Baptist Theology

Greetings,

I have a girl who is a junior in high school coming to talk in the office tomorrow. Her friend is a baptist, and he is very involved in his church. She is also very involved. They discuss religion every now and then, and she wants to know what Baptists believe. What would be a short description of Baptist beliefs? Is it basically what is presented here as evangelical protestantism? Is there anything unique which I should be aware of? Even though I frequent these boards, much of protestant thought runs together. Here some thoughts:

Born again experience of recognizing one's one sinfulness, need for Christ, and accepting God as lord and savior is Justification.

No sacrament, but there is ordinances of baptism(symbolic only) and Lord's supper(symbolic only).

Baptism is only a sign, and is only done AFTER accepting Christ.

Salvation through Faith alone.

Revelation is transmitted through Scripture alone.

Once Saved Always saved.

No physical church is important, but there is a spiritual connection of believers.

Is this what baptists believe or are there major errors. I thought this would be a good place to post.

peace

 

Close, but one does not recognize one's own sinfulness. One work of the Holy Spirit is conviction of sin in the individual. Then when one recognizes the conviction of sin and that he is in need of a savior usually while "hearing" the word of God, one believes that Jesus is that savior. That is the initial born again experience when the spirit of an unbeliever become a believer in Jesus the Christ. True faith in Jesus the Christ is that which cannot be shaken, which does not die, and which inspires one to do good works in and for the faith. True faith comes from studying the Word of God and living in accordance with the teachings of the Christ and his Apostles.

Some call Baptism and Communion ordinances some call them Sacraments. The Baptists do not believe that the elements used in Communion are the "real" flesh and blood of Jesus, but rather are symbols that represent the real flesh and blood of Jesus that are used as a remembrance of the first communion of Christ and his Apostles in which Jesus called the bread His body, and the wine His blood.

Water baptism is symbolic of the spirit baptism. The spirit is impervious to things of the earth such as water, thus symbology where water baptism is concerned. The symbolic baptism is performed after one confesses Jesus as Saviour, and that such water baptism resemble the death burial and resurrection of Jesus, the Christ. It is further believed that water baptism is the first act of obedience that a new believer should do.

Scriptures say that Works cannot save, and that Jesus atoned for the sins of the world, thus it is faith alone that saves one.

The Scriptures reveal God, His only Son, the Holy Spirit, and God's plan of redemption (needed because of man's sin) of man. Sola Scriptura is not a Baptist Tenet of faith, though some segments of the Baptist faith do hold to Sola Scriptura.

Jesus said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you". Man has not made a similar promise. Any person who loses faith does so of his own volition, and not through a failure of Deity. Again Not all Baptists believe in once saved always saved. Those believers who remain steadfast in their belief in Jesus can never lose there salvation.

I don't know if this is a Baptist tenet of faith or not. I personally believe there is a physical earthbound church that I call the Body of Christ because it is intended to do the physical work that Jesus started. I personally believe there is a spiritual church comprised of all persons with Faith in Jesus the Christ that is called the Bride of Christ. There will at some future time be a separation of these churches when the Bridegroom returns for his Bride.

Though I am not currently on the rolls of a baptist church, I have extensive history as a member of a variety of Baptist churches.

 

Greetings,

I stop by here from time to time to visit those who either do not frequent Carm or have been kicked out. OR if I have a specific baptist question as I do tonight.

Another question: Do baptists believe in total depravity sincet the fall, OR do they believe that there is no original sin, just personal sin that comes after the age of reason? Or something else? I know different denominations believe different things regarding the state of humanity after sin.

peace

 

Greetings,

Actually I still post on CARM. I visit Carm, Catholic Convert and every now and then, here. I don't have time for anything else.

GRACESAVES: I personal Messaged you. See your personal message. I have never done that before, so I hope it worked.

Another baptist question: Do baptists believe in the Rapture? I see rapture stuff in their advertisements, but I also know that some people cannot control advertisements. I also know Rapture thought is only 180 years old and baptist are 350 years old.

peace