What Is A Primitive Baptist?
Elder W. L. Johnson
A Primitive Baptist is a firm believer in salvation alone by the grace of the sovereign God. The Primitive Baptist Church is vastly different from all others, and an entirely separate and distinct denomination. This church traces its origin to the days of Jesus and the apostles, and has been known by different names down through the ages, such as Puritans, Novationists, Paternines, Lollards, Mennonites, Waldenses, French Hugenots, Albigenses, Anabaptists and other names - always being identified by its doctrines and practice. They were first called "Baptist" in the seventeenth century, and are today known as Primitive or Old School Baptists to distinguish them from the various other churches that call themselves Baptists. Perhaps they are better known as "Hard Shells," a name given them by their enemies. They are not Protestant, as they did not separate from Catholicism, but Catholicism separated from them.
They believe the church was perfect as it came from the hands of Jesus, and that any changes in perfection make imperfection. No church that has departed from the original New Testament pattern has any legal claim on true church succession regardless of what they may be called.
Each individual church governs its own internal affairs, subject to Christ alone, its King and lawgiver.
They have never boasted of large numbers, but this "little flock" has always "contended for the faith once delivered to the saints," caring more to be right before God than to be popular with men. They have endured much bitter opposition and persecution, and at times (before the Protestant Reformation) they were driven to worship in dens and caves of the earth, but never for one moment did this church cease to exist.
Dr. John Clarke, with eleven others, constituted the first Primitive Baptist Church in America at Newport, Rhode Island, in 1638. Dr. Clarke was a Baptist minister from London, being driven to America by persecution.
The order of worship in this church remains plain, simply singing, prayer, and preaching. They engage in congregational singing with no musical instruments, because there is no New Testament authority for them.
The oppose Sunday Schools, aids, societies and all other auxiliaries for the same reason - no New Testament authority. They believe in teaching their children Bible truths but that it is the parents' duty to do the teaching. Children were taken to church to hear the pure gospel for 1800 years before Sunday Schools were added to churches, and history shows that this and the home method has been a better influence upon them than has the modern Sunday School.
The church is "in the world, but not of the world." It is a house of worship and not for merchandise or entertainment, and all sales, bazaars, shows, plays, parties, etc., are not permissible.
Their ministers are called "elders," a New Testament term; the title "reverend" belongs only to God, never to man; and they do not attend theological schools, for no school can prepare a man to preach. Paul says the gospel he preached was not after man, neither was he taught it of man, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. They receive financial help from the church, but do not preach for salaries.
They do not believe baptism saves anyone eternally, and it is administered by an elder by immersion to believers only. They believe baptism and the Lord's Supper are the only ordinances ever given the church, and that only properly baptized persons who believe the New Testament doctrine can rightly partake of the bread and wine, which are emblems of the broken body and shed blood of the Lord and Savior. They also engage in the practice of washing the saints' feet.
They believe in missionary work as directed of God, but are opposed to the modern systems. Jesus said, "Go (not send) into all the world and preach the gospel." They went trusting God, and looking to no board or society for instructions or support, and they preached the pure gospel - salvation alone by the grace of God.
They believe the Bible - the written word - is the inspired work of God, (Jesus being the living word) and the only rule for faith and practice. There is much misunderstanding throughout the world because of misapplication. Most of Jesus' teaching is addressed to His followers, and the epistles are to the saved - to the church - and are not to the world in general. (The first few verses of each epistle will verify this). For example, the popular text, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock," is addressed to the lukewarm church, and not to the unsaved sinner.
They believe in the Triune God - that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are three, yet one, and equal in power.
They believe Adam disobeyed, knowing what the penalty would be, and the whole race of man would fall with him, and none are willing or able to save themselves from this lost and ruined condition.
The principle difference that puts this denomination apart from all others is their belief on eternal salvation. They believe that salvation is entirely by the grace of God, wholly unconditional on the part of the sinner, and that the doctrine of election and predestination is taught from Genesis to Revelation and cannot be successfully denied. Election and predestination means that God chose and predetermined the eternal salvation of a specific number of persons and their particular names were recorded in heaven before He created the world. Jesus came to earth, suffered and died for those chosen ones, redeeming them from the awful curse of sin; the Holy Spirit calls, regenerates, or applies the new birth, sometime during their life on earth. It is always effectual; He never tries and fails. That is salvation by grace - God's free, unmerited favor bestowed upon an undeserving sinner. Their salvation is sure, nothing man or devil can do will add one to, or keep one out of, this previously chosen number. This plan of salvation reaches all of God's chosen people wherever they may be, or whatever their condition, regardless of whether or not they have ever heard the gospel or read the Bible, and it includes all who die in infancy. The church, the gospel, or the Bible is not instrumental in saving souls, but are blessings for the saved.
There is no text in the Bible that says Christ came to offer salvation to anyone. It says, "He shall save His people," and He did just that. There is absolutely nothing in the Bible to support the popular idea that one must "accept Christ, or be lost." Primitive Baptists believe what Jesus said, "Ye must be born again," but that this spiritual birth cannot be brought about by all the combined efforts of men, and that it is contrary to all reasoning to teach that Jesus tried and will fail if you don't cooperate, or that the sinner must pray, believe, or accept Christ in order to be saved, or born again, because life must precede all feeling and action. Belief, faith and good works are evidences of the spiritual birth, and not the cause of it.
This doctrine is hated and denied by many religionists of this modern age, because of prejudice or misunderstanding, but it was hated when Jesus preached it, so what else can we expect now? Three-fourths of all denominations believed the doctrine of election and predestination before the revolutionary War, but as the apostles prophesied, there has been a falling away. Some say God wouldn't be just to appoint some to everlasting happiness and to leave out others without even giving them a chance. Primitive Baptists do not believe God sends anyone to everlasting punishment except for sin; that is where they go when left in the position in which they placed themselves, and is where everyone or all would go if it were not for the election and predestination of God. All deserve this penalty. Is God unjust to save some? He says, "I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy," "O man, who art thou that repliest against God?" We are not to question His acts. He has a definite purpose in all He does, and He never makes a mistake. His judgments are true, and righteous altogether.
It is very important that the word of God be rightly divided for a correct understanding. For example, there are two salvations spoken of throughout the Bible. One is eternal, which is wholly by the grace of God. The other pertains to time - our life on earth. "Work out your own salvation" is spoken to those who are already saved eternally and means a salvation from trouble and sorrow, which we often bring upon ourselves by disobedience. There is a reward - a time salvation - in obedience to God.
Another stumbling block to many who do not "rightly divide" is the phrase "all men," or "the whole world." The expressions are mostly to be taken in a restricted sense, as indicated by the subject under discussion and seldom do they mean the whole human race.
True Primitive Baptists believe there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust, and that the joys of the saved and the punishment of the wicked will be everlasting, and both will be everlastingly conscious of it. Jesus is coming again to gather the bodies of His "jewels" and change them to spiritual, immortal bodies and reunite them with the soul and spirit and take them to that home He has prepared where there will be no more misunderstandings, and disappointments, no tears, no death, sorrow, dying, or pain. What a glorious future for those who love Him.
Compiled and humbly submitted by:
Elder W. L. Johnson
Previous page: Documents
Next page: About ITMS