“Basic Baptist Doctrine, Lesson 5”
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Bethel MBC

Basic Baptist Doctrine

February 6, 2008

Baptist Continuity and Peculiarities

The lesson last week had a singular purpose: to convince you that identifying ourselves as “Baptists” does not do enough towards distinguishing us as the Lord’s church.  Because we cannot rely solely upon a name, we must identify the doctrines which the Bible teaches and then trace those doctrines back to the church that Jesus founded.   Anything else lies open as easy prey to deception.  We will endeavor this evening to define the importance of continuity and identify a few of the doctrines / practices which have been consistent from the Church at Jerusalem.  Next week, we will trace the actual groups of people from Jerusalem and then, FINALLY…the week after begins our discussion of actual doctrines.

I. Continuity of the Church of Christ

By “continuity” we mean to state that Christ’s church has been and is continuous since its inception.  There has never been a break in its existence or functional ability from the time that Jesus established it during His life on earth.  Another word often referred to is “perpetuity”.  Perpetuity refers to the church’s perpetual establishment, which means it will always be.  While the words are similar, continuity refers more to “from there to here”, while perpetuity invokes an understanding of “from here through eternity”.  Both are correct and Biblically sound teachings.

a. Why is it important to prove continuity of the church?

Matthew 16:18

“And I (Jesus ) say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”

The Greek word for “hell” here is “hades” which is defined as “grave.”  Jesus is NOT predicting a battle between the forces of Satan and the army of heaven. That battle was decided when Jesus was resurrected from the dead after having died for our sins.  Jesus IS promising us that the grave will not overcome his church.  i.e. that it wouldn’t die out like so many man-made religions do.  Thus, He (Jesus) expects with full assurance that His church will be found on earth upon His return from heaven to retrieve it!!  Who will Jesus retrieve?  Remember:  He did not attach a denominational name to His church as read above.  He will return to heaven with those that He KNOWS are His.  There will be no guess work involved.  So what?  Well….because this is the case, there has to have been, is and will be a group of people on the earth that practice the doctrines of Christ in purity which He recognizes as His!  Who are they today?  Churches of like faith and order.  Who were they in the past?  We will address that next week.  Who will they be in the future?  That is yet to be determined.  HOWEVER, THE DOCTRINES WILL REMAIN THE SAME AS CHRIST ESTABISHED THEM.

Matthew 28:20

“Teaching them to observe all things, whatsoever I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

                b. The church-commissioned gospel will reach all the earth before the end

                Matthew 24:14

“And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.”

b. How did Christ establish the church to ensure continuity?

He implemented a form of church government that would allow continuity of His doctrines.  The mighty church at Jerusalem as described in the book of Acts is no longer in existence; likewise for the seven churches of Asia as found in the book of Revelation.  How can this be?  Each and every church is comprised entirely by sinners…saved sinners, but sinners nevertheless.  Nobody that I know wakes up one morning and thinks, “I believe I’ll begin straying from the truth today and perhaps someday I’ll fall by the wayside!”  Yet, we all realize that it has happened, is happening and will happen.  Men get in arguments; people change; circumstances occur, etc.  Many, many religious organizations have ceased to exist, split, changed from its original tenets or worse.  Men….they (we) are the cause of things evil in the world and churches.

Jesus helped to ensure the continuity of His church by calling out people (“ecclesia”) to various bodies which He recognizes as His.  Each church is independent and autonomous, meaning it answers directly to Christ vs. a Board of Directors or clergymen or priests.  Each church’s success or failure rests solely upon the integrity and actively of its members. 

Our faith is independent although we have been blessed with many “sister churches” which practice in like faith and order.  Continuity is preserved in that each church is separate and distinct from all the others.  The churches above may no longer exist by name, but their doctrines (Christ’s doctrines) continue through us (b/c of their missionary efforts I might add).

c. Is the Lord’s church a democracy?

The Lord’s churches have long been described as being a “pure democracy.”  Thomas Jefferson, on occasion, frequented Baptist churches to observe their business conferences.  He noted how they operated and was impressed with the concept of “one person, one vote” and the equality of members.  We can look at our Constitution, Bill of Rights, and Declaration of Independence realizing that our Baptist forefathers had an active and passive contribution towards its framing.

While our church does suppose to practice democracy in its business conferences, it is true that we are NOT a democracy in practice.  The Lord did not establish his church as a democracy.  The majority can be and is wrong from time to time.  Thus, the Lord’s churches were set forth as THEOCRACIES!  God governs and rules His churches.

If a church is to be successful, prosperous, and continuous, she had better be a theocracy vs. a democracy.  When the Spirit of God guides a church, it is alive and vibrant.  When men and women wrestle control for themselves via a democracy, a royal mess soon develops.  The Scriptures teach us that there is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death!

d. Why should Baptist continuity be of importance to me?

While this continuity is essential and promised per scripture, it had not come easy.  Our forefathers have suffered and died by the millions for this cause.

Hebrews 11:36-38

“And others had trial of cruel mocking and scourging, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicts, tormented; (Of whom the world was not worthy) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.”

I strongly recommend that you obtain a pamphlet entitled, “Why Am I A Baptist?” by Elder J.H. Grime. Pages 10-16 best described, in my opinion, why Baptist continuity is important to us.

e. Other denominations and approximate dates of their conception

1. The Missionary Baptists:                          Jesus Christ 30 or 31 A.D.

2. The Catholic Church                                   Claims to be the “mother church” 250 A.D.; driven from the Baptists for heresy; aligned with Emperor Constantine the Great in 312 A.D.; First Pope in 606 or 610 A.D.

3. Lutheran                                                         Martin Luther 1525 or 1530 A.D.

4. Episcol                                                              Henry VIII  1540 A.D.

5. Presbyterianism                                          John Calvin  1535 A.D.

6. Methodist                                                      John Wesley  1729 A.D.

7. Freewill Baptist                                            Benjamin Randall  1780 A.D.

8. Church of Christ                                           Alexander Campbell  1780 A.D.

9. Mormons                                                       Joseph Smith     1830 A.D.

10. Hard-shell (Primitive) Baptists             Daniel Parker   1832 A.D.

11. Nazarene                                                     S.F. Breese  1885 A.D.   From this group comes the Assembly of God, Church of God (holiness), and Pentecostals

12. Jehovah Witness                                       Charles Taze   1884 A.D.

13. Congregational churches                       from the church of England   1602 A.D.

14. Greek Catholic churches                        from Roman Catholic churches 1050 A.D.

15. Dutch Reformed churches                    from Roman Catholic churches 1050 A.D.

16. Conventionism among Baptists          Andrew Fuller in Kettering, England, 1792

II. Baptist Peculiarities

Titus 2:14

“Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”

1. Baptists have a divine origin

As already mentioned and to be discussed further later, the Baptist church was instituted and commissioned by the Lord Himself during His earthly ministry. While He did not name the church “Baptist”, He did lay down the doctrines which today are identified as Baptist.

2. Baptists have perpetuated from that day to the present (under many different names)

3. History is on our side

Next week we will learn about the specifics of the history which has brought the Lord’s church to this point.  History, as often recorded by the enemies of the church, supports its continuity throughout history. 

4. No church bigger, and no authority higher than a local congregation

Each local Missionary Baptist body of baptized believers is independent and autonomous.

5. A Democracy (Theocracy)

Refer to notes above re: democracy vs. Theocracy

6. Spiritual Membership

Membership is reserved to those who have experienced the spiritual rebirth taught by Jesus

7. Baptists are NOT Protestants

We did not come out of Rome and thus, did not protest anything Catholic.  Refer to “The Trail of Blood” by J. M. Carroll for a good explanation.

8. Baptists have never received State aid or allied themselves in any form with the State

Thomas Jefferson and others devoted this principle for the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, etc.  The doctrine of Separation of Church and State was meant to keep the State out of Church, NOT the other way…which is what is enforced by the Supreme Court today. 

9. Baptists recognize John’s baptism as Christian baptism

Immersion, after regeneration, is the practice among true Baptists.  We pattern our baptism practices after John’s, which Christ himself received.