They Shall All Know Me

Reference: http://old-baptist-test.blogspot.com/2011/11/more-on-ii-tim-2.html

I stated previously:

"The mere possibility of this reality (however short a duration of deception) is enough to prove it is erroneous to make intellectual apprehension of the doctrine and knowledge of the gospel synonymous with Biblical faith."

Brother Garrett responded:

"Another non-sequiter.  Yes, "short duration of deception" on some points of Christian doctrine may be the experience of true believers, but they cannot be deceived about Christ being Lord and Savior.  Jesus taught that the elect could not be deceived in those things that are fundamental to saving faith.  (Matt. 24: 24)  Further, salvation is not based upon having perfect faith and understanding!"

These comments were made in a discussion over 2 Timothy 2. Brother Garrett agreed that true faith embraces the fundamental truth of revelation that Jesus is the Christ, but that those possessing this faith can, nevertheless, be in error on Christian doctrine.

In this, he differs with Curt Wildy (whose posts on the Primitive Baptists we discussed a couple of posts ago).

By this agreement, however, it is apparent that Brother Garrett distinguishes regeneration from conversion, as Peter was still in need of conversion to discipleship in Luke 22.

In this way, knowledge is distinct from faith. Now, Brother Garrett and I disagree about the knowledge embraced by the faith of the elect in regeneration. He insists on this knowledge being knowledge of Christ, and if he means an intimate perception of Christ and of God, I would agree. But, if he means a knowledge of Christ in terms of propositions about Christ like we have in the gospel, I must disagree, as this kind of knowledge requires a level of cognition that cannot be universally applied to all of the elect.

I believe that Brother Garrett believes the preached gospel is this intimate perception and experience of God and Christ. However, the medium of propositions of language in which the gospel is declared cannot logically be insisted on as an essential prerequisite of meeting Christ.

Now, Brother Garrett allows that Christ and God have "preached" the gospel directly to Old Testament saints, yet he still insists that this was done in propositional form, conveying knowledge that was the object of the faith of Old Testament saints, like Abraham. In Abraham's case, it is true that the gospel delivered to him was in propositions, but the gospel was not of the explicitly revealed Christ according to the Scripture, though the Angel of the Lord preaching to him was Christ.

Christ in the Old Testament would not give his name when asked, but insisted that it was a secret and too wonderful to be revealed. The propositional knowledge that their faith embraced was obscure, but the perception and experience of Yahweh, which is the fundamental knowledge that is the basis of faith, was as knowledgeable as the faith of NT believers. It is in this manner that Jesus' words to Thomas can be understood, "Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed (John 20:29)."

Though the specifics of redemption were hidden, Old Testament believers that had perceived the loveliness of Yahweh and of His Word in regeneration were faithful.

 When Primitive Baptists exegete Hebrews 8:8-13, Brother Garrett has mocked and scoffed at the implications of contrasting the teaching of men under the old covenant with the direct teaching of the Father under the new covenant of verse 11.

The question must be asked, what does it mean to know the Father? Surely "know" is being used as Christ used it in Matt. 7:22 where he will say to the wicked at the last day, "I never knew you". This kind of knowing is not simply being cognizant of God's existence and righteousness, for that was known intellectually under the old covenant. This knowledge is the intimate knowledge like married couples have, a kind of knowledge that was impossible to obtain under the law. I point out as well, that THEY ALL shall KNOW from the LEAST to the greatest. This certainly must include the elect infant.

So whatever "knowing" is being done, is also done by them. Obviously, a limitation of a propositional knowledge of the gospel like adults have is precluded. Such a view of the knowledge under consideration is also not germane to the new covenant. Brother Garrett is running around as a "soul winner" under the old covenant, commanding men everywhere to know the Lord, but the elect will all know the Lord from God Himself, not from man - the text clearly states that.

What is it that they are all taught by God? As in John 6:45, every man that comes to the gospel of Christ hath learned and hath been taught of the Father. They are not taught by coming, they come because they are taught. All the elect are taught of God how they should love one another. The law of God, written in their hearts and minds, is His righteousness - the purpose of the law, not the propositions of the gospel, which would just be substituting a new law. God's righteousness, which the works of the law could never obtain, is written in the hearts and minds of all the elect when they are regenerated and the principle of grace is imparted.