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This debate began at Lucas, Ky on Christmas (1906) and continued 3 days.
Spillman affirmed: "The Holy scriptures teach that new birth is affected by the Holy Spirit through God's appointed means before and without baptism." 1 1⁄2 days spent on this subject. Spillman made vigorous effort to prove salvation be faith only. He quoted passages in which salvation was ascribed to faith.
Harding: We are saved by faith, but not by faith only. (Jam. 2:17 says, "faith apart from works is barren." I affirm there is not a single case in the Bible where anyone was blessed through faith without that faith being manifested in some bodily action. I am willing to risk this debate on this very proposition.
Spillman: I will give you a case. "As many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name"(John 1:12). No bodily action is manifest here. They were simply sons of God by believing on his name.
Harding: It is strange that the brother fails to see that they are not sons of God as soon as they believe; for by believing they were given the power (right) to become the sons of God - something to do after believing, see? This certainly was a manifestation of bodily action.
Spillman: The impotent man who had faith leaped and walked (Acts 14:8-10).
Harding: Yes, to be sure he did; but this was putting that faith into action, you see; and of course if he had not leaped and walked, he would not have had the blessing.
Spillman: Read Acts 10:43,44.
Harding: My friend thinks because the Holy Spirit fell on them at the house of Cornelius they had received the remission of their sins. The Holy Spirit falling on or coming upon them is not a sign of remission of sins. He has fallen on good persons, also wicked ones as well. He fell on King Saul while he was seeking the life of David, and Saul prophesied. He fell on Baalam, who wanted to curse Israel. He also came upon Caiaphas, who wanted to take the life of the Redeemer. I am sure the Gentiles did not receive the remission of sins at faith, before and without water baptism, because Peter was to tell them words whereby he and hi house should be saved, and all he ever commanded them to do was to be baptize in the name of the Lord. (Acts 10:48)
In the 2nd proposition bro. Harding affirmed that "regenerate children of God may so far apostatize as finally to be lost." Bro. Harding showed that many Israelites fell in the wilderness; that king Saul fell; "for those once enlightened and have tasted the heavenly gift, and become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and tasted the good word of God and powers of the world to come, and then fall away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance." (Heb. 6:4-6 RV) This text of scripture was used in every speech bro. Harding made; but Spillman did not dare touch it.
Spellman's negative was very weak. One argument was: "We are saved by his grace" (Eph. 2:8) God savs by hi grace. Therefore we cannot fall, as God keeps us by his power. "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life, etc.
At the close of the debate a petition was read, asking the disputants to repeat the debate at Jimtown, Ky next June. Mr. Brooks, editor of the Liberty Baptist, suggested that bro. Harding meet W. H. Smith on these propositions. This was agreed.
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J. A. Harding vs R. H. Spillman (Baptist)
January 31, 1907
Lucas, Kentucky
(By N. W. Proffitt)
January 31, 1907
Lucas, Kentucky
(By N. W. Proffitt)
This debate began at Lucas, Ky on Christmas (1906) and continued 3 days.
Spillman affirmed: "The Holy scriptures teach that new birth is affected by the Holy Spirit through God's appointed means before and without baptism." 1 1⁄2 days spent on this subject. Spillman made vigorous effort to prove salvation be faith only. He quoted passages in which salvation was ascribed to faith.
Harding: We are saved by faith, but not by faith only. (Jam. 2:17 says, "faith apart from works is barren." I affirm there is not a single case in the Bible where anyone was blessed through faith without that faith being manifested in some bodily action. I am willing to risk this debate on this very proposition.
Spillman: I will give you a case. "As many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name"(John 1:12). No bodily action is manifest here. They were simply sons of God by believing on his name.
Harding: It is strange that the brother fails to see that they are not sons of God as soon as they believe; for by believing they were given the power (right) to become the sons of God - something to do after believing, see? This certainly was a manifestation of bodily action.
Spillman: The impotent man who had faith leaped and walked (Acts 14:8-10).
Harding: Yes, to be sure he did; but this was putting that faith into action, you see; and of course if he had not leaped and walked, he would not have had the blessing.
Spillman: Read Acts 10:43,44.
Harding: My friend thinks because the Holy Spirit fell on them at the house of Cornelius they had received the remission of their sins. The Holy Spirit falling on or coming upon them is not a sign of remission of sins. He has fallen on good persons, also wicked ones as well. He fell on King Saul while he was seeking the life of David, and Saul prophesied. He fell on Baalam, who wanted to curse Israel. He also came upon Caiaphas, who wanted to take the life of the Redeemer. I am sure the Gentiles did not receive the remission of sins at faith, before and without water baptism, because Peter was to tell them words whereby he and hi house should be saved, and all he ever commanded them to do was to be baptize in the name of the Lord. (Acts 10:48)
In the 2nd proposition bro. Harding affirmed that "regenerate children of God may so far apostatize as finally to be lost." Bro. Harding showed that many Israelites fell in the wilderness; that king Saul fell; "for those once enlightened and have tasted the heavenly gift, and become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and tasted the good word of God and powers of the world to come, and then fall away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance." (Heb. 6:4-6 RV) This text of scripture was used in every speech bro. Harding made; but Spillman did not dare touch it.
Spellman's negative was very weak. One argument was: "We are saved by his grace" (Eph. 2:8) God savs by hi grace. Therefore we cannot fall, as God keeps us by his power. "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life, etc.
At the close of the debate a petition was read, asking the disputants to repeat the debate at Jimtown, Ky next June. Mr. Brooks, editor of the Liberty Baptist, suggested that bro. Harding meet W. H. Smith on these propositions. This was agreed.
VIEW NEXT REPORT >>
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