Baptist Distinctives

A true Baptist Church is modeled after the New Testament churches in the following major respects:

I. Saved church membership – It requires people to be saved before baptism and church membership. (John 3:7, Acts 2:41-47

II. Immersion of Believers Only – The Baptist Church does not baptize infants.    (Acts 16:30-34, Acts 18:8) It believes that the only mode of baptism is by immersion, which is the only mode that can portray the basis upon which the Godhead fulfills all righteousness, viz., the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. (Matthew 13-17)

III. Sovereignty of Local Church – The local church is a pure democracy: It is independent of all bishops, popes, councils, conventions, synods, conferences, or human overlords. Christ alone is its head, and a true Baptist church seeks to conduct its affairs as the Lord Jesus directs through the Holy Spirit. We believe what Jesus said about the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Every member has equal privileges in a Baptist Church. It has only two classes of officers: pastors and deacons. The church at Philippi is a good example. (Philippians 1:1) It believes in the equality of ministers, there are no Bishops or otherwise with any authority over any other minister.

IV. New Testament Only Rule of Faith and Practice – The laws and doctrines of the local church are the New Testament Scriptures

V. Priesthood of the Believer – It believes that every believer has a direct approach to the throne of Grace without the aid of human priests, ceremony, or form. (Hebrews 4:14-16)

VI. Separation of Church and State – It believes in absolute separation of Church and State, on the one hand, but on the other hand it believes in being good citizens and “Rendering unto Caeser the things that are Caeser’s,” at least until disobedience to God is involved, and then we believe with Peter old that we must obey God rather than man. (Romans 13:1-14)

VII. Soul Liberty – It allows its individual members the liberty to interpret the Bible under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is called “soul liberty.” (2 Timothy 2:15 applies to everyone who is a believer.)

The people who are called Baptists believe and accept the Great Commission, (Matthew 28:18-20) as their marching orders from the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the head of the Church. Because of that commission, they are known to be very missionary minded. Baptists believe strongly in separation from sin, worldliness, and false teaching. (2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1, 2 John:7-11.)

Because of their behavior in standing for the above truths, they have been the most persecuted of all people. Hundreds of thousands of them have been put to death just for their stand on the matter of baptism.

Articles Of Faith.

I. Of The Scriptures

We believe that the Holy Bible as originally written was verbally inspired and the product of spirit-controlled men, and therefore, has truth without any admixture of error for its matter. We believe the Bible to be the true center of Christian union and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions, shall be tried. II Timothy 3:16, 17; II Peter 1:19-21.

II. Of The True God

We believe there is one and only one living and true God, an infinite Spirit, the Maker and Supreme Ruler of Heaven and earth; inexpressibly glorious in holiness and worthy of all possible honor, confidence and love; that in the unity of the Godhead there are three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, equal in every divine perfection, and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption. Exodus 20:2, 3; I Corinthians 8:6; Revelation 4:11

III. Of The Holy Spirit

We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine person, equal with God the Father and God the Son and of the same nature; that He was active in the creation; that in His relation to the unbelieving world  He restrains the evil one until God’s purpose is fulfilled; that He convicts of sin, of righteousness, and of judgement; that He bears to the Truth of the Gospel in preaching and testimony; that He is the agent in the New Birth; that He seals, endues, guides, teaches, witnesses, sanctifies and helps the believer. John 14:16, 17; Matthew 28:19; Hebrews 9:14; John 14:26; Luke 1:35; Genesis 1:1-3; John 16:8-11; Acts 5:30-32; John 3:5, 6; Ephesians 1:13, 14; Mark 1:8; John 1:33; Acts 11:16; Luke 24:49; Romans 8:14,16; Romans 8:26, 27.

IV. Of The Devil, Or Satan

We believe in the personality of Satan, that he is the unholy god of this age, and the author of all the powers of darkness, and is destined to the judgement of an eternal justice in the lake of fire. Matthew 4:1-3; II Corinthians 4:4; Revelation 20:10.

V. Of Creation

We accept the Genesis account of creation and believe that man came by direct creation of God and not by evolution. Genesis, chapter 1 and 2, Colossians 1:16-17; John 1:3.

VI. Of The Fall Of Man

We believe that man was created in innocence under the law of his Maker but by voluntary transgression fell from his sinless and happy state in consequence of which all mankind are now sinners not only by constraint, but of choice; and therefore under just condemnation without defense or excuse. Genesis 3:1-6; Romans 5:19; Romans 5:10-19; Romans 1:18; Romans 1:32.

VII. Of The Virgin Birth

We believe that Jesus was begotten of the Holy Ghost in a miraculous manner, born of Mary, a virgin, as no other man was ever born or can ever be born of woman, and that He is both the Son of God and God, the Son. Genesis 3:15; Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:35; John 1:4.

VIII. Of The Atonement For Sin

We believe that the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace; through the mediatorial offices of the Son of God, who by the appointment of the Father, freely took upon Him our nature, yet without sin, honored the divine law by His personal obedience, and by his death made a full and vicarious atonement for our sins; that his atonement consisted not in setting us an example by his death as a martyr, but was a voluntary substitution of Himself in the sinner’s place, the Just dying for the unjust; Christ, the Lord, bearing our sin in His own body on the tree; that having risen from the dead, He is now enthroned in Heaven, and uniting in His wonderful person the tenderest sympathies with divine perfection, He is in every way qualified to be a suitable, a compassionate and an all sufficient Savior. Ephesians 2:8; Acts 15:11; Romans 3:24; John 3:16; Matthew 18:11; Philippians 2:7; Hebrews 2:14; Isaiah 53:4-7; Romans 3:25; I John 4:10; I Corinthians 15:3; II Corinthians 5:21

IX. Of Grace In The New Creation

We believe that in order to be saved, sinners must be born again; that the new birth is a creation in Christ Jesus; that it is instantaneous and not a process that in the new birth the one dead in trespasses and in sin is made a partaker f the divine nature and receives eternal life, the free gift of God; that the new creation is brought about in a manner above our comprehension, solely by the power of the Holy Spirit in connection with divine truth, so as to secure our voluntary obedience to the gospel; that its proper evidence appears in the holy fruits of repentance and faith and newness of life. John 3:3; II Corinthians 5:17; I John 5:1; John 3:6, 7; Acts 16:30-33; II Peter 1:4; Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:1; II Corinthians 5:19; Colossians 2:13; John 3:8.

X. Of Justification

We believe that the great gospel blessing which Christ secures to such as believe in Him is Justification;

(a)    That Justification includes the pardon of sin, and gift of eternal life, on principles of righteousness;

(b)    That it is bestowed not in consideration of any works of righteousness which we have done; but solely through faith in the Redeemers blood, his righteousness is imputed to us. Acts 13:39; Isaiah 53:11; Zechariah 13:1 Romans 8:1; Romans 5:9; Romans 5:1.

XI. Of Faith And Salvation

We believe that faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is the only condition of salvation. Acts 16:31.

XII. Of The Local Church

We believe that a local Church is a congregation of immersed believers, associated by covenant of faith and fellowship of the Gospel; observing the ordinances of Christ; governed by His laws; and exercising the gifts, rights and privileges invested in them by His Word; that its officers are pastors, and deacons, whose qualifications, claims, and duties, are clearly defined in the Scriptures. We believe the true mission of the Church is the faithful witnessing of Christ to all men as we have opportunity. We hold that the local Church has the absolute right of self-government free from the interference of any hierarchy of individuals or organizations; and that the one and only superintendent is Christ through the Holy Spirit; that it is scriptural for true Churches to cooperate with each other in contending for the faith and for the furtherance of the Gospel; that each local Church is the sole judge of the measure and method of its co-operation; on all matters of membership, of polity, of government, of discipline, of benevolence, the will of the local church is final. Acts 2:41, 42; I Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 1:22, 23; Ephesians 4:11; Acts 20:17-28; I Timothy 3:1-7; Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 5:23, 24; Acts 15:13-18.

XIII. Of Baptism And the Lord’s Supper

We believe that Christian Baptism is the immersion of a believer in water to show forth in a solemn and beautiful emblem our faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Savior, with its effect in our death to sin and resurrection to a new life, that it is pre-requisite to the privileges of a church relation. We believe that the Lord’s Supper is the commemoration of His death until He come, and should be preceded always by solemn self-examination. Acts 8:26-39; John 3:23; Romans 6:3-5; Matthew 3:16; Colossians 2:12; I Corinthians 11:23-28.

XIV. Of The Security Of The Saints

We believe that all who are truly born again are kept by God and the Father for Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6; John 10:28, 29; Romans 8:35-39; Jude 1 (RV).

XV. Of The Righteous And The Wicked

We believe that there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked; that such only as through faith are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and sanctified by the Spirit of our God, are truly righteous in His esteem; while all such as continue in impenitence and unbelief are in His sight wicked, and under the curse; and this distinction holds among men both in and after death, in the everlasting felicity of the saved and the everlasting conscious suffering of the lost. Malachi 3:18; Genesis 18:23; Romans 6:17,18; I John 5:19; Romans 7:6; Romans 6:23; Proverbs 14:32; Luke 6:25; Matthew 25:34-41; John 8:21.

XVI. Of Civil Government   

We believe that civil government is of divine appointment for the interests and good order of human society; that magistrates are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored, and obeyed, except in things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ who is the only Lord of the conscience, and the coming Prince of the Kings of earth. Romans 13:1-7; II Samuel 23:3; Exodus 18:21, 22; Acts 23:5; Matthew 22:21; Acts 5:20; Acts 4:19, 20; Daniel 3:17, 18.

XVII. Of The Resurrection, Personal, Visible, Premillennial Return Of Christ, And Related Events

(a)    We believe in the Bodily Resurrection. Matthew 28:6, 7; Luke 24:39; John 20:27; I Corinthians 15:4; Mark 16:6; Luke 24:2-6.

(b)    The Ascension. Acts 1:9-11; Luke 24:51; Mark 16:19; Revelation 3:21; Hebrews 12:2.

(c)    The High Priesthood. Hebrews 8:6; I Timothy 2:5; I John 2:1; Hebrews 2:17; Hebrews 5:9, 10.

(d)    The Second Coming. John 14:3; Acts 1:11; I Thessalonians 4:16; James 5:8; Hebrews 9:28.

(e)    The Resurrection Of The Righteous Dead. I Thessalonians 4:13-18;

I Corinthians 15:42-44; I Corinthians 15:52.

(f)      The Change Of The Living in Christ. I Corinthians 15:51-53; I Thessalonians 4:13-18; Philippians 3:20, 21.

(g)     The Throne Of David. Luke 1:32; Isaiah 9:6, 7; Acts 2:29, 30.

(h)    The Millennial Reign. I Corinthians 15:25; Isaiah 32:1; Isaiah 11:4, 5: Psalm 72:8; Revelation 20:14; Revelation 20:6.

XVIII. Of Marriage

We believe the Bible teaches that marriage is an institution established by God as clearly described in the Scriptures. Marriage is the uniting of one naturally born male and one naturally born female in covenant commitment for a lifetime. Accordingly, the members of the Church its Pastor(s) and staff will not participate, or involve themselves in same sex unions, or same sex marriages, nor shall its property or resources be used for such purposes. The resources, property and buildings of the Church shall not be used by any individual or organization promoting or condoning sexual activity contrary to what the church believes the Bible teaches.

We believe that any form of sexual immorality, such as adultery, fornication, homosexuality, bisexual conduct, bestiality, incest, pornography, or any attempt to change one’s biological sex is sinful and offensive to God. God’s inerrant and infallible Word, the Holy Bible, is unambiguous in its declaration that sexual sin, such as those named above, is an offense to our Holy God. We believe God offers forgiveness, redemption, and restoration to all sinners who will repent of their sin and seek His mercy and forgiveness through Jesus Christ, but that those known to be unrepentant practitioners of sexual sin cannot remain as members of First Baptist Church of Barron. Allowing them to remain in an unrepentant state, whether they are pastors, staff, members, or employees, brings God’s displeasure on the Church and forfeiture of His blessings.

Genesis 2:24; Leviticus 18:22-30; Romans 1:24-29; Romans 7:2; I Corinthians 5:9, 6:9-10, 16, 18; Ephesians 5:22-23; Hebrews 13:4.