Baptist
Baptist theology
Only local congregations can truly be called “churches”
in the New Testament sense.
all other groups, and even some Baptists,
are not true churches because they deviate from the essentials
Those essentials are
Church succession
the church traces its “lineage” back to the time of the New Testament,
to Jesus’ calling of the disciples in Galilee;
Always visible Church
the Church is a local body of
baptized believers;
there is no such thing as a universal Body
Opposition to pedobaptism
(sprinkling of infants)
and “alien immersion”
Any baptism not performed under the auspices of a New Testament church are null and void.
Is the Bride of Christ
Other Christians will be the guests at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.
These other Christians are called the “family of God”
Baptists hold a closed communion.
Only members of the local church
are allowed to share in the ordinance of communion.
One can not partake of the Lord’s table away from his home church.
Baptist Churches are independent and self-governing
Membership by a public profession of faith in Jesus,
followed by water baptism.
Insistence on immersion as the only mode of baptism.
Baptism is not necessary for salvation.
Baptism is an ordinance,
it imparts no saving grace.
a public expression of one's inner repentance and faith.
No age restriction on membership,
but believer's baptism requires that an individual
be able to freely and earnestly profess his faith.
Baptists have played a key role
in encouraging religious freedom and separation of church and state
beliefs about one God;
the virgin birth;
atonement for sins through the death, burial, and bodily resurrection of Jesus;
the Trinity;
Jesus Christ will return personally and visibly in glory to the earth,
the dead saints will be raised,
and Christ will judge everyone in righteousnes;
no church or ecclesiastical organization
has inherent authority over a Baptist church.
Churches can properly relate to each other
only through voluntary cooperation,
Since there is no hierarchical authority and each Baptist church is autonomous,
there is no official set of Baptist theological beliefs.
marriage is a solemn and public covenant between a man and a woman in the presence of God
Baptists have existed since the time of Christ.
Roman Catholicism was formed within the Baptist church.
Jesse Mercer, the namesake of Mercer University.
In 1898 William Whitsitt was pressured to resign his presidency of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
for denying Baptist successionism.
the Baptist faith and practice has existed since the time of Christ
Baptist churches have existed in an unbroken chain since the time of Christ.
salvation by faith alone
scripture alone as the rule of faith and practice
congregationalist church government
General Baptists considered Christ's atonement to extend to all people
Thomas Helwys formulated a distinctively Baptist request
that the church and the state be kept separate in matters of law,
so that individuals might have freedom of religion.
Helwys died in prison as a consequence of the religious conflict with English dissenters under James I.
In 1638, Roger Williams established the first Baptist congregation in the North American colonies.
