Baptist Distinctives: Biblical Authority
Baptist Distinctives • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 9 viewsChristians need a commitment to the Word of God.
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Text: Romans 15:4 “For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” (Romans 15:4, ESV)
Theme: Christians need a commitment to the Word of God.
Date: 06/18/2023 Title: BaptistDistinctives_01 ID: NT06-15
If someone were to ask you, “What is the one thing that makes the Baptist denomination different from other Christian denominations?” what would you say? Is it baptism by immersion of persons who have believed in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior? Is it a strong commitment to the concept of the priesthood of the believer? Is it an enduring belief in religious liberty? Each of these is certainly held by Baptist Christians. But Christians of other denominations also hold them.
The fact is that there is no single belief or practice that makes Baptists distinctive from other Christians. So what makes a Baptist a Baptist? A combination of beliefs and practices sets Baptists apart from other Christian groups. There is a distinctive group of doctrines and polities for Baptists, a sort of Baptist recipe. Like most recipes, each of the ingredients is not unique to Baptists, but the total mix is distinctively Baptist. What are these key ingredients in the Baptist recipe?
• Biblical Authority
• Priesthood of Believers
• Two Ordinances – Believer’s Baptism (by immersion) and the Lord’s Supper
• Soul Liberty
• Redeemed, Baptized Church Membership
• Two Church Offices – Elders and Deacons
• Others would include Autonomy of the Local Church and Religious Freedom
This evening we’re going to begin looking at some of our Baptist Distinctives. I want to explore with you what makes a Baptist a Baptist. To some degree I’m certainly “preaching to the choir” and yet, as I close out my ministry to this congregation It’s important that a “remnant” have a thorough understanding what it means to be Baptist and will raise “holy hell” should other seek to lead the church away from our distinctives.
Here is what our Southern Baptist Confession of Faith says about it ...
The Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired and is God’s revelation of Himself to man. It is a perfect treasure of divine instruction. It has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter. Therefore, all Scripture is totally true and trustworthy. It reveals the principles by which God judges us, and therefore is, and will remain to the end of the world, the true center of Christian union, and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and religious opinions should be tried. All Scripture is a testimony to Christ, who is Himself the focus of divine revelation.
For Baptists the Scriptures are our absolute authority for faith and practice. All other realms of authority must be subject to it: creeds, traditions, reason, experience, theologians, denominational founders, or community and culture. Although we may gain biblical insight from some of these sources, if any of these are out of step with the Scriptures, they are wrong and must be surrender to biblical authority. (And that’ll get you in a lot of trouble in this society – just ask Jack Phillips of Masterpiece Cakeshop. The LGBTQ community and the state of Colorado are determined to put him out of business because his mind is held captive to the Word of God, and he refuses to acquiesce to their demands to surrender to the authority of the culture).
So what do we believe about the Bible?
I. WE BELIEVE THAT THE BIBLE IS TRUTH WITHOUT ANY MIXTURE OF ERROR
I. WE BELIEVE THAT THE BIBLE IS TRUTH WITHOUT ANY MIXTURE OF ERROR
1. since Baptists were first known as Baptists in early 17th -England, they have been know as the people of the Book
2 from laborer to learned scholar, we have always given special attention to the Bible
a. we consider it a book not just for the theologian or the pastor, but for the layperson as well
1) the Bible was never intended to be a book for scholars and specialists only
b. from the very beginning it was intended to be everybody's book
ILLUS. Pope Gregory the Great said: “The Bible is a stream wherein the elephant may swim and the lamb may wade.”
1) in other words, it has truths so simple that a child can understand them and accept them, as well as theology so deep that certain topics can keep a biblical scholar engaged for a lifetime
3. it is a document that we encourage all church members to have, to read, to study and to bring with them when they come to church
a. choose any other denomination in the community, and you will see more Bibles carried into the Baptist church than any other
4. there are three essential truths we believe about the Bible
A. 1st, THE BIBLE IS AUTHORED BY GOD AND REVEALS GOD TO MEN
A. 1st, THE BIBLE IS AUTHORED BY GOD AND REVEALS GOD TO MEN
“For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” (2 Peter 1:21, ESV)
1. Baptists have historically believed that the Bible has God for its author, salvation for its end and that it is truth without any mixture of error for its matter
a. we believe this because the Scriptures themselves maintain that they are inspired by God alone
“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,” (2 Timothy 3:16, ESV)
1) the verb breathed out (or inspired by in some translations) is the Greek is theopneustos, and literally means God-breathed
2) through the guidance of God’s Holy Spirit, the writers of the Bible wrote exactly what God wanted us to know
3) God used each writer’s unique writing style and vocabulary, but the true author of the Bible is the Holy Spirit
a) you might say those folks who penned the Bible are really Holy Ghost writers
2. the Bible does not merely contain the truth of God, it is the truth of God
a. it is completely true from Genesis 1:1 through Revelation 22:21
b. how do we know that it is true?
“Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness, 2 in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began” (Titus 1:1–2, ESV)
c. it is not consistent with God’s holy character that He would lie to us
3. because the Scripture is true, it is powerful
“ “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, 11 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:10–11, ESV)
“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12, ESV)
a. but it is powerful only if we believe it, claim it, and use it
ILLUS. In his book The Screwtape Letters, C.S. Lewis pens imaginary conversations between a senior demon named Wormwood and his demon appetence Screwtape. In one dialogue, Wormwood stands at the blackboard lecturing and illustrating the latest procedures in demonic warfare. At the end of this session Wormwood tells his class, “Now get out there and give your best possible effort to keep believers from winning the lost.” As the demons head for the door, Wormwood exhorts them, “But the way, be careful. If those Christians ever begin to really believe and act on what they have in the Word of God, then hell help us, all heaven is going to break loose!”
a. the Bible Is Authored by God and Reveals God to Men
B. 2nd, THE BIBLE IS INFALLIBLE AND WILL NOT LEAD MEN ASTRAY
B. 2nd, THE BIBLE IS INFALLIBLE AND WILL NOT LEAD MEN ASTRAY
“The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; 8 the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; 9 the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether. 10 More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. 11 Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.” (Psalm 19:7–11, ESV)
1. if the Bible is God’s true revelation, then that means it is an infallible document
2. what do I mean by the word infallible?
a. it means that the Scriptures will do what they are designed to do—lead people into a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ
ILLUS. When we say that the Bible is infallible, we are maintaining that it is without error since it is inspired by the Holy Spirit. Charles H. Spurgeon, a great English pastor, wrote of the Bible: “The Bible is a vein of pure gold, unalloyed by quartz or any earthly substance. This is a star without a speck; a sun without a blot; a light without darkness; a moon without paleness; a glory without dimness. O Bible! it cannot be said of any other book that it is perfect and pure; but of thee we can declare all wisdom is gathered up in thee, without particle of folly.”
3. the Bible tells us everything we need to know about the One in whom our deepest trust should be placed
a. in its passages and through its pages, you will meet the living Lord
1) Jesus said in John 5:39 Search the scriptures; for . . . they are they which testify of me
b. when the apostle John writes, “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:” (John 1:12), you can know without a shadow-of-a-doubt that what he says is true
c. the Bible Is Infallible and inerrant, and Will Not Lead Men Astray
C. 3rd, ALL OUR OTHER DISTINCTIVES FLOW FROM OUR BELIEF ABOUT THE BIBLE
C. 3rd, ALL OUR OTHER DISTINCTIVES FLOW FROM OUR BELIEF ABOUT THE BIBLE
1. on the authority of the Bible, Baptists base beliefs in matters such as ...
salvation by grace through faith alone
he priesthood of all believers
soul competency
believer’s baptism
the symbolic nature of baptism and the Lord’s Supper
a church membership only of those who have been born again
congregational church governance
the autonomy of churches
religious freedom, and
voluntary cooperation for missions and ministry
a. we didn’t “invent” any of these doctrines but glean them directly from the Scriptures
2. some of these basic convictions relate in a special way to how Baptists view and interpret the Bible
a. for example, belief in soul competency and the priesthood of all believers leads Baptists to insist that each believer-priest is competent to read and understand the Bible and that the opportunity and responsibility of each believer priest for reading and interpreting the Bible ought not be delegated to others
b. there are some denominations that gasp at this
1) is there danger in declaring that all believers should be free to interpret the Bible for themselves?
a) of course, there is danger; strange, even bizarre interpretations may result because not all persons are equally mature in their Christian growth or equally knowledgeable about principles of biblical interpretation
2) but the alternative is even more dangerous
a) believing that only a few persons have the authority to determine what the Bible teaches
3) does this mean that a person is free to believe anything he or she wants to about the Bible and still call themselves a Baptist?
a) no
b) Baptists declare that they are free to do so, but this does not mean that every interpretation is correct
c) as Southern Baptists we do have a confession of faith that guides us in what Baptists have historically believed
ILLUS. You’re free to believe in baptismal regeneration, but if you do, call yourself a Catholic, not a Baptist. You’re free to believe that your salvation can be lost, but if you do, call yourself a Methodist and not a Baptist.
... the Bible Is Authoritative for Our Faith and Practice Because it is Truth Without Any Mixture of Error
II. WE BELIEVE THE BIBLE IS THE ONLY SOURCE FOR FAITH AND PRACTICE
II. WE BELIEVE THE BIBLE IS THE ONLY SOURCE FOR FAITH AND PRACTICE
ILLUS. This last week at the Southern Baptist Convention in New Orleans, Southern Baptists spent considerable time, discussing and debating whether the Scriptures are authoritative for our churches and our lives. It began in February (2023) when the Credentials Committee of the SBC voted to dis-fellowship two churches affiliated with the national convention who had female pastors —one of them being Saddleback Church in California that was started by Rick Warren. After Warren’s retirement last year, the church called a husband and wife to be co-teaching pastors of the church. The SBC Credentials Committee said, “No, that’s a bridge too far,” and they announced that the SBC was dis-fellowshiping Saddleback, but the church challenged the ruling. On Tuesday evening 90% of Southern Baptist messengers reaffirmed the Credentials Committee’s decision and said that, according to our Convention’s Statement of Faith, Saddleback (and the other congregation) “were not in friendly cooperation” with the convention. We have been pilloried by the wider culture for taking this stand.
1. the Bible either is or it is not authoritative for our lives and the practice of the church regardless of what modern culture says
a. it warns us of dangerous behaviors and guides us safely through life
ILLUS. Mark Twain once said, “Most people are bothered by those passages of Scripture which they cannot understand; but as for me, I have always noticed that the passages in Scripture which trouble me most are those which I do understand.”
2. we either are or are not a people of the Book
a. that’s a way of saying that we have no other source of authority for what we believe, or what we do, or how we run the church other than the Bible
A. OUR ALLEGIANCE IS TO SCRIPTURE, NOT CREEDS OR TRADITIONS
A. OUR ALLEGIANCE IS TO SCRIPTURE, NOT CREEDS OR TRADITIONS
1. Baptists have stubbornly insisted that nothing outside of the Bible can serve as a rule for our faith or for our practice
2. some churches depend on creeds, but Baptists respond with, “What does the Book say?”
ILLUS. Early in the Church’s history, a standard for orthodox faith was established. It was called The Apostle’s Creed. It was written as a defense against heresy. To be a Christian meant that you believed certain things and The Apostle’s Creed listed the tenants of the Christian’s faith. It reads: I believe in God the Father Almighty; and in Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son, our Lord, who was born of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, crucified under Pontius Pilate and buried; the third day He rose from the dead, ascended into the heavens, being seated at the right hand of the Father, whence He shall come to judge the living and the dead; I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy church, forgiveness of sins, and the resurrection of the flesh.”
a. now, as a Baptist, there is not one thing in that creed I disagree with
1) I can say “Amen” to every statement
2) then why don’t Baptists like creeds?
b. because men have the propensity to do one of two things . . .
1) we will either “add to” the fundamentals of the faith and make salvation restrictive
ILLUS. Like the well-known Baptist commandment: Thou shall not drink and thou shall not chew, and thou shall not date girls that do.
2) or we will “subtract from” the fundamentals of the faith and tell folks that the Bible was written by people from a different age and that much of it doesn’t apply to men’s lives today
3) there is also the tendency that men may put their faith in the creed itself, rather than in the living Lord
3. some churches depend on traditions, but Baptists respond with, “What does the Book say?”
ILLUS. I have people frequently ask me, “Pastor, how come the Catholic Church does such-an-such when there seems to be no Scripture in support of it?” The answer is —tradition! The Catholic Church believes that long-time traditions our long held beliefs, or men they call “Doctors of the Church” (37 of them) hold as much authoritative weight as the Scriptures do.
a. now, traditions are not necessarily bad Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle. (2 Thessalonians 2:15, KJV)
b. as Baptists, we too have our traditional ways of doing things
1) the way we worship
2) the way we celebrate the Lord’s Supper
3) the way we organize for & support missions
4) even the basic design of our churches ... there is no altar and the pulpit is at the center
c. but as much as possible, we have based what we do and the way we do it on clear Biblical teachings
1) if there is not a Scriptural basis for something, Baptists usually won’t do it
d. the problem with depending upon tradition as an authority for faith and practice, is that traditions are man-made and subject to cultural change
1) the Apostle Peter warned against putting too much faith in tradition
“knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold,” (1 Peter 1:18, ESV)
2) Peter is basically saying, Traditions won’t save you, but Jesus will
... as Baptists, We Believe That the Scriptures Are Only Source for Faith and Practice
III. WE BELIEVE THAT THE MESSAGE OF THE BIBLE IS THE ONLY HOPE FOR LOST MEN
III. WE BELIEVE THAT THE MESSAGE OF THE BIBLE IS THE ONLY HOPE FOR LOST MEN
“and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.” (2 Timothy 3:15, ESV)
1. Paul tells Timothy that the Scriptures make one wise unto salvation
2. the Bible’s central message is the story of salvation
a. throughout both Old and New Testaments three strands of God’s unfolding story of grace are found
1) the Bible tells us about the author of salvation —Jesus Christ
2) the Bible tells us about the way of salvation —blood atonement
3) the Bible tells us about the heirs of salvation —sinners saved by grace
3. the Scriptures are the source of true salvation and godly living
A. THE BIBLE TELLS US THAT MAN HAS A PROBLEM
A. THE BIBLE TELLS US THAT MAN HAS A PROBLEM
1. that problem is called sin
B. THE BIBLE TELLS US THAT MAN’S SIN CONDEMNS HIM TO AN ETERNITY IN HELL WITHOUT GOD
B. THE BIBLE TELLS US THAT MAN’S SIN CONDEMNS HIM TO AN ETERNITY IN HELL WITHOUT GOD
C. THE BIBLE TELLS US THAT GOD HAS A REMEDY FOR OUR PROBLEM
C. THE BIBLE TELLS US THAT GOD HAS A REMEDY FOR OUR PROBLEM
1. that remedy is the same remedy that Martin Luther discovered in his room as he meditated upon the Scriptures
2. that remedy is the righteousness of God administered though grace when we openly and unashamedly confess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior
Romans 10:9-10 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. KJV
ILLUS. Martin Luther had a dream in which he stood on the day of judgment before God Himself--and Satan was there to accuse him. When Satan opened his books full of accusations, he pointed to transgression after transgression of which Luther was guilty. As the proceedings went on, Luther's heart sunk in despair. Then he remembered the cross of Christ--and turning upon Satan, he said, "There is one entry which you have not made, Satan." The Devil retorted, "What is that?" And Luther answered, "It is this--the blood of Jesus Christ, his Son, cleanseth us from all sins." The Devil closed his book and could say nothing more.
As Baptists we believe that the message of the bible is the only hope for lost men.
As Baptists, we believe the bible is the only source for faith and practice.
As Baptists, we believe that the bible is truth without any mixture of error.
Luther’s motto is has become our motto: Sola Scriptura—Scriptures alone. God’s Word will always guide us correctly!