?" No, the true Church that Jesus
Christ established was before all other religious orders and institutions of men
that have taken the name of “Christian” to themselves. The true Church had
nothing to reform, and therefore cannot be called a Protestant Church.
26. Do Primitive Baptists believe in tithing? Primitive Baptist believe
that tithing was and is an Old Testament Law requirement that is not binding
today. It was given as a “tax” used to support the priesthood, and the upkeep of
temple. We believe that God’s people in the Church are to “give; not grudgingly,
or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver” (2 Cor. 9:7). And to give in
secret, “and thy Father which seeth in secret Himself shall reward thee openly”
(Matt. 6:4).
27. Do Primitive Baptists ministers receive a salary? No, Primitive
Baptist ministers having been called by God devote their time and resources to
the service of God and His people out of love. They follow after the example set
forth by Jesus when He sent out His disciples to preach, instructing them to
“heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye
have received, freely give. Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your
purses, nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet
staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat” (Matt.10:7-10; Mark 6:7-9; Luke
9:1-3; 10:1-4). And as the Lord blesses their labors among them, those who
receive his labor contribute willingly to his needs (Luke 22:25-26; 1 Cor
9:9-14).
28. Why do Primitive Baptists not preach that God loves everybody?
Because the Scriptures do not teach that He does. God does love all of His
people that He has placed in Christ Jesus before the world began, and they do
number the stars in the sky, and the sands on the seashore enumerable, but this
does not include everyone in the human family of Adam. (Rom. 9:11-13).
29. Since Primitive Baptists believe that your eternal destiny is secure in
the hands of God and that you as a man cannot do anything to change it, do worry
that you may be wrong? No, just the opposite is true. There is great comfort
in the knowledge that you place with God is in the Lord Almighty’s hands and not
in the hands of fallible man (Titus 3:5-7).
30. If the Primitive Baptists believe that the scriptures were not written in
order to save souls to ever lasting life, what do they believe they were written
for? The scriptures were written for three main reasons, first, glorify God
(Rom. 15:6-9), second, to comfort God’s people (Rom. 15:4), and third, “All
scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for
reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God
may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Tim. 3:16-17).
31. Do Primitive Baptists believe in preaching the gospel to sinners?
Yes, by all means, because Primitive Baptist believe that it is only the born
again child of God in the world who would have any interest in the grace of God
toward poor and needy sinners. They understand that the dead cannot receive
anything at all, but one must be born again from above in order to “see the
kingdom of God,” or to enter in to it (John 3:3-5). And that he is born again as
the Holy Spirit sovereignly moves (John 3:8). And the Gospel is not addressed to
the dead alien sinner, but to those who are living and are burdened with their
sins (Matt. 11:28-30).
32. Aren’t the
scriptures written as a means to get someone to be born again? The
scriptures were not written to cause someone to be born again, but it is true
that we are born again by the Word of God which liveth and abideth for ever,”
but this “Word” is not the written word, nor is it the preached word, but it is
the Living Word, the Lord Jesus Christ (John 1:1-2, 14; 1 Peter 1:23-25). The
word and the gospel are two distinctly different things. Jesus and the message
are not the same thing. The gospel is the “good news from a far country” of what
He has done for His people. (Prov. 25:25; Matt. 11:5).
33. Do Primitive Baptists believe that it is necessary to call on men to
repent and believe? Yes, they certainly do, but this message is not to the
dead alien sinner, but only to one who is burdened by his sins, and he ought to
repent and believe the truth. For when he does repent, believes, and is baptized
he is going to be saved from the distresses, errors of confusion, and pit falls
that will come his way while he lives in this sinful world (Mark 16:16) This
salvation is not that which takes someone to heaven, but one which will save him
while here in the world (Acts 2:40).
34. What do Primitive Baptists mean when they refer to the gospel or militant
church? There are two phases of the church. This is a reference to the
physical congregation of believers, which was set and established by Jesus
Christ while He was here on the earth as a place of rest while they are on their
way home to God the Father. In order to enter into the gospel church a person
must be taught by the preaching of the gospel to follow the Lord in obedience
into the waters of baptism. The gospel church is that called a “little flock” by
Jesus (Luke 12:32).
While there is also
a universal church which is made up of all of those who have been born again by
God, which Jesus will someday present to His Father without “spot, or wrinkle,
or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish” (Eph. 5:27).
This church, which will be housed with Him in heaven, is without number (Heb.
11:12; Rev. 5:9, 7:9).
35. Do Primitive Baptists preach infants to hell? No, the doctrine
preached by Primitive Baptist is the only doctrine that gives any hope at all
that infants, the feeble-minded, and the person who has never heard, nor will be
in heaven. Most other religious orders of people preach and teach that it is
necessary for someone to hear, understand and respond to the message of the
gospel, and must manifestly believe on Christ, in order to become a child of
God. But Old Line Primitive Baptist believe and teach that everyone to whom God
loves, and that He gave to His Son Jesus Christ will receive the mercy of God
without the hearing of the gospel, and without fully understanding what has
taken place within his heart.
If eternal salvation
is dependent upon any work that is to be done by man, then the infant, the
feeble-minded, and the heathen must have the gospel preached to them by man, and
they must repent and believe the truth, and there would be no hope for them. And
they’re being no word in the scriptures declaring an “age of accountability,”
and that “wages of sin is death,” (Rom. 6:23,) then the infant who dies, is
paying for its own sin. But since the sovereign grace of God is in and through
the work our His Son, we know full well that He will save His own regardless of
their circumstances in life. (Rom. 8:29-30, 34-39; 11:28; 2 Tim. 2:13, 16-19).
“These are only but a few of the questions that may be asked concerning the
Primitive Baptist, but if you find that you have an interest in the pure and
simply form of Apostolic worship, I would like to encourage you to come and
attend worship services with God’s people who are numbered among the Old Line
Primitive Baptist who meet and sing the old songs of Zion, pray together, and
are blessed to hear the joyful sound of the gospel. These are the poor and needy
sinners, who have felt the Spirit of God in their hearts, and rejoice in their
blessed hope.”
Elder Thomas McDonald
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