Baptist Doctrines

Review Questions:

What are denominations?

What are three views on denominations and describe them?

What is the theological triage? Give one example for each level.

Christian Beliefs: (1st Level Issues)

• The Bible is the Word of God—it is inerrant, infallible, and authoritative (2 Tim. 3:16)

• One God eternally exists in three Persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (Gen. 1:26; John 10:30; John 14:15-31)

• God created humanity in His image and for His purposes. (Gen. 1:26; Eph. 2:10)

• Since Adam’s fall, all people are sinners and cannot save themselves. (Rom. 3:23; Rom. 5:12-14)

• Jesus Christ came to earth as the God-Man, lived a sinless life, and died a substitutionary death on the cross. He rose from the grave to forgive sin and give eternal life. (1 Corinthians 15)

• All people must be saved through personal faith in Christ. There is no other way of salvation. (Rom. 10:9; Eph. 2:8-9)

• Jesus will come again visibly in glory and power. (Revelation 19-21)

Baptist Distinctives:

(1) We believe that the Bible is God’s Word to man and that it is the only sufficient authority as the rule of doctrine and practice. (1st level)

(2) We believe in a regenerate church membership and that the conversion experience is a prerequisite to church membership. (2nd Level)

(3) The New Testament teaches baptism by immersion; so we believe immersion only as answering Christ’s command of baptism and symbolizing the heart of the gospel message; death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. (2nd Level)

(4) We believe in the New Testament order of baptism and the Lord’s Supper. New Testament Christians were baptized before taking the Lord’s Supper. (2nd Level)

(5) We believe in the right of each member of the church to a voice in its government, plans and discipline. The congregation is the final authority of the church under God’s word. (2nd Level)

(6) Every local church is autonomous, and cooperation is voluntary. Baptists hold to congregational polity. (2nd Level)

(7) Church discipline is essential to the health of the body and the purity of the members. (2nd Level)

(8) We believe in the freedom of the individual conscience; in the voluntary principle, not the coercive principle, in religion. (1st Level)

(9) We believe in the total independence and separation of church and state. (Could be any level)