Why Be a Baptist?

Baptist History                                                KL Paulson 
Preacher Silcox                                                12-16-1997

Why Be a Baptist?

Question: How am I to know that Baptist doctrine is Bible doctrine?

Answer: What saith the Scriptures?

The Bible alone is our only and all-sufficient rule of faith and practice.
"To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." (Isaiah 8:20) Jesus said, "I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." (John 8:12) Baptists believe the Holy Scriptures to be our final authority on what we believe and do.

ONE true God: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
"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 28:18-20). Notice here the Bible says NAME not names. The word "name" is singular.

Jesus the Son of God is God the Son.
"(1)In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (14)And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." (John 1:1,14) The Lord Jesus Christ is the Word.

The Holy Spirit is the third Person of the Godhead (Trinity) and is truly God as God the Father and God the Son.
"Now the Lord is that Spirit:" (II Corinthians 3:17- 18). The Holy Spirit convicts of sin, judgment and righteousness.

An inerrant Bible.
"All scripture is given by inspiration of God," (II Timothy 3:13-17).

The virgin birth of JESUS Christ.
"Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel." (Isaiah 7:14) Immanuel means God with us. Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit in a miraculous manner. He had no human father.

The personality of the Devil is real.
"your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:" (I Peter 5:8). The Devil is a deceiver and a "liar". (John 8:43-44)

Baptists believe in the literal Genesis account of the creation.
"(16)For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: (17)And he is before all things, and by him all things consist." (Colossians 1:16-17) God personally created the whole world in a direct act. Evolution is a lie.

Baptist churches believe and teach the fall of Adam (and therefore of men and women) in the Garden as found in Genesis 3:1-7.
"(12)Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: (19)...by one man's disobedience many were made sinners" (Romans 5:12- 19). Adam disobeyed God by choice.

The sovereignty of God.
"The LORD of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand:" (Isaiah 14:24).

Free moral agency.
"And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life." (John 5:40) Men are born with a free will to choose to do right and wrong. They are not robots.

Baptists are individualists. No proxies in religion.
"So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God." (Romans 14:12) There will be a judgment for the Lost, and a separate judgment for the Saved. 'Covenant theology' is unscriptural.

Free Baptist Churches in a free governmental State.
"Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's." (Matthew 22:21) Baptists fought long and hard for our religious freedoms. We still need to pay our fair share of taxes to legitimate government. Civil officers should be prayed for, honoured, and obeyed.

Baptists believe and teach that salvation is "by grace...through faith" in Christ, not by works. (Ephesians 2:8-9)
Grace means the unmerited favour/gift of God.

Justification by faith.
"But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness." (Romans 4:5) God sees the redeemed sinner as one who has never sinned. This is only because of the applied righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Santification by God's blood.
"Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate." (Hebrews 13:12) Jesus Christ died for the church. It is very important to Him.

Repentance and faith.
"For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him." (Matthew 21:32) "Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ." (Acts 20:21) If there is no repentance then there will be certainly no possibility of salvation. Turn or burn is popular with God but not with men. Repentance and faith are inseparable.

Only the blood-washed enter in Heaven.
"These are they which...have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." (Revelation 7:14) A bloodless religion is vain.

Only ONE way to be saved.
"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:12) Bible salvation is 100 percent of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Just ONE Gospel.
"And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed." (Galatians 3:8) The Gospel is still the same...yesterday, today, for ever. The Musl_ms don't have the faith of father Abraham.

Baptist churches believe and teach the doctrine of the new birth.
"Ye must be born again." (John 3:1-7) "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." (II Corinthians 5:17) People will be changed if they are converted.

No new birth without the pure Gospel.
"(23)Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. (25)...the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you." (I Peter 1:23-25)

The new birth via the Word and the Holy Spirit.
"salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:" (II Thessalonians 2:13-14).

Eternal life is a present possession.
"He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life:" (John 3:36). This belief must come from the heart and not just the head. "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God." (I John 5:13) Baptists preach a know-so salvation like the Bible promises. Bible believers are not on probation--(the doctrine of false prophets).

Children of God by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
"For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3:26) This means placing your God-given faith in Christ...not in the waters of the 'baptism' or man's good works.

Salvation before Scriptural baptism.
"Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?" (Acts 10:47). A saved person received the indwelling of the Holy Spirit at conversion. Later at his Baptist baptism he pictures the Gospel...the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Bible baptism has been the spiritual battleground of the New Testament age. 50 million plus Baptists have left a trail of blood by their enemies for the defense of this doctrine. We need to remember and be thankful daily in our prayer to God for this.

Baptist churches are democratic, self governing bodies, with all members voting on equal basis as brethren.
"one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren." (Matthew 23:8-12) Church business meeting (Acts 1:26). There are not to be any Popish figures or hierarchies since they are not mentioned in the Bible. Churches in the Bible were independent of each other.

Baptist churches receive members.
"Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations." (Romans 14:1) We need to seek restoration when possible.

Baptist churches exclude members.
"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) Church discipline must be carried out decently and in order.

First church founded by Christ.
"And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers..." (I Corinthians 12:28). Jesus began His building a Baptist church during His earthly ministry at Jerusalem. "I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." (Matthew 16:18) The 'birthday' of this church was well before the day of Pentecost. The Protestants are way too late in their human foundations.

The Lord's Supper a Baptist church ordinance.
"For first of all, when ye come together in the church" (I Corinthians 11:18). The fruit of vine (e.g. grape juice) and unleavened bread are to be administered within the local assembly.

Whole immersion of the individuals that are saved.
"much water" (John 3:23). "they went down both into the water" (Acts 8:38). "buried with him by baptism" (Romans 6:4). "And straightway coming up out of the water" (Mark 1:10). Baptism needs to picture the death, burial, and resurrection. Sprinkling and pouring are invalid methods. We have no right to change the ordinances of God. "And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved." (Acts 2:47) Bible baptism adds you to a Baptist church.

Baptist baptism of God and from Heaven.
"(29)And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John. (30)But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him." (Luke 7:29-30)

Baptist churches recognize two offices and only two officers in the churches. Pastors ("bishops") and "deacons".
(Philippians 1:1) The word "deacon" means servant.

An ordained ministry.
"thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city" (Titus 1:5). Baptist church ordination should be done very carefully.

World-wide missions.
"And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." (Mark 16:15) People perish without a definite world vision. Everyone needs to be reached.

This Commission was given to the Baptist churches, which will be here until Jesus' 2nd Coming.
"(19)Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: (20)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." (Matthew 28:19-20) God's faithful presence is promised to His Baptist churches.

Heathen lost without the Gospel.
"The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God." (Psalms 9:17) "he that believeth not shall be damned." (Mark 16:16) "and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard?" (Romans 10:14).

Degrees in Heaven.
"(14)If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. (15)If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire." (I Corinthians 3:14-15) Rewards are earned or lost depending on your faithfulness.

The final judgment.
"(28)for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, (29)And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation." (John 5:28-29) The Lost will appear before the Great White Throne Judgment; the Saved have the Judgment Seat of Christ.

The resurrection of Christ's body.
"Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him." (Mark 16:6)

Resurrection of saints.
"Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming." (I Corinthians 15:23) We shall rise!

Baptists believe in the personal, bodily return or the 2nd Coming of Christ to this world.
(I Thessalonians 4:13-18) "And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be." (Revelation 22:12)

A never-ending Heaven of bliss.
"And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." (John 14:3)

An unending Hell of fire and brimstone.
"And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night," (Revelation 14:11).

No second chance.
"And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:" (Hebrews 9:27). No reincarnation.

No annihilation.
"(45)And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: (46)Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched." (Mark 9:45-46)

The end of all who believe in 'salvation' by works.
"(22)Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? (23)And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." (Matthew 7:22-23) This is one of the saddest verses in the Bible.

Baptists believe in the eternal deity and Sonship of Jesus Christ.

Baptists believe and preach that Christ is the true and only head of the local, visible church.
"Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body...the church is subject unto Christ" (Ephesians 5:23-24).

Baptists believe in "One Lord, one faith, one baptism," (Ephesians 4:5).

Baptists believe Christ will be "glor[ified]" in the local church "throughout all ages", therefore the church of the New Testament would endure. (Ephesians 3:21)

Baptist churches believe in a God-called, spirit led ministry.

Baptists believe in "redemption" through the "blood" of Christ. (Ephesians 1:7)

Baptist churches believe that the preaching of the Gospel is indispensible to the salvation of the lost sinner.
"In whom [Christ] ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation:" (Ephesians 1:12-13). "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Romans 10:17)

Baptist churches believe that lost sinners are depraved and are "dead in trespasses and sins" (Ephesians 2:1-3).
"the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;" (Ephesians 4:22).

Baptist churches believe that the believer in Christ is "sealed" by the Holy Spirit when he repents and believes in Christ. (Ephesians 1:13)

Baptists believe in the Triune God.
There are 3 Persons to the "Godhead". (Romans 1:20)

Baptist churches believe "the gospel" is "the power of God unto salvation". (Romans 1:16-17)

Baptists believe that "works" have nothing to do with saving of the soul.
"But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness." (Romans 4:5)

Baptist churches believe in the security of the believer in Christ and that nothing can separate him from the love of God.
"(38)Neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, (39)Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:38-39) 'Once saved always saved' is true.

Baptist churches believe scriptural baptism is by immersion and is for repentant believers only.

Baptist churches believe and teach the doctrine of a surrendered life.
"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service." (Romans 12:1-2)

Baptists believe the Lord's Supper is to be observed by the local church only, and observed as a memorial to the death of Christ, not as a sacrament.
This ordinance is to be a closed communion. There is no saving power or grace in the Lord's supper.

Baptist churches believe the blessed doctrine of the resurrection of the dead. (I Corinthians 15)

Baptist churches believe in the verbal inspiration of the Scriptures, that the Bible was and is the word of God.
"All scripture is given by inspiration of God," (II Timothy 3:16).

Baptist churches believe that "the gates of hell" could "not prevail against" them. (Matthew 16:16-18)

Baptist churches believe there is only ONE Gospel. (Galatians 1:9) The Gospel of the grace of God and the substitutionary atonement. (II Corinthians 5:21)

Baptist churches like the New Testament believe and teach the doctrine of personal and individual responsibility of the soul to God only.
"So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God." (Romans 14:11-12)

Baptist churches today as well as the original churches believe that the soul & spirit of the believer go directly to the presence of the Lord at death, NOT to some imaginary purgatory. (Philippians 1:23; II Timothy 4:6)

Baptist churches believe in the doctrine of church cooperation; that churches are to voluntarily cooperate in carrying out their commission.
"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. For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity." (Philippians 4:15-16)

Baptist churches believe and preach the faith of Abraham as the faith of the Gospel. (Galatians 3:6-9)
Old Testament believers looked ahead for the coming Messiah. We today look back to the crucified Christ and risen Saviour of Calvary.

Baptist churches accept and preach the Abrahamic faith and stewardship in tithing.
(Hebrews 7:4-10) Tithes and offerings are to go thru the local Baptist church--God's storehouse.

Baptist and early churches believe Heaven is a prepared "place" for the people of God. (John 14:1-6; Revelation 21:1-6)

Baptist churches believe Hell is a place "prepared for the devil and his angels" and that all unrepentant "unbelievers" would go there. (Matthew 25:41-46; Revelation 21:8; Luke 16:22-24; Matthew 13:41-42)

References:

The Baptist Story: Sermons On The Trail Of Blood, A. A. Davis, (Baptist Heritage Press 1989)

WHY I AM A BAPTIST: Seven Bible Principles Held By Baptists Only, J. T. Moore, (Bogard Press n.d.).