Gilbert Beebe: Absolute Predestination (2)

In this video segment, Mr. Collier finishes the reading of Gilbert Beebe's article titled, "Absolute Predestination."

You can buy Gilbert Beebe's works from Elder C.C. Morris, a good friend of mine from Hawkins, Texas. Elder C. C. Morris can be reached on-line at www.the-remnant.com and www.primitive-baptist.com Elder C.C. Morris also publishes a free magazine titled, "The Remnant." You can get on his mailing list by writing:
Elder C.C. Morris
Editor and Publisher
PO Box 1004
Hawkins, Texas 75765
phone: 1-903-769-4822

Now, I do not endorse everything Primitive Baptists believe in, for example I am a presbyterian in ecclesiology, and hold to Covenant Theology (which no Baptist would assent to), but Elder Morris' group is sound in their beliefs concerning the 5-Solas and the 5-Points of Calvinism, a.k.a. Calvinist soteriology.

I also reject Gilbert Beebe's belief that the Holy Spirit regenerates the elect apart from the preaching and reading of God's Word. The Bible teaches that the Holy Spirit regenerates the elect immediately, but always during the preaching and reading of God's Word (see Westminster Confession of Faith 1:6+7).

In fact, Beebe may have been the father of the "anti-means" movement. Beebe seems, in other places, to have missed the simple fact that God not only determines the means, but also the ends concerning our salvation: despite the fact that this very article, "Absolute Predestination," teaches this by assertion! He most likely came to this view at a young age when he was exposed to an Arminian who was teaching that means implied that man had human free-will apart from God. The correct understanding of means does not imply this. Later, this doctrine of Hard Shell Primitive Baptists would come to be known as the "Spirit Without The Word Position." However, God never distinguishes between His Word and Spirit (John 6:63), and He always causes His Word to be effectual in the salvation of the elect (2 Timothy 3:15).

Nevertheless, we are benefitted by studying the works of other Calvinistic individuals: John Bunyan and John Gill are two of my favorite Calvinistic Baptist theologians. I once met an Old School Primitive Baptist preacher some years ago in the small town of Rogersville, Tennessee. He was one of the few preachers in that town, if there were any more, that professed the doctrines of Salvation By Grace Alone, Justification By Faith Alone, and the Absolute Predestination Of God In All Things.
The man had read Gordan H. Clark and Herman Hoeksema, and agreed with most of what they taught. He had never been to college or seminary, but was better trained than most in the ministry today. God has His people among us, even when we can't always see them.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Gilbert
• Beebe
• Calvinism
• Primitive
• Baptists
• Sovereignty
• Eric
• Jon
• Phelps
• Morris
• Remnant
• The
• Monty
• Collier
• Report