Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth

By Tom Hagler

Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth is Tom Hagler’s point of view about how to interpret the Bible correctly, which is most probably primitive Baptist, and/or Reformed.

I believe that Hagler is a Primitive Baptist, but he has elements that indicate he is analyzing things from a Reformed standpoint.

Table of Contents

SECTION I
PARADOX PROBLEM……………………………………………………………………1

CHAPTER I
DOCTRINAL PARADOX DEFINED AND SOLVED………………………….2
Several Protestant denominations considered………………………………5
Conclusion…………………………………………………………………………………7

CHAPTER II
CHALLENGE TO TEMPORAL “SALVATION”………………………………..9
Cause and effect………………………………………………………………………12
Life in time versus eternal life…………………………………………………….16
God’s children guilty of unbelief…………………………………………………27
The gospel of John on salvation…………………………………………………39
Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………….44

CHAPTER III
FIVE DOCTRINES OF GRACE……………………………………………………..46
Ancient Baptist Five Doctrines of Grace……………………………………..49
1) Total Depravity…………………………………………………………………50
2) Unconditional Election……………………………………………………….50
3) Limited Atonement……………………………………………………………51
4) Irresistible Grace………………………………………………………………51
5) Preservation1 of the Saints…………………………………………………52
Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………….53

CHAPTER IV
SALVATION………………………………………………………………………………..54
Salvation has five stages-four phases and one aspect………………..55
The tenses of salvation……………………………………………………………..57
Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………….58

SECTION II
THREE ESSENTIAL FACTS………………………………………………………..61

CHAPTER V
CAUSE AND EFFECT………………………………………………………………….62
Conclusion………………………………………………………………………………65

CHAPTER VI
MULTIPLE SALVATIONS…………………………………………………………….66
Eternal Salvation………………………………………………………………………67
Salvation from physical danger………………………………………………….69
Time Salvation…………………………………………………………………………70
Conclusion………………………………………………………………………………77

CHAPTER VII
“KINGDOM” BIBLE VERSES………………………………………………………78
Kingdom of God = Kingdom of heaven……………………………………….81
Eternal Kingdom………………………………………………………………………81
Regenerate elect of God…………………………………………………………..83
The Lord’s church…………………………………………………………………….85
Kingdom Prophecy…………………………………………………………………..90
Conclusion………………………………………………………………………………94

CHAPTER VIII
HOW PRIMITIVE BAPTIST BELIEFS DIFFER………………………………95
Condition of a child of God………………………………………………………..96
Condition of the unregenerate…………………………………………………..97
Good works for conversion……………………………………………………..101
Cause and effect…………………………………………………………………….102
Conclusion…………………………………………………………………………….106

SECTION III
TIME AND ETERNITY DOCTRINES……………………………………………107

CHAPTER IX
WHAT THE GOSPEL IS NOT……………………………………………………..108
Four problem verses for the doctrine presented…………………………109
Comments on James 1:18…………………………………………………..111
Comments on 1 Peter 1:23, and 25………………………………………111
Comments on Hebrews 4:12………………………………………………..112
Comments on 1 Corinthians 4:15…………………………………………113
Summation of comments……………………………………………………..113
Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………..114

CHAPTER X
TOTAL DEPRAVITY…………………………………………………………………..118
Death by sin……………………………………………………………………………118
Foreknowledge……………………………………………………………………….120
Unregenerate man cannot understand, hear or believe………………122
Other total depravity verses……………………………………………………..124
Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………..126

CHAPTER XI
UNCONDITIONAL ELECTION…………………………………………………….128
Secondary causes…………………………………………………………………..130
Calvinism……………………………………………………………………………….135
Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………..137

CHAPTER XII
REGENERATION VERSUS CONVERSION…………………………………139
Regeneration………………………………………………………………………….139
Conversion…………………………………………………………………………….144
The Role of Religion………………………………………………………………..148
Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………..153

CHAPTER XIII
BAPTISM…………………………………………………………………………………..155
Two Principles………………………………………………………………………..155
I. Baptism is necessary……………………………………………………….155
II. Baptism is a figure…………………………………………………………..156
Four Essentials………………………………………………………………………157
I. Mode………………………………………………………………………………157
II. Subject…………………………………………………………………………..159
III. Object……………………………………………………………………………160
IV. Administrator…………………………………………………………………162
Proper Effect………………………………………………………………………….163
Scriptural Example………………………………………………………………….164
Concluding Remarks………………………………………………………………165
Conclusion…………………………………………………………………………….168

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CHAPTER XIV
FAITH……………………………………………………………………………………….169
Man’s faith versus God’s faith………………………………………………….169
What if some (God’s children) choose not to believe?……………….173
God is Sovereign……………………………………………………………………176
Spiritual Birth………………………………………………………………………….179
Conclusion…………………………………………………………………………….180

CHAPTER XV
JUSTIFICATION………………………………………………………………………..181
Justification by Blood………………………………………………………………182
Justification by Faith……………………………………………………………….183
Justification by Works……………………………………………………………..184
Comments on the three courts…………………………………………………185
Declare to be just……………………………………………………………………186
Proof that God has faith………………………………………………………….187
Man’s faith compared to faith of Christ and the faith of God……….189
Human brain compared to a computer……………………………………..192
Justification in the Divine Court………………………………………………..193
Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………..194

CHAPTER XVI
JOHN 3:16…………………………………………………………………………………195
World……………………………………………………………………………………..196
Believeth………………………………………………………………………………..197
Purpose of the GOSPEL………………………………………………………….201
Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………..202
World Verses………………………………………………………………………….202

CHAPTER XVII
THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER………………………………………………..205
The Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:3-23)…………………………….208
Rich Young Ruler (Mark 10:17-27)……………………………………………212
Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………..216

SECTION IV
FOUNDATIONS………………………………………………………………………….217

CHAPTER XVIII
ENGLISH BIBLE TRANSLATION……………………………………………….218
Bible written by God………………………………………………………………..219
Method of Bible Study……………………………………………………………..221
Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………..222

CHAPTER XIX
CREATION VERSUS EVOLUTION……………………………………………..223
Scientific evidence for creation (rejecting evolution)…………………..223
Bible evidence for creation (rejecting evolution)…………………………227
Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………..231

APPENDIX
BRIEF HISTORY AND BELIEFS OF BAPTISTS………………………….232
Brief History……………………………………………………………………………232
1655 Midland Confession of Faith……………………………………………234
Modern Primitive Baptist Articles of Faith………………………………….237