What is a True New Testament Baptist Church?

What is a True
New Testament
Baptist Church?
"(15)He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
(16)And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the
Christ, the Son of the living God. (17)And Jesus
answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon
Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto
thee, but my Father which is in heaven. (18)And I say
also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this
rock I will build my church; and the gates of
hell shall not prevail against it."
Matthew 16:15-18
"(17)And he is before all things, and by him all things
consist. (18)And he is the head of the body, the
church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the
dead; that in all things he might have the
preeminence."
Colossians 1:17-18
"For the husband is the head of the wife, even as
Christ is the head of the church: and he is the
saviour of the body."
Ephesians 5:23
CHURCH
Ecclesia means a called out ASSEMBLY from some
place, to a particular place, for a particular purpose,
to worship God and fulfill the Great Commission.
Ecclesia (church) is used 115 times in the Bible of
which [100]% is LOCAL. Only a few times is it used
INSTITUTIONALLY or GENERICALLY.
It is never used to speak of the churches as universal
or invisible.
It is a LOCAL, VISIBLE, INDEPENDENT, HOLY, FREE,
ORGANIZED BODY. Apart from any ties with a
denomination, association, convention or synod.
Ephesians 5:23-27
"(24)Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. (25)Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; (26)That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, (27)That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish." (Ephesians 5:24-27)

THE TRUE NEW TESTAMENT BAPTIST CHURCH
ITS ORIGIN
GOD THOUGHT it and PLANNED it in eternity. He
sent John the Baptist as a forerunner to prepare the
MATERIAL for the FIRST CHURCH. Matt. 21:25
CHRIST BUILT IT, LOVED IT, and PURCHASED IT
with His precious BLOOD. Matt. 16:18; Eph. 5:25;
Acts 20:28
HOLY SPIRIT EMPOWERS IT and ADMINISTRATES
IT. Matt. 16:18; Acts 1:8; Acts 20:28
"The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, Why did ye not then believe him?" (Matthew 21:25).
"Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood." (Acts 20:28)
"But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." (Acts 1:8)
ITS FOUNDATION
CHRIST is the HEAD and FOUNDATION, the CHIEF
cornerstone. I Pet. 2:6
Apostles were the first in the church as the founda-
tion. I Cor. 12:28; Eph. 2:20
"Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded." (I Peter 2:6)
"And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues." (I Corinthians 12:28)
"And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;" (Ephesians 2:20).
ITS PERPETUITY
The succession of churches of like faith from the first
one until the end of the church age. Matt. 16:18; Matt.
28:20; Eph. 3:21
"Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen." (Matthew 28:20)
"Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen." (Ephesians 3:21)
ITS MEMBERSHIP
SAVED, born again believers, scripturally baptized.
Acts 16:31; Eph. 2:8-9; Acts 2:41
"And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house." (Acts 16:31)
"(8)For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (9)Not of works, lest any man should boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9)
"Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls." (Acts 2:41)
ITS PURPOSE
Convenanted together to WORSHIP and FULFILL the
Great Commission: To baptize, observe the Lord's
Supper, send evangelists (missionaries), teach, train,
discipline, edify, and establish other churches. Eph.
4:11-16; Matt. 18:15-18; I Tim. 3:1-13
ITS ORDINANCES
BAPTISM - Total immersion in the name of the
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Matt. 28:19-20
LORD'S SUPPER - A memorial of unleavened bread
and fruit of the vine. I Cor. 11:23-34
"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:" (Matthew 28:19).
ITS OFFICERS
APOSTLES and PROPHETS - No longer in effect, they
have phased out.
BISHOPS - Pastors, elders, and teachers. I Tim.
3:1-7; 5:17
DEACONS - I Tim. 3:8-13
EVANGELISTS - (missionaries) a specialized office.
Eph. 4:11-13
"Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine." (I Timothy 5:17)
"(11)And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; (12)For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: (13)Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:" (Ephesians 4:11-13).

THE TRUE NEW TESTAMENT BAPTIST CHURCH
ITS GOVERNMENT
AUTONOMOUS (self governing) by the Bible's rule of order.
THEOCRACY - each member recognizing God's sovereign
rule in their hearts for final authority. Acts 15:22
AUTHORITIVE PASTORAL LEADERSHIP. I Pet. 5:1-4
CONGREGATIONAL democracy. Matt. 18:17; I Cor. 5:1-13
"Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren:" (Acts 15:22).
"(1)The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: (2)Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; (3)Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. (4)And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away." (I Peter 5:1-4)
"And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican." (Matthew 18:17)
IT'S A LOCAL BODY
DEFINITE, DEFINABLE, DIMENSIONAL, TANGIBLE, VISI-
BLE, RECOGNIZABLE. Scriptures speak of ONLY
ONE KIND of BODY Eph. 4:4; I Cor. 12:27
"There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;" (Ephesians 4:4).
"Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular." (I Corinthians 12:27)
It's an assembly: "when ye come together" I Cor. 11:18-22
"Unto the church of God...at Corinth" I Cor. 1:2
"unto the church of the Thessalonians". I Thes. 1:1
"I persecuted the church of God". I Cor. 15:9; Acts 8:1-3
If there is more than ONE LOCAL CHURCH, the Bible
refers to them as CHURCHES: "the churches of Galatia"
Gal. 1:2
"the churches of Judaea" Gal. 1:22
"Then had the churches rest throughout
all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria" Acts 9:31
All following expressions regarding the CHURCH are
LOCAL:
ONE BODY - I Cor. 12:12-27
CANDLESTICK    - Rev. 1:20
HOUSE OF GOD - (Building) I Cor. 3:9; Eph. 2:21-22
UPON THIS ROCK - I Pet. 2:5; Matt. 7:24; Matt. 16:18
FLOCK    - Lk. 12:32; Acts 20:28
[...]
TEMPLE    - I Cor. 3:16
BRIDE - John 3:29; Eph. 5:23; Rev. 21:2;
   II Cor. 11:2
ONE BREAD    - I Cor. 10:17
HUSBANDRY - (Farm) I Cor. 3:9
PILLAR AND GROUND of the Truth - I Tim. 3:15
ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH OTHER CHURCHES
It cannot join itself to anything like itself or unlike itself. A
LOCAL INDEPENDENT CHURCH can cooperate with other
churches of like faith. Cooperation in doctrine, discipline,
sharing missions. I Cor. 4:17; II Cor. 8:18-19; II Cor. 11:9;
Phili. 4:15; II Jn. 9-11
"For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church." (I Corinthians 4:17)
"(18)And we have sent with him the brother, whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches; (19)And not that only, but who was also chosen of the churches to travel with us with this grace, which is administered by us to the glory of the same Lord, and declaration of your ready mind:" (II Corinthians 8:18-19).
"And when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man: for that which was lacking to me the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied: and in all things I have kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and so will I keep myself." (II Corinthians 11:9)
"Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only." (Philippians 4:15)
"(9)Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. (10)If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: (11)For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds." (II John 9-11)

GOD'S MESSAGE TO ALL
"Come now, and let us reason together, saith the
LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall
be as white as snow; though they be red like
crimson, they shall be as wool." Isaiah 1:18
"repentance toward God, and faith toward our
Lord Jesus Christ." Acts 20:21
"Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that
your sins may be blotted out, when the times of
refreshing shall come from the presence of the
Lord;" Acts 3:19.
"repent ye, and believe the gospel." Mark 1:15
"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou
shalt be saved" Acts 16:31.
WILL YOU ACCEPT GOD'S MESSAGE?
"He that heareth my word, and believeth on
him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall
not come into condemnation; but is passed from
death unto life." John 5:24
"Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew
thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest
not." Jeremiah 33:3
"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the
Lord shall be saved." Romans 10:13
HERE'S HOW TO ACCEPT GOD'S MESSAGE
"Dear Lord, I know that I am a sinner and that you
died on the cross for my sins. I now repent and ac-
cept you as my Lord and Saviour. In Jesus' name,
Amen."
NOW THAT YOU HAVE
ACCEPTED GOD'S MESSAGE
PRAY daily, read the Bible DAILY, TELL OTHERS
about your FAITH in CHRIST, be SCRIPTURALLY
BAPTIZED in a TRUE New Testament BAPTIST
CHURCH and ATTEND FAITHFULLY.
Eph. 6:18; II Tim. 2:15; I Pet. 3:15; Rom. 6:3-5
"Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;" (Ephesians 6:18).
"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." (II Timothy 2:15)
"But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:" (I Peter 3:15).
"(3)Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? (4)Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. (5)For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:" (Romans 6:3- 5).
BY: Pastor Harold P. Chiolero
First Baptist Church of Cicero
1400 S. 58th Court, Cicero, IL 60650

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