[We introduce this fine short article from Elder John G.Crowley - ed]
A Southern Baptist minister, but a believer in Sovereign Grace, asked me if the Primitive Baptists believed that salvation was instantaneous or a process. I would like to share the answer I gave him, and would appreciate any comments, as I am sure he would also. Here is what I wrote:
It varies. Most of them today would say that eternal life is communicated to the soul instantaneously, by the direct operation of the Holy Spirit alone. However, the dawning realization of that change and the travail of soul before one obtains a felt sense of hope and pardon might continue for many years, and involve many events.
Some Primitive Baptists still speak of a "travel from nature to grace," but I would say that with the possible exception of the Crawfordites and any other "means" anti-missionaries that might still exist, they would all say that if you are traveling, you are alive, and your arrival at your destination is certain in fact, though it may not always seem so to the party involved.
All the PBs I know, and I among them, would say that if one is absolutely certain of one's own election and regeneration, what ever has happened is something the Devil has little interest in uprooting.
A good as answer as one can give from an Old Baptist perspective. Old Baptists are very hesitant to use the word “assurance” in reference to salvation, preferring the word “hope” instead. Both “hope” and “assurance” are Scriptural terms and do have reference to salvation. In my own experience with missionary baptists, they would talk and preach much about faith, but not much about hope. Whereas among the Old School Baptist, much is said about hope, but far to little about faith.
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