Baptist Distinctives Pt. 1

INTRODUCTION

Galatians 6:6 KJV 1900

Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.

We live in a time when people reject labels of all kinds. Why is it important to be a Baptist? Why not drop the name and be a non-denominational church? Why does it matter what Christian group with which you identify?We live in a time when people reject labels of all kinds. Why is it important to be a Baptist? Why not drop the name and be a non-denominational church? Why does it matter what Christian group with which you identify?

Labels are useful. Imagine how foolish it would be if you went to the canned food aisle at the grocery store and there were no labels. Perhaps there were hundreds of cans marked “Beans.” Are they green beans, pinto beans, kidney beans, black beans? Are the beans seasoned or unseasoned? No one would know unless they bought the can, took it home and opened it.

What about if every restaurant in the world was generically named? Before you enter a restaurant, you want to know if they serve Italian, Mexican, American, Indian, or Chinese. Labels help us see at a glance what kind of food we can expect to find inside the restaurant.

We rely on labels daily to tell us what to expect. They are necessary when it comes to churches as well. Baptist, Catholic, Methodist, Presbyterian, Episcopalian, Pentecostal, Universalist Unitarian, Nazarene, Charismatic, etc. are more than archaic labels. Each one signals a body of doctrine and philosophy that is vastly different from one another. Furthermore, a non-denominational church can be any one of these! How confusing!

These various churches can’t all be right.

Since the time of Christ, there have always been Christians who followed the teaching of our Lord and His Apostles as revealed in the New Testament. As false teaching began to corrupt some churches, these believers held to the Biblical position and were persecuted and martyred for their faith.

They have been called by many different names throughout history, but their fundamental beliefs have remained the same. Eventually, the name Baptist was given to them because they insisted that infant baptism was not Biblical and would “rebaptize” their converts. Historical Baptists are not part of a denomination, but a family that traces its core beliefs back to Christ. These cohesive truths are called the “Baptist Distinctives.”

They are what make Baptist churches unique.

I’m going to give them to you tonight and then in the following weeks, as long as the Lord leads, we will dig into them deeper.

BIBLICAL AUTHORITY

The Catholics have their pope, the Jehovah’s Witnesses have Charles Russell, the Mormon’s have Joseph Smith, others have their presiding board of directors, but down through the years, Baptists have relied on one thing as the final authority and that is the Word of God...

Romans 3:4 (KJV 1900)

4 God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; ...

John 17:17 KJV 1900

17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

2 Timothy 3:16–17 KJV 1900

16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

No person; pope, preacher, teacher, or publication like the Book of Mormon is equal in authority to the Word of God...

We do not judge the Word of God by the other writings of men, but rather, we judge the other writings of men by the Word of God!

AUTONOMY

This is the self-governing power of the individual local church.

Ephesians 1:22–23 KJV 1900

22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

2 Corinthians 8:1–5 KJV 1900

1 Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; 2 How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. 3 For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves; 4 Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. 5 And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.

No denomination, governmental body, or religious hierarchy may dictate the church’s beliefs or practices because there is one head of the church and that’s Jesus Christ.

New Testament churches were self-governing...

They elected their own officers.

Acts 14:23 KJV 1900

23 And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.

The word “ordained” in this verse means, “to vote by stretching out the hand.”

They made their own decisions.

2 Corinthians 8:19 KJV 1900

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:

They solved their own problems.

Matthew 18:17 KJV 1900

17 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.

They functioned as separate local churches. The Bible names several local churches including those at Rome, Corinth, Ephesus, Philippi, Colosse, and Thessalonica.

PRIESTHOOD

All born-again believers have the privilege of direct access to God. Jesus Christ is the mediator between God and man. We need no other human agent or spiritual mediator. As God’s priests, we can study His Word, pray for our needs, intercede for others, offer worship, and serve in His work. Every child of God has equal access to their Heavenly Father.

1 Timothy 2:1–6 KJV 1900

1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; 4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; 6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

The Word of God blows up the Catholic practice of going to the pope to receive forgiveness of sin...

TWO OFFICES

Scripture only mentions two church offices—pastor (also referred to as elder or bishop) and deacon. These two offices are to be filled by godly men of integrity in each local church.

Philippians 1:1 KJV 1900

1 Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:

INDIVIDUAL SOUL LIBERTY

Soul liberty is the belief that every individual, whether a believer or an unbeliever, has the liberty to choose in his soul or conscience what he believes is right.

All people ought to have soul liberty.

Ecclesiastes 11:9 KJV 1900

9 Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment.

Soul liberty does not ignore truth or accountability.

For example, you have the liberty to play with a poisonous snake, but you must be ready for the consequences if it bites you. Believe as you wish, but God is right and He will judge you by His truth.

Romans 14:12 KJV 1900

12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE

The state should have no power to intervene in the expression of religious liberty…Boy, we’ve seen a lot concerning this over the past year and a half.

Matthew 22:21 KJV 1900

21 They say unto him, Caesar’s. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.

TWO ORDINANCES

The local church is mandated by God to practice two ordinances.

1. Baptism of believers by immersion in water symbolizes sincere faith in Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection with the desire to walk in newness of life.

2. The Lord’s Supper, or Communion, commemorates Christ’s broken body and shed blood giving each believer an opportunity for self-examination and rededication.

These are not sacraments to earn salvation, but privileges granted by grace.

Matthew 28:19–20 KJV 1900

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. Amen.

1 Corinthians 11:23–26 KJV 1900

23 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: 24 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. 25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. 26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.

SEPARATION

God is holy. Holy means separate, set apart, particularly set apart from all that is evil.

1 Peter 1:16 KJV 1900

16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

2 Corinthians 7:1 KJV 1900

1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

A church must separate from worldly methods, worldly music, and unbiblical doctrine.

2 Corinthians 6:17 KJV 1900

17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

CONCLUSION

As Baptists, we are distinct from other churches because we are independent (self-supporting, self-governing), we believe in soul liberty and believer priesthood, we have a pastor as our leader and deacons as helpers, and we seek to practice separation from evil. If you are a Christian, God wants you to hold these distinctive doctrines dear to your heart. They are not optional. They are biblical. If you are not a member of our church, you ought to join. I urge you to speak to me about that need in your life. If you are not yet a Christian, God’s door to forgiveness and eternal life is still open to you.

He is still saying, Come unto Me!