"It is not strange...that those who have no deep, inward experience of Christ formed in the soul, through faith, should fall an easy prey to a mechanical regeneration through baptism and to the delusion that in partaking the wafer they really partake of Christ. The untaught and thirsty of the desert plains readily follow every mirage." -- J. B. Gambrell in the introduction to Baptist Refreshments, according to the Scriptures, L. R. Burress, Nashville, TN: Marshall and Bruce Co., 1915, pp. 4-5
"Some justify the divisions of Christians by appealing to the right of religious liberty, which allows men to worship as they please. True, before men, the worshipper is justified in the exercise of his own will, but before God the worshipper is taught to pray, 'Thy will be done on earth'." -- L. R. Burress, p. 12
"A moment's thought will convince us that the eternal individual existence (eternal children) error makes void every operation of grace. One never lost will not have need of a Saviour. God could have known an eternal child, but could never have foreknown one." ---Elder C. H. Waters, 1906.
2 comments:
From this quote by Dr. Waters and knowing his history as to his theology, it is clear that he did not understand the eternal vital union between Christ and His elect children. Hoyt D. F. Sparks, SL
Brother Hoyt, I do not know of C.H. Waters' history or theology, though I might guess at it. I only saw the quote pulled out of its context, so have know way of knowing that either.
Though I may not agree with Waters' theology, I do not understand the Bible to teach anyone or anything to be eternal, but God only. Perhaps he was addressing eternal vital union, as you note, but I profess I do not understand eternal vital union or what people mean when they speak of it. Once they seem to mean one thing; then again they seem to mean another. The problem may be in my spiritual understanding, the ability of the authors' to explain themselves, or the doctrine itself. I know not.
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