J.R. GRAVES LIFE, TIMES AND TEACHINGS 15

 

WHY THE DEBATE FAILED

 

 

It was so manifest that Mr. Fall and Mr. Fanning and others who were consulted did not desire the debate with Dr. Graves, though they tried to throw the blame on him for its failure, which Dr. Ford said was not true, Dr. Graves said: “I want the discussion to go down to the bedrock of the gospel plan of salvation or else I have no time to waste upon it. I want the issue of eternal importance to be clearly made – is salvation by works of righteousness which we have done, or is it by sovereign unmerited grace: if it is by or through baptism; through or by the church or kingdom; by any act of the creature done by him or for him – then it is by works, and grace is no more grace. This is the damning heresy of Rome and, to a great extent, of Protestantism. Campbellism is this same heresy which Paul denounced and Rome formulated, presented in a new and popular dress. I shall not give my time to the discussion of terms such as ‘for’ and ‘into,’ but discuss the vital, essential principles – is justification through faith or is it by works? This being decided, then the meaning of Peter’s words at Pentecost, and other expressions in the New Testament, are thoroughly in harmony with the great gospel fact announced by our Lord Jesus: ‘He that believeth in Him shall not come into condemnation, but is passed out of death into life.’” And thus ended the proposed discussion between these two representative men.

 

 

In personal appearance Dr. Graves was about five feet ten inches high, weighed about 160 pounds, and had a fine face with a well balanced head. His dark and almost black eyes showed the true temper of metal, his fine brow and broad forehead gave evidence of a more than ordinary brain, his finely chiseled nose marked him as a man possessed of penetrating thought, indomitable zeal and energy, his moth was expressive of sublime sentiments, and upon the whole his physiognomy indicated great reasoning ability.

 

243 – Aug. 31 – This Day in Baptist History Past

 

A Baptist by Conviction

 

1817 – Rev. Adoniram Judson, Sr. and his wife Abigail were immersed by Dr. Thomas Baldwin into the membership of the Second Baptist Church of Boston, Mass. They were the parents of Adoniram Judson, Jr. who was the renowned missionary to Burma. The elder Judson had graduated from Yale in 1776 and held strong to Puritan theology, especially repudiating Unitarianism and the Arian heresy that was rampant at that time. He became the pastor of a conservative Congregational church in Malden, Mass. During his brief ministry there, liberalism spread to the church family, and he was “dismissed” from the church. In time the Lord opened another place of service, but again he had to endure the trial of his son, and namesake, embracing agnosticism at Brown University. After Adoniram, Jr’s conversion to Christ, and later embracing Baptist convictions on his trip to the mission field, Adoniram, Sr. also came to the same conclusion concerning believer’s baptism, and rejected his pedobaptism, and resigned from the Congregational ministry. He continued to live faithfully as a Baptist until the Lord called him home in his seventy-fourth year. [Courtney Anderson, To The Golden Shore (Boxton: Little, Brown and Company, 1956), pp. 3-11. This Day in Baptist History II: Cummins and Thompson, BJU Press: Greenville, S.C. 2000 A.D. pp.476-477] Prepared by Dr. Greg Dixon

 

188 – July, 07 – This Day in Baptist History Past

 

Four generations pastor the same church

 

Edward Wightman was the last Englishman to be martyred on April 11, 1612 for heresy. He was considered a radical Anabaptist. Five Wightman brothers came to America, all Baptists – two were preachers; two were deacons; one a private member of the church. Valentine Wightman was the son of one of the five and was born in Kingston, Rhode Island, in 1681. In 1705 his church licensed him to preach and he moved to Groton, Connecticut, and planted the First Baptist church in the colony of CT. His fame spread after a seven hour debate with Rev. John Bulkey in 1727 on the subject of Baptism. In 1714 he planted the First Baptist church in the state of N.Y. Valentine died on June 9, 1747, after ministering 42 years in Groton. The church at Groton continued under the ministry of Valentine’s son Timothy Wightman who saw great revivals from time to time from 1764 to 1787. A second Baptist church was established in Groton in 1765. Timothy served during the Revolutionary War and stood for the defense of liberty. He died on Nov. 14, 1796 after having also served for 42 years in the same church that his father had founded.  His son, John Gano Wightman accepted the call to the church on Aug. 13, 1800. His first wife died in 1816 and on July 7, 1817, he married Bridget Allyn who served faithfully by his side. The church experienced at least ten seasons of refreshing revival during this time. Another church was established in Groton in 1831. John died on July 13, 1841 and thus concluded 125 years of ministry by grandfather, father, and son who led the work in Groton, CT. Interestingly, on June 12, 1864 the Rev. Palmer G. Wightman, grandson of the Rev. John Gano Wightman, was ordained pastor of the Groton church, and a great revival broke out.

 

Dr. Greg J. Dixon: adapted From: This Day in Baptist History Vol. I: Cummins/Thompson, pp.278-79.

 

 

156 — June 05 – This Day in Baptist History Past

 

156 — June 05 – This Day in Baptist History Past                

 

 

From Heresy to Harmony

 

Nathaniel Williams had been born in Salem, Massachusetts, on August 24, 1784. He grew up with Unitarian influences, and the religious convictions of those formative days extended through his early life. While still in his youth, Williams found employment with his uncle and eventually was sent to India on one of his uncle’s ships that was trading in Calcutta. It was during this time that Williams met three English missionaries. Coming under great conviction, he submitted to the Savior’s atonement and was saved. He made public profession of his faith, was baptized by the Rev. Lucius Bolles, and became a member of the First Baptist Church of Salem on June 5, 1808.

 

The First Baptist Church of Salem had been formed three years previously with only twenty-four members. Bolles was the first pastor, and Nathaniel Williams could not have been placed in a finer institution for training.  In time Williams became a deacon, and in July 1812 he was licensed to preach. After several years of pastoring in New Hampshire, Vermont, and Massachusetts he returned to the church in Beverly as pastor.

 

Dr. Dale R. Hart: Adapted from: This Day in Baptist History Vol. I. (Thompson/Cummins)pp.231-232.

 

 

133– May 13 – This Day in Baptist History

 

“The Conversion of a Church”

 

The Congregational church in Sedgwick, Maine, had enjoyed the ministry of the Reverend Daniel Merrill for twelve years. During that time it became one of the largest of the denomination’s churches in the state. However, when several of his ministerial students became Baptists, the rev. Mr. Merrill determined to restudy the matter of baptism and write a book on the subject which would protect against such losses, and such a volume would be invaluable to many in refuting what he considered heresy taught by the Baptists. After more than two years of studying the scriptures he concluded that the Bible did not support his long-held position of sprinkling.

 

The matter came to a head when a group of children were presented to be sprinkled and the pastor could no longer with good conscience perform the rite. For several months Merrill continued in agony of heart for, as he confessed, he “could not bear the idea of being called one [a Baptist].

 

On February 28, 1805, after a series of sermons on the biblical mode of baptism, the congregation voted unanimously to call for a council of Baptist ministers to administer New Testament immersion, to constitute them as a Baptist church, and to ordain Daniel Merrill as their pastor. In all, sixty-six candidates were baptized on May 13, 1805, and nineteen more were baptized on the following day.

 

Thus concluded the remarkable story of the conversion of a pastor and his people, to the principles of the Baptists.

 

Dr. Dale R. Hart: Adapted from: This Day in Baptist History, Vol. I: Cummins/Thompson /, pp. 195-196

 

 

BETH MOORE AND KEN SILVA DISCUSS HER DEMONIC VISION : Apprising Ministries

BETH MOORE AND KEN SILVA DISCUSS HER DEMONIC VISION : Apprising Ministries.

Beth Moore receiving visions that no one else receives and relating them to others. She is unscriptural and unstudied in prophecy and leading many away from the truth. John the Revelator sealed revelation when he ended his book that he wrote. Rev 22:18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
Rev 22:19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

351 – Dec. 17 – THIS DAY IN BAPTIST HISTORY PAST

In Feb. of 1812 Jacob found the peace of Salvation
December 17, 1811 – Jacob Bower of Muhlenberg County, Kentucky, cried out, “Lord, have mercy on us, we shall all be sunk and lost, and I am not prepared. O God, have mercy upon us all.” America’s greatest earthquake had just struck. Centered in the Mississippi River, it sent shock waves into Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri, Georgia, S.C., Virginia, and Indiana. Mild tremors were felt as far as Boston! Bower was born into a Christian family on Sept. 26, 1786. His father led the family in morning and evening devotions and instructed the children to live moral and upright lives, but he failed to lead them into a personal relationship with Christ. Therefore young Bower matured trusting in his own righteousness for salvation. Upon leaving home for employment, he was soon influenced by a Universalist, and for five years, Bower embraced that heresy and began drinking and fell into many vices and sins. When conviction came he would assure himself of salvation, for Universalism taught that men would be saved, regardless of their lifestyle. He married in 1807 at the age of 21, and the Lord again began to stir his heart with conviction. In 1811 during a visit to his home, and a witness of a Baptist preacher, his heart was stirred again to consider death and eternity. Conviction continued to grow and then came the earthquake. A tremendous struggle ensued and then in Feb. of 1812 Jacob found the peace of Salvation. He made a public profession and was baptized into the membership of Hazel Creek Baptist Church. After serving three Kentucky churches for ten years he moved his family to Illinois and within two years he organized two churches. And then in Illinois and Missouri he organized fourteen churches and ordained twelve ministers to the gospel ministry.
Dr. Greg J. Dixon from: This Day in Baptist History Vol. I: Cummins Thompson /, pp. 526-28.

Our Value

God doesn’t love us because we’re valuable. We’re valuable because God loves us.

What value can we put on one life? God puts a tremendous value on our life.  Romans 5:8 proclaims “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinner’s, Christ died for us.” Every life in the womb is precious to God. He loves us so much that He sent His Son to die a horrible death on the cross. One willing to die for us exhibits a love so great that we become valuable.  This is a precious thought. I am valuable. You are valuable. We are valuable to God, by His Son.

Heresy and those that pervert it.

Just taking a look at email and ran across this article. What  are these people talking about. Heresy, defined from a Biblical stand, is deviation from the true doctrine that God has established. The assumption that heresy is choosing one’s own belief instead of what one is born into is spurious. Heresy is choosing one’s own belief instead of accepting God’s teaching. This man is a pretentious pretender as editor of a religious magazine.  He states that a “careful reader will discern that I have little patience with those who fling the word blasphemy at movies or books or magazines that portray Jesus in a way they don’t like.”

How pompous can one person be to indicate that anything is okay just as long as it carries the label “Christian.” This strikes me to be one that has a shallow understanding of the Old Testament and the reverence shown to God. We have lost that reverential fear today. We try to make God something He is not. He is so Holy that there are those that would make Him human so that they can be more comfortable around Him. This would then excuse their “heretical and pernicious ways” that God does not approve of.

In the Old Testament, some of those that practised heresy were swallowed up by the earth and some others were burned up by fire from heaven. How much of a warning does one need to know that if you disrespect God, He will disrespect you. Make your definitions that suit you and make your decisions that define you but be willing to accept the results that God will send whether blessing or beating (chastisement).

Can anyone tell that a few high sounding words that are used to explain ireverance of God and disrespect for His Son Jesus Christ causes me to have a large loss of patience. There is an explanation for ignorance – lack of knowledge. There is no explanation for stupid.Technorati Tags: Old Testament, pompous, heresy, God, reverance