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0371


S. H. Hall vs A. J. Sloan (Baptist)
October 1, 1936
Goodlettsville, Tennessee

(By Jack M. Elroy)

In Sept. 1936 - debate at Bethel Baptist church near Goodlettsville, Tenn.

Perfect order was kept. Bro. Hall affirmed that a man is justified by faith when he meets Christ in baptism. He showed that Abrahamic faith is to believe God and do what he says, "doubting nothing." It is that command of God where the human heart can exercise Abrahamic faith. It is the only command which man can see no sense in. It is the door of faith.

He pressed Mr. Sloan hard of Galatians 3:26,27 showing conclusively that those baptized into Christ were children of God by faith. Mr. Sloan never met this point in the whole discussion. Also it was interesting to see him change the usual Baptist position as the debate progressed. Bro. Hall said no man could show where the apostles ever belittled baptism, but rather emphasized it so strongly that all the early converts were baptized straightway. Mr. Sloan actually said that he believed that was the right way to do it, but that he could not get his folks to believe it. Bro. Hall said Sloan would never get Baptists to believe it as long as he belittled the significance of baptism.

Mr. Sloan was stronger on apostasy. But Hall's logic could not be refuted. He argued that God had placed warnings in the N. T. that we could fall and did fall. The angel's were in God's grace, yet they fell. Adam was a child of God and pronounced "very good" in the sight of God, but fell and lost Paradise. Mr. Sloan did not seem interested in I Chron. 15:9; Gal. 5:4; Heb. 12:15. He steered clear of I Cor. 10:12.

Bro. Hall asked him repeatedly why God wold cry "wolf," when there was no wolf. This statement haunted Sloan all through the discussion. Mr. Sloan took the usual Baptist position that it is the flesh of man that sins, and not the spirit of man, after he is redeemed. He did not press this as strongly as usually is the case with Baptists. I believe he was a little afraid of it himself. He emphasized I John 3:9 all the way, as well as John 10:28,29.

He seemed to express a doubt whether Mark 16:16 should be in the scriptures when baptism was up for study, but used it as one of his strongest arguments when he came to the question of apostasy.

This was certainly an interesting discussion, and I believe did lots of good. We have already heard of some who have expressed a desire to be baptized. J. W. Shepherd moderated for Hall. Mr. Bowman for Sloan.

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