Since we are still basically at the beginning of a New Year, I feel led to share some posts that I have used in the past as a way to “start us off right.” For the next two or three weeks, I want to share a set of questions and answers written by my brother, Elder Tim McCool, pastor of Bethlehem Primitive Baptist Church in Echola, Alabama. These questions and answers concern Primitive Baptists, and what we believe about some important biblical teachings. Many people have questions about what it means to be a Primitive Baptist, and these questions and answers from Scripture help define who we are. I hope these are helpful to you!
May the Lord bless you is my prayer.
Elder Chris McCool, Pastor
Questions & Answers about Primitive Baptists
by Tim McCool
Pastor, Bethlehem Primitive Baptist Church
Boyd Road, Echola Alabama
Q1: What is the basic difference between Primitive Baptists and other religious groups?
A: Primitive Baptists believe in salvation by grace, meaning that God saved his people through His plan of salvation (Matt.1:21). As a result those who are saved are exhorted to glorify him for what He has done (Eph. 2:10). Primitive Baptists declare that eternal salvation is by God ALONE. (Isa. 53; Acts 4:12; Eph. 2:8-9; Jn. 6:37-39; 17:2-9; Rom. 8:28-39; 2 Cor. 5:21; Gal. 2:16; Tit. 3:4-7; Heb. 9:12-15)
Q2: What do Primitive Baptists believe is the role of God the Father in salvation?
A: In making a covenant with God the Son and God the Spirit, God the Father foreknew, elected and predestinated an innumerable host out of all mankind before the foundation of the world to be conformed to the image of His Son (Rom. 8:28; Eph. 1:3-6, 11; I Pet. 1:2; Jn. 6:37-40; Jn. 17:2)
Q3: What is the role of God the Son?
A: God the Son came to earth to save his people from their sins (Mt. 1:21), to suffer the wrath of God for their sins in their place (I Pet. 3:18), and redeem (buy back) those whom God the Father had previously chosen before the foundation of the world (Eph. 1:7; Jn. 6:37-40; Matt. 1:21; Jn. 10:27-30; Jn. 17:2-3; Tit. 3:6; Heb. 9:12-14; I Pet. 1:1).
Q4: What is the role of God the Spirit?
A: God the Spirit promised to enter the heart of every person whom God the Father foreknew and for whom God the Son redeemed, giving the “new birth” (Tit. 3:5; Jn. 1:13; Jn. 3:1-8; Jn. 6:63; I Pet. 1:1), and also to guide those children in their understanding of the word of God (Jn. 16:13). According to the scripture, this “new birth” is not given because of any action of our own, but by His mercy and grace (see cites above).
Q5: Understanding this, then what is MY role?
A: If you have been born again by His Spirit, it means that you are included in the purpose of God and YOUR ROLE is to give God glory in your life because of the life he has given you (Eph. 2:1). This involves repenting of sin, embracing his truths, confessing Him, following His instruction, and joining his church (Acts 2:38; Psalm. 119:105; Rom. 10:9; Rev. 4:11; I Pet. 3:21).
Q6: Does this mean I must “accept Christ”?
A: The word “accept/accepted/accepting” occurs 12 times in the New Testament in reference to salvation. Not ONCE does it mention that I am to “accept Christ”, which is a phrase that was coined around 100 years ago. However, as one already born again, the Bible declares that “in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, IS ACCEPTED with him” (Acts 10:35). Like the “sinners prayer” and other terms not found in the Bible, the idea of “accepting Christ” arose through years of distortions and mis-teaching of the fact that God’s children “receive” the Spirit into their hearts by volition of the Holy Ghost (Jn. 1:12; Jn. 3:27; Rom. 8:15; I Cor. 2:12; 2 Cor. 11:4; Gal. 3:2; Col. 2:6). But you can accept the gospel (2 Cor. 11:4), the good news of your salvation, which declares the truth that CHRIST has MADE US ACCEPTED (Eph. 1:6), which involved no work of our own! If you have received the Lord’s gift, then you are required to repent and be baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost (Acts 2:38).
Q7: If I believe in election, then why did Jesus have to die?
A:Election and predestination are merely the terms used by God to describe what He did in appointing the innumerable host of His children to be conformed to the image of His Son (Rom. 8:29). In order for this to be accomplished, someone had to suffer the penalty for the sins of His people. God’s wrath must be satisfied on all mankind, including those He chose (the elect). Only one Man could do that – Jesus Christ. He suffered the penalty of sin in our place (Acts 17:3; 2 Cor. 5:21; Isa. 53:6; Heb. 9:12-28), which had to occur in order for the innumerable host of His children to be housed in heaven.
To be continued. . .