God
Forbid !
Elder O. B. Mink
Now In Glory
“What
shall we say then?
Shall we continue to sin, that grace may abound?” (Romans 6:1)
Paul’s
second question of this text is answered with an emphatic, “God
forbid...”
Baptists have been accused by individuals, and by entire denominations
of
teaching a doctrine extremely dangerous to Christian living. The
doctrine
referred to and which they detest, is commonly entitled, “Eternal
Security” or “Once
in grace always in grace.” We make no apologies for teaching that every
person
born of the Spirit of grace, will in that grace persevere in spite of
all
counter forces, and ultimately awake in the likeness of his Lord. This
is not a
fragmented teaching of the word of God, but is prominent throughout the
inspired record. We, with joy plead guilty to the charge of teaching
the
eternal security of the believer, but we take clear exception to the
contention, that the doctrine is dangerous to Christian living. The
doctrine of
the preservation and perseverance of the saints magnifies the atonement
of
Christ, strengthens the faith of God’s elect, and creates in the heart
of the
believer unceasing praise for the watch care of God’s kind and tender
providence. They which accuse Baptists of taking undue liberty with
Christian
stewardship, are in truth the people which teach a doctrine that not
only
diminishes the comfort and assurance of the saint, but also destroys
Christian
incentive. The despicable doctrine is theologically termed “Apostasy,”
and is
ludicrously described as, “Saved today and lost tomorrow.” Regretfully,
they
which preach this God dishonoring doctrine, usually get around to
practicing
what they preach.
True Baptists have been sticklers for Biblical
morality and decency all through their long and bitter history. The
antinomian
spirit has never successfully infiltrated their ranks, and the great
majority
of twentieth century puritans are to be found in that company, called
Baptists.
“Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?” We answer in
the
negative, and from every Baptist church that is blessed with the
residence of
the Spirit of truth, a resounding NO reaches God’s sin avenging throne
in
answer to Paul’s question. New Testament Baptists do not believe
because they
are saved by grace they can live as they please, but out of a heart
filled with
gratitude toward God for His unspeakable gift, they strive to live as
pleases
Him Who died to give them eternal life.
All that the Father gave to the Son in the
covenant
of redemption shall come to Him, and Christ says, “Him that cometh
to me I
will in no wise cast out” (John 6:37). Paul says, “Being
confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in
you will
perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians
1:6).
There is no power that can delay the work of God in His blood bought
children,
much less cause it to cease. At the day of Jesus Christ the elect shall
realize
perfect conformity to the image of Christ, and all powers running
counter to
this Divine determination will be seen in the end to be nothing more by
comparison than the light of a candle to that of the sun. Yea, in truth
God’s
power is not subject to resistance (Job 23:13; Psalms 115:3).
While we
rejoice in God’s sure promises of eternal security and glorification,
let us
not forget the briefest moment that God has forbid us to sin. “What
then?
Shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under the grace?
God forbid”
(Romans 6:15).
“My little children, these things write I
unto
you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the
Father,
Jesus Christ the righteous” (I John 2:1). Shall we sin
because we
have an Almighty Advocate? God forbid. Shall we sin because God’s love
for His
children is unchangeable? God forbid. Let us remember, while our
heavenly
destiny is absolute, that we are in time objects of God’s loving
chastisement, and
that “No chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but
grievous...”
(Hebrews 12:11).
God justifies His people through the grace that
is in
Christ Jesus (Romans 3:24), and He keeps them for the end
whereof they
were justified, that is, “Whom He justified, them He also glorified” (Romans
8:30).
“What shall we say then? Is there
unrighteousness with God? God forbid” (Romans 9:14)
(Sovereign
Grace Advocate - August,
1981)