Is a person capable of becoming a "Christian" based upon their natural merits?

A STANDING CHALLENGE

For those who preach a free, universal offer of eternal salvation, we challenge you to give us ONE scripture, which plainly states and proves that:

1. God has ever OFFERED eternal life to anyone, to be “accepted” or “rejected”.

2. One or more persons for whom Christ died, or made vicarious atonement, shall suffer eternal destruction or torment; and that,

3. God has left the eternal destiny of one or more of the “redeemed” to any human means or agency whatsoever.

If the teachings now being propagated in professed Christendom are the truth of God, then at least ONE plain, categorical statement — inspired of God — ought to be readily shown. If no such teaching or Scripture can be found in God’s Book (KJV), then all of these popular teachings should be exposed for what they are, namely, anti-Christ lies which deny the sovereign dominion of God in both grace and creation.

We are not asking for a theological dissertation, but for just ONE plain scripture, without interpretation, more if you can find them.

NOTE: The above appeared in issues of the Old Faith Contender, edited and published by Elder W. J. Berry, Sr. The Old Faith Contender has not been published since 1982, and Elder Berry died in 1986. However, this challenge is as good today as it was when Elder Berry was active in his publications. If anyone can produce scriptural references, in line with the above challenge, please let me know and submit them in writing. (The Primitive Baptist Library, 4031 North N.C. Highway #87, Elon, NC 27244, established by Elder Berry, still operates under the guidance of trustees and any donations to support the operations and maintenance of the Library will be greatly appreciated.)

Hoyt D. F. Sparks

486 Choate Dairy Road

Sparta, NC 28675

336-372-6289

hoytsparks@hotmail.com

FOR WHOM DID CHRIST DIE?

By Elder John Owen

The Father imposed His wrath due unto, and the Son underwent punishment for, either:

1. All the sins of all men.

2. All the sins of some men, or

3. Some of the sins of all men.

In which case it may be said:

a. That if the last be true, all men have some sins to answer for, and so none are saved.

b. That if the second be true, then Christ, in their stead suffered for all the sins of all the elect in the whole world, and this is the truth.

c. But if the first be the case, why are not all men free from the punishment due unto their sins? You answer, Because of unbelief. I ask, Is this unbelief a sin, or is it not? If it be, then Christ suffered the punishment due unto it, or He did not. If He did, why must that hinder them more than their other sins for which He died? If He did not, He did not die for all their sins!

===================================================================

HOW IS SALVATION WROUGHT?

Jerome Zanchius (1516—1590) wrote that conversion and salvation must, in the very nature of things, be wrought and effected either:

1. By ourselves alone, or

2. By ourselves and GOD together, or

3. Solely by GOD Himself.

True believers are for the last (#3), because it is built on the strongest evidence of Scripture, reason and experience: it most effectually hides pride from man, and sets the crown of undivided praise upon the head, or rather casts it at the feet, of the glorious Triune GOD, Who worketh all in all.

====================================================================

FREEWILLER’S PERCEPTION

By Elder James P. Rines

Those preaching and teaching free will declare that:

1. Christ wants you to be saved.

2. The devil wants you to be damned.

3. You must cast the deciding vote, as to whether to vote to choose God or the devil.

The dilemma facing the freewiller by their proposition of the above is when they are asked, what happens if a person does not choose neither God or the devil? Their reply is that everyone must make a choice between God and the devil. Then, if everyone must make a choice, that is not free will, that is compulsion! Next obvious observation is, by common/natural logic, no one chooses the devil. The freewiller then squirms and says that if one does not choose God they have automatically chosen the devil. Even in this reply the freewiller has trapped themselves in their nonsense and garbage, because it would not be free will for anyone to have something cast upon them automatically!

====================================================================