By Elder Hulan Bass

THE TRUTH IS ---

If there is no "timely" Phase of Salvation, then what is the eternal destiny of the believer who died before he could be baptized? Mark 16:16 This question demands an answer.

It is being promoted by a few within our own ranks that there is no time salvation read: Acts 20:29-30. So the conclusion must be that all Scriptures and their contexts must be that of an "eternal" Salvation or Deliverance only as there would be "no rightly dividing" necessary. If all Scriptures only have one Application, then the Apostle Paul wasted much space and Divine Inspiration would be amiss, when he wrote to young Timothy and told him (2^nd Tim. 2:15) to "study" in order to "Rightly Divide" the word of truth. Also notice this verse does not teach that we need to "rightly divide truth from error," since there are no errors in God’s Divinely Inspired Word of Truth.

This theory that there is no Timely Phase of Salvation would render many Scriptures null and void and cause a "holy conflict" of total confusion within the Holy Bible. Such texts as my opening above concerning the teaching Jesus gave to the Eleven Apostles clearly shows the dilemma if there is NO Timely Salvation. Mark 16:16 sets forth this contingency. You must become a "Believer" in the Lord Jesus Christ and that would firmly insist upon your believing in the Finished Work of Christ on Calvary’s Cross concerning Redemption, Atonement, Sanctification, Justification and Reconciliation, then the 2^nd of the two-steps herein is he that "believeth and is baptized shall be saved." There is only one-step to damnation, and that of "he that believeth not shall be damned." So the problem with this text would present an untenable conflict, since the person MUST believe AND be baptized, but only being an "unbeliever" would cause (eternal) damnation. Let us conclude then, that "believing" SAVES from damnation, but we still cannot be saved (eternally) in Heaven since the person is unbaptized. Timely Salvation is the "Right Division." This solves the problem.

Many other texts proves the same thing. For example, let us consider the deliverance of all 12 tribes of the Children of Israel after Moses led them across the Red Sea. Exodus 14:30 states – "Thus the Lord saved Israel that day out of the hands of the Egyptians - - -." It is so very clear that this was "Timely Salvation," as we know this context cannot mean the Lord saved them eternally in Heaven that day.

Another context in 2nd Cor. 6:2 – "(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time." This clearly shows a "Timely Phase of Saving," and not for Eternal Heaven.

Adverbs of Time are = Now, when, then, till, until, today. We just recently changed our clocks to Daylight "Savings Time" !

Isaiah 12:2-3 – speaks of the Wells of Salvation. "Wells" is in the plural. Does this not mean there are more than one aspect of Salvation?

Zeph. 3:19-20 employs the term "at that time" and "even in the time" will I save her that halteth, and "gather her that was driven out." Do not these phrases clearly establish a "Timely Salvation" setting?

Matt. 8:25 – records a great tempest in the sea, and His Disciples came to wake Jesus, who was asleep in the ship, and said unto him – "Lord, save us: we perish." Were these Disciples fearful they were going to perish into an eternal lake of fire?" Obviously not, but they were needing "salvation" from drowning. The Apostle Peter was in the same dilemma and said in – Matt. 14:30 – "Lord, save me."

Mark 10:30 – Jesus was speaking herein and listing the "Timely Benefits" for being gospelly obedient and acquiring an increase of – "But he shall receive an hundred-fold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, etc."

Luke 18:26-30 lists the context of this same scenario of the "timely benefits" as "who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, etc." Are we so foolish and naive as to think these two texts in Mark and Luke are that of receiving eternally in Heaven a 100 times manifold more houses, brethren, sisters, mothers and children therein?

Acts 2:40-41 – In Peter’s closing comments following his blessed sermon on the Day of Pentecost, he advised those who would follow in obedience of Repenting and Water Baptism, that they also still needed to "Save themselves from this untoward generation," which cannot be anything other than "Timely Saving."

1st Tim. 2:15 – this context would reduce to absurdity, if there was no "Time-Salvation." Only mother’s who bore children would be saved eternally in Heaven, as the context would demands that this scene is that of a mother being "saved in child-bearing, if they (the children) continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety." There is no way to "fix" this text to make it’s context that of eternal salvation.

Now I finally address the theory of "no time salvation" as that of being absolutely and totally unacceptable. The roots of this sad conclusion bears the very image of "Sovereign Grace, Reformed Calvinism," with the Gospel becoming an instrument of assistance and enhancement of your "final" or "eternal" salvation.

This is written boldly, but humbly, and as that of need to protect the sanctity of the dove, the Timely, Visible, Organic, Organized, Militant Church on Earth of the Lord Jesus Christ – Songs of Sol. 6:9.

Compiled by: Hulan F. Bass (elder)

Lockhart, Tx.

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VOICE OF THE PAST...

Environment: The aggregate of surrounding things, condition or influences.

Environment has more effect on us than we sometimes realize. By the time a baby is a few days old it begins noticing thing and by those things that it sees and hears it begins to learn. Environment helps to mold the growing infant in the way he will act and think.

To illustrate, Brother Octor Moseley has two little boys, ages 4 and 7. Since they began talking they spend many hours in singing and praying and preaching. They manifest a sincere love for the members of the church.

Now for one in the opposite direction. About twenty years ago I went to a house here in town. When I knocked on the door their little four year old grandson came to the door. The first thing he said was: What in the h... do you want, and from that he really began talking in foul language. He called every profane word that I had ever heard, and more. I knew his mother, and his grandmother and grandfather. He had been subjected to that kind of conversation all of his life.

The Lord called that little boy to a better environment when he was six years old. He died unexpectedly.

Environment has a great influence in our natural lives. Thank God, He gave me parents that always endeavored to tell the good things they saw, even in those who had erred or were erring.

In a small town a man had formed the habit of keeping quiet about anyone if he could not say something good. There was a very wicked one died, and as they were gathering for the services everyone was wondering what this good man could say about the deceased. Finally, he said, there is one thing I can say and it is true, he had the best set of teeth of any person that he had ever seen.

What would the results be if everyone was that way.

Recently, an old servant of God was with us Sunday morning. James was going to introduce the services and called on this father in Israel to offer prayer. He led prayer in my father's home just a few minutes after my mother passed away on Dec. 26, 1925. He was very able then in prayer, but it seems that he gets richer in prayer as he lives. He said he would like to say something before praying. And I quote him, he said: There is one scripture that all Old Baptists are in perfect agreement on, and that is "I know in whom I have believed." It is not in whom we believe, and that is a shame.

I was glad he made that statement as well as the other things that he said because it tied in well with what James had to say, and what I desired to discuss. I desired to talk about Ruth and the things I saw in the type set forth after she and Naomi returned to Bethlehem.

Since that Sunday I have thought a great deal about In whom I believe and in what I have believed. These should be in agreement with each other.

Second Cor. 2:2, "For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus and him crucified." I ask myself this question, Do I seek to abide by this scripture whenever and wherever I may be with other people. Abiding by this scripture will enable me to be better prepared to promote a healthy environment.

I firmly believe if every Old Baptist will read 2 Chr. 7:14 and beg God give us strength to put into practice we may be surprised how little we will have to differ on. Maybe if we would do as the Kehukee Association did in the year 1794. Resolved: that the Saturday before the fourth Sunday in every month should be appointed a day for prayer meeting throughout the churches.

About thirty years ago our church here met in different homes and sang and had several prayers. This continued for several months. During that time the church experienced its most profitable period. Difference in what we believe will not cause so much of a stumbling block.

Yesterday evening one of our young members called me and said that he wanted to talk to me. I went out to the plant where he had just come in from Dallas. He said, I feel I must talk to someone about how the Lord has blessed me this day. He told me the best way that he could about different conversations he had that day, and how the Lord had made him rejoice while alone driving down the highway. The environment that he created is still causing me to rejoice.

When I come before God's people I do not desire to be comical. I do not want to prey upon your sympathy or preach my children or of my grandchildren. If I'm in dire need I will not tell you, because I believe the Lord will provide. I would like to help create a spiritual environment that will be beneficial.

Please cast a mantle of charity over me and visit us when you can. Let me beg you to pray that if I come in contact with you, your children or your grandchildren or friends that I will maintain a healthy environment.

Please brethren, continue to to do that while you are around my loved ones.

Thanks, Brother Chambers, for what you wrote to the paper. I personally, during the holidays and since have been made to feel that I have received much and have given so little.

Yours in hope of a healthy environment.

Maurice Fannin, Elder The Banner of Love, Feb. 1, 1964

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At what point do you understand the Lord? When do you "know" the Lord.

I listened to a man recently who was advising me that I needed to "know" the Lord. He encouraged me to start studying so that I could come to understand the Lord.

Do you know the Lord? I will say that is an excellent goal and resolution for anyone. Accomplishing it is another matter.

There are two basic parts I want to discuss to this issue. First, do we understand or know the Lord as a practical, theoretical, material matter. Secondly, do we know the Lord, as a spiritual matter.

Let’s start with our consideration of our knowledge of the Lord’s physical and material work. Recently as I alone at midnight lay on a sleeping bag on a scouting camp out with my son, I marveled at the beauty of the night sky. Away from the distracting city lights and sounds, I was overwhelmed with the physical and material work of the Lord.

The stars were beautiful with thousands of them blinking at me. The full moon, an otherwise cold, lifeless, and dead piece of rock, was beautiful as it provided the perfect night light to a very serene scene. I was reminded of the words in Psalms 8:

"When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? . . O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!"

We can see the Lord’s material work. We marvel at his design of the details and workings of the human body, of all the birds, creatures and plants, and at all the body of science that works perfectly in a wonderful circle of life on earth. We witness a space program that is designed on god-created ongoing precise operating nature of the earth, moon and planets.

We daily witness the miracles performed by the Lord, and have seen the material blessings given by the Lord in answer to sincere prayer of His people.

So, our answer is "yes", we know and understand the Lord in a physical and material sense. And we are not alone – we bet there are literally dozens of religious college professors who have studied lifelong to know and understand the physical and material aspects of the Lord’s work.

Now, let’s analyze the answer we have just reached that "yes", we know the Lord. We think we do, anyway.

If we think we know the Lord, then someone who should have really known and understood the Lord was a guy like Moses. The Lord physically spoke to Moses through a burning bush. He spoke directly to Moses in the conflict with the Pharaoh. Moses witnessed the Lord’s amazing work in changing water into blood, the staff into snakes, the multiply plagues of Egypt, and the miracles provided in escaping Egypt in the great Exodus, including the parting of the sea. Moses spoke directly with the Lord on the mount, in receiving (twice) the tablets of the Ten Commandments. And Moses followed the Lord’s specific and detailed instructions in building the tabernacle and in the details of the Old Testament law. Moses saw nearly all of the Lord’s works and appreciated His work.

If any body knew and understood the Lord it was Moses. Right? No, wrong!

Near the end of Moses’ life, after all the wonderful and amazing physical and material experiences he had with the Lord, Moses makes a strong statement to the Lord: basically, Moses tells the Lord that the Lord has only begun to show the greatness of the Lord’s work.

"O Lord God, thou hast begun to shew thy servant thy greatness, and thy mighty hand; for what God is there in heaven or in earth, that can do according to thy works, and according to thy might?" Deut. 3:24.

This was at the end of Moses many lifelong experiences that none of us will ever witness. If Moses did not know or understand the greatness of the Lord, it is crystal clear that none of us ever will.

The greatness of the Lord, even in a physical or material sense, is beyond our comprehension. See also Psalm 139:6. Now let’s talk about our knowledge and understanding of the Lord in a spiritual sense.

Surely, it is a simple thing for me to know the Lord spiritually. I hear how to do just that almost everyday on the radio religious programs, and from the majority of pulpits across the country. It is just a matter of "accepting" Jesus Christ as my personal saviour. Just "get" faith, believe and accept. That’s how simply it is, right? Hopefully, you are ahead of me by now. Wrong again!

How do we get to know the Lord. Actually, the answer is quite simple, but it is not within our control. And I thank the Lord for that! If it were in my control, I would mess it up. I have a track record to prove that.

Maybe I need the help of an evangelist or a minister who can help me "save my soul". Wrong again.

How do we "know" the Lord spiritually? That lies solely, and exclusively, within the will, the timing and the terms of the Lord. The Lord doesn’t need, or want, my help, or any other person or minister to allow anyone to "know" the Lord. He has a direct line into the hearts, minds and souls of the ones He chooses.

"For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those says, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: And they shall not teach every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me from the least to the greatest. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more." Hebrews 8:10-12. See also Jeremiah 31:31-34.

And in the words of Jesus: "...I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and has revealed them unto babes. Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight.

"All things are delivered unto me of my Father; and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him." Matthew 11:25-27.

How many people have you heard boast that they "accepted" Christ and became saved? There clearly are "bragging rights" in being a born-again Christian. How many ministers have proudly announced that on some recent mission they helped the Lord save hundreds of souls? These types of statements and thinking are boasts, glorying in themselves for their behavioral works.

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." Ephesians 2:8-9.

The glory of our knowing the Lord and being saved belongs solely to the Lord. We have no bragging rights. We "know" the Lord only because He has first chosen to reveal himself in our hearts.

Why do we love the Lord? Because, and only because, He loved first loved us?

I John 4:19.

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A special meeting was held at Lubbock Primitive Baptist Church, beginning April 11 - 13 with Elders Vernis Stanaland of the Tyler Primitive Baptist Church and Elder David Pyles of Jackson, Missippi, where he also pastors the Jackson Primitive Baptist Church.

Elder David also preached at the Muleshoe Church on April 10. He had lived in Lubbock while attending Texas Tech University, and was acquainted with the area. We had not seen him since he left Lubbock to attend other universities, and we were all so happy to see him and hear him preach. Elder Stanaland had visited Lubbock a few years back and we loved having him and his wife again.

It was such a spiritual meeting, aand we felt blessed to have these two wonderful spiritual leaders with us.

Opal Richards

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SISTER DELLA HUGHES CELEBRATES 97TH BIRTHDAY

Sister Della, as she was always so loving called, was born in Dickens, Texas to Louis and Myrtle McCarty, on March 9, 1906. She was the eldest girl of eleven children. She lived her younger years in Texas; met Marion Hughes at a Primitive Baptist Association in Oklahoma. They married, had one child.

At one time they traveled from Oklahoma to Texas in a covered wagon. They lived in Texas, Colorado, California and Oklahoma, always going to the

Primitive Baptist Church.

During World War II they both worked at Convair in San Diego, CA. Della was known as "Rosie, the Riveter." She worked on the big airplanes. They always worked together when possible. They have had a "Help yourself Laundry," in Reed, OK and Muleshoe, Texas. They had a "Grade A" Dairy in California. They owned and managed Apartment Buildings after they sold the Dairy.

Marion Hughes passed away in Texas in 1992. Della lived in a retirement home until December 2001. Her daughter and son-in-law, Gordon and Teta Kirtley manage Castaways R. V. Park & Resort, just north of Houston on Lake Conroe. They put her in her own quarters there. She stays very active and attends all the activities that they have and has many friends there. She enjoys watching the birds and squirrels and visiting with all the people.

She always enjoys getting the Banner of Love; so many people that she knows and reads about.

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We have not heard from Trey since the middle of March, but know he was to go into Iraq for battle. We are extremely honored and proud of him and of all the brave, courageous troops fighting for not only the freedom of the Iraq people, but for the freedom of each individual of this great nation.

ABEAR THETFORD, CLINTON R. USS. Theodore Roosevelt

Air 4/V2

F.P.O. A.E. 09599-2871

Clinton, a 2002 graduate of Wolfforth, TX High School, entered the Navy in Sept. 2002. He is married to the former Jessica Taylor, daughter of Wayne and Debby Taylor of Abernathy, TX and the granddaughter of Julia Patterson of Idalou, TX. Clinton's parents are Clinton and Rayann Thetford of Wolfforth. Clinton and Jessica are the parents of 16 month old, Clinton Ray II. and four month old Emily Nicole.

He is serving on the U.S.S. Theodore Roosevelt in the Mediterranean Sea.

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Ray and Evelyn Aderholt

Borger Primitive Baptist Church

Note; Thank you for the extra.

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We are sending you a check for a little more to help with stamps. We love the paper very much.

Curtis and Catherine Poteet

Floydada, Texas

Note: We appreciate the extra.

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But when we look anywhere in the New Testament Strong's reads, The divine influence upon the heart, and its' reflection in the life; including gratitude-acceptable, benefit, favor, gift, grace [ious], joy, liberality, thank [s-worthy]. What do these differences mean? Under the Law, God chose or singled out a few individuals to have a close relationship with Him. They in turn were used to guide and lead God's people. The people tried to obey the Law, thereby staying in good favor with God.

Under the Grace dispensation, in the New Testament, God has chosen His people and places a new heart in them with his law written in that heart, not in tables of stone. Now the people know what is right, because the Spirit within bears witness and guides them to perform what is good in God's sight. Now, when these hear the gospel preached, "Romans 8:16, the Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God." The more we study, pray, hear the preached word and fellowship with his children, we learn how to be more and more aligned with God's purpose in our lives. The definition above shows it all. "The divine influence [God works first] upon the heart [gives us a new heart or rebirth]. and its reflection in the life. [After we are born spiritually, our lives change and behold all things are new.] Now we are ready to hear the gospel of our salvation. God has already saved us eternally, but now we can truly hear of His great salvation and the price it took.

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me.

God bless, and may our walk reflect more clearly the grace that God has given.

Brother Dennis Walker; Fort Stockton, Texas

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