Jon Gary Williams
Articles / Resources
0247
E. C. L. Denton vs I. N. Penick (Missionary Baptist)
March 22, 1900
Buena Vista, Tennessee
(By A. P. Johnson, Cades, Tennessee)
Met February 13-15 at Buena Vista, Tennessee.
Denton affirmed necessity of baptism. His first argument drawn from the commission. After making a summary of its items, he then turned to Acts of the Apostle s and showed that they applied it just as he had. The only reply given was on the order of faith and repentance. Baptist preachers think if they can prove repentance to precede faith, then we are saved by faith only, and that baptism is not one of the conditions upon which God offers pardon. Denton also made arguments on Acts 2:38 and I Peter 3:21, and asked Penick from what did baptism save? Penick said it saves us from disobedience to that command.
On the last day Penick affirmed "The scriptures teach that in regeneration, or salvation, there is an immediate or direct operation of the Holy Spirit on the sinner's heart." On this proposition he met his Waterloo. In Penick's speech he said he did not exclude means, that he believed in preaching and all the means. Then Penick showed himself to be a pre-regenerationist by making an argument to show the Spirit had to first prepare the said (heart) for the reception of the good seed (word).
This closed the debate, which was indeed a pleasant one. Penick is a ripe scholar and a debater of no mean ability. Bro. Denton is his senior in years and also a ripe scholar. Bro. Denton has fought many a hard battle for the right, and is yet able to defend truth valiantly against any man.
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