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BAPTIST
DISTINCTIVES
Historically, Baptists find their origins in
the Free (Anabaptist) Churches. These churches
existed from the time of the apostles. Even
though the name BAPTIST was not used until the
1600's, the Baptist Distinctives were practiced
by small, persecuted groups during the Dark Ages
and the Reformation. Biblical faith and practice
forced these to separate from two powerful
traditional groups. The Roman Catholic Church -
This group eventually rejected all of the Baptist
Distinctives. When their persecution ended, they
became the persecutors. The Protestant Churches -
During the Protestant Reformation, these formerly
Catholic churches tried to return to a more
Biblical pattern. They still rejected most of the
Baptist Distinctives. To a lesser degree, they
also persecuted the Anabaptists. Thus,
Bible-centered Baptist Churches are not
Protestant churches. They existed long before the
Reformation.
THE HISTORIC BAPTIST DISTINCTIVES
Even though the name BAPTIST has been misused by
many, we retain the name because the historic
Baptist position best describes our position in
matters of doctrine, faith, and practice. We
share similar positions with other groups who
base their beliefs completely on Bible teaching.
Even though they may not choose our name, they
are fellow workers. For the sake of memory, we
have arranged the major Baptist Distinctives in
an acrostic.
B - The BIBLE is our final authority for
what we believe and what we do.
No insight, testimony, or decree of man,
regardless of his piety or position, can ever
supersede the Bible (II Timothy 3:16,17). This
distinctive is the primary Baptist distinctive.
All others spring from this absolute trust in the
scriptures.
A - The AUTONOMY of the Local Church.
The local church is an independent body
accountable to no one but our Lord. There is no
person or organization on earth that can dictate
what a local church can or should do (Acts 15;
Matthew 18:15-17). This does not prevent
voluntary cooperation with other churches as long
as such activity does not violate the church's
independence or affiliate the church with satanic
apostasy.
P- The PRIESTHOOD of the Believer.
Every believer today is a priest and may enter
the presence of God directly through only one
Mediator, our Great High Priest, Jesus Christ.
There is no other human mediator (Hebrews
4:14-16; I Peter 2:5-10). Along with the
privilege of priesthood, there is the
responsibility as priests to live a life
separated from sin and unto God.
T - There are TWO Ordinances: Baptism and
the Lord's Supper (Acts 2:41,42).
An ordinance is . . .
1. A command of Christ
2. A picture of saving truth
3. Explained in the New Testament
4. Practiced by the New Testament churches
We practice only believer's baptism by immersion.
This contradicts two practices common among Roman
Catholic and Protestant churches: infant baptism
and sprinkling (pouring). Immersion is the only
acceptable mode for baptism because it alone
preserves the picture of saving truth. No other
form pictures the death, burial, and resurrection
of Christ (Romans 6:1-5). We believe that
communion (the Lord's Supper) is a symbolic
ordinance, picturing Christ's body broken for our
sins and His blood shed for our redemption. It is
not a saving ordinance, but helps us remember His
death, and inspires us while looking forward to
His coming, 1 Corinthians 11:23-24. It is to be
observed by regenerate, obedient believers.
I - The INDIVIDUAL'S Soul Liberty.
We believe that every individual has the liberty
to believe, right or wrong, as his own conscience
dictates. While we seek to persuade men to choose
the right, a person must not be forced to into
compliance (Romans 14:5-12).
S - The membership is made exclusively of SAVED
and baptized individuals.
Membership is strictly a matter of
obedience; it bestows no grace (Acts 2:41-47).
T - There are only TWO offices which
guide the church: the Pastor and the Deacons.
There is no additional hierarchy of
offices (I Timothy 3:1-13).
S - The SEPARATION of Church and State.
The church and state are two separate authorities
ordained by God. One should not attempt to
control the other (Acts 4:29; Romans
12:18;13:1-5; I Timothy 2:1-4; I Corinthians
5:9-13)
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