Sometimes the question is asked:

“What is a Baptist?” or “What do they believe?”

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Baptists, historically, have stood for the Word of God. They have stood for the doctrines of the Bible to the point that many gave their lives. Baptists are not the same as Protestants, nor were they a part of the Protestant Reformation with Martin Luther in 1517 AD, which separated from the Catholic Church. Baptists trace their history to the early church. While sometimes known by different names, the core beliefs of their faith have remained constant.

 

In an attempt to simplify these distinctives, we have found it helpful to remember them in the form of this acrostic:

B-A-P-T-I-S-T-S

 

B -- The Bible is our sole authority for all faith, doctrine, and conduct. We need no other revelation from man, because God has given us everything He has desired for us. The Word of God is to be our guide and our standard of conduct.

Psalm 119:133  | Titus 2:5  | 2 Timothy 3:15-17  | 1 Thess. 2:13  | 2 Peter 1:20-21

John 17:17 | Acts 17:11 | Hebrews 4:12

 

A -- We hold to the autonomy of the local church. Auto comes from a word meaning self. The word 'nom' is a root word that means law or rule. Therefore, autonomy simply means self-governing or self-ruling. We believe that the church is accountable to Christ, not to a council or organization. 

Colossians 1:18  | 2 Cor. 8:1-5, 19, 23 | Acts 13-14 | Acts 20:19-30 | Eph. 1:22-23

  

P -- Baptists hold to the priesthood of the believer. All believers are part of a royal priesthood directed by our great High Priest, Christ Jesus. A priest is a mediator between God and man. As believers, we are able to come boldly before God’s throne. As a child of God, we have the privilege and the right to go directly to the Lord. We have a God-given responsibility to pray for families, friends, other Christians, our government, and our church leadership.

Hebrews 4:14-16 |  1 Thess. 5:17 |  Luke 18:1-2 | 1 Tim. 2:5-6 | 1 Peter 2:5-10

 

T -- There are only two church offices: the Pastor and Deacons. Each of these offices is met with strict qualifications. Character traits, past testimony, and present reputation are all to be considered. A person’s public life and private life are taken into consideration as well. Satan would love to bring these men down.

 

A pastor is to be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, well behaved, hospitable, able to teach; abstinent from drink, not a fighter, not greedy; patient; not covetous.

 

A deacon is not a title of prestige; it comes from a word meaning servant. Deacons are to be grave, not double tongued, not greedy; of a good conscience, blameless.

1 Timothy 3:1-13 | Phil. 1:1 | Acts 6:1-7 | Titus 1:6-9 | 1 Peter 5:1-4

 

I -- We believe in individual soul liberty. Every individual, whether a believer or an unbeliever, has the liberty to choose what he believes is right. Every one of us will give an account for what he does. Not one of us can claim that we are programmed to do certain things. Each of us has a free will and can make his or her own choices. No one should be forced to assent to any belief against his will. However, this liberty does not exempt one from responsibility to the Word of God or from accountability to God Himself.

Acts 17:4  |  1 John 2:27  |  Acts 10:34  |  2 Cor. 5:10  |  Rev. 20:4-5

Rom. 10:9-17 | Rom. 14:1-23

 

S -- The local church is made up of a saved and baptized membership. Local church membership is restricted to individuals who give a clear testimony of personal faith in Christ and have publicly identified themselves with Him in believer's baptism. This is his way of publicly identifying with his decision to trust Christ, with his desire to grow in grace, and with his desire to identify with a local church. When the members of a local church are believers, a oneness in Christ exists, and the members can endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Acts 2:41-47  |  Hebrews 10:25  |  Galatians 6:10  |  1 Cor. 16:1-3

1 Cor. 8:1-6  |  1 Cor. 11:17

 

T -- We have only two ordinances - Baptism and the Lord’s Table. We believe there are two ordinances (orders) that Christ left the local church. Each of these ordinances is symbolic in nature, and represents His death, burial, and resurrection. 

 

Baptism of believers by immersion only, identifying the individual with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection. 

 

The Lord’s Table is the second ordinance given to the local church. This is to be commemorative,  the way the Lord asked us to remember what He has done for us. There are two elements involved – the bread and the cup. The bread is symbolic of His body that was broken for us. The cup (juice) is symbolic of the blood that He shed for us. Under no circumstance does the bread or juice actually change into the body and blood of our Savior. If the elements were to change, then in reality we would be sacrificing Him all over again. The Bible is clear when it says that His sacrifice was once, and that it was sufficient. The Lord’s Table should be a time of consecration. It is a time to remember the vows and commitments you have made to the Lord.

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Matthew 28:19-20 | Acts 8:36-38 | Matt. 3:15 | Acts 2:41 | James 4:17 | John 8:31

1 Cor. 3:1-4 | Hebrews 7:27 | Hebrews 9:26-28

Acts 2:26 | 1 Cor. 11:28-30 | Acts 20:27

 

 

S -- We believe in the separation of Church and State. God established both the church and the civil government, and He gave each its own distinct sphere of operation. Neither should control the other, nor should there be an alliance between the two. Christians in a free society can properly influence government toward righteousness, which is not the same as a denomination or group of churches controlling the government. We are not above civil laws. Baptists, historically, have always been a voice in the political scene. We believe Christians have a responsibility to obey civil authority as long as it does not violate Biblical principles or convictions.

Matt. 22:15-22 | Acts 15:17-29 | Rom. 13:1-7 | Matt. 28:19-20

Gen. 9 | Acts 5:29-31

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