i. introduction a. ecclesiology b. what? why? how? c. relationship to believer’s baptism d. who is...
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I. IntroductionA. Ecclesiology
B. What? Why? How? C. Relationship to Believer’s Baptism D. Who is a proper candidate for
membership in a Baptist church?
Charles W. DeweeseBaptist Church Covenants
“The rise of the Believer’s Church was one of the most important developments in Christian history. This movement began among the Czech Brethren in the 1400s and continued through the Continental Anabaptists of the 1500s. Baptists arose in the early 1600s as a dynamic extension of the movement”
Religiousliberty
II. What Is a Believer’s Church?A. John Smyth’s Short ConfessionB. Thomas Helwys Declaration at AmsterdamC. The Particular BaptistsD. In Modern TimeE. Points from the “Baptist Distinctives” LectureF. Summary of Thought
John Smyth Short Confession of Faith
(1609), Article 12
“That the church of Christ is a company of the faithful; baptized after confession of sin and of faith, endowed with the power of Christ.”
Thomas Helwys A Declaration of Faith of
English People Remaining at Amsterdam in Holland, 1611
Article 10 “That the church of CHRIST is a company of
faithful people (1 Corinthians 1:2. Ephesians 1:1) separated from the world by the word and Spirit of GOD (2 Corinthians 6:17) being knit unto the LORD, and one unto another, by Baptism. (1 Corinthians 12:13). Upon their own confession of the faith (Acts 8:37) and sins. (Matthew 3:6).”
Thomas Helwys A Declaration of Faith of English People Remaining at Amsterdam in Holland,
1611 Article 13 “That every Church is to receive in all their
members by Baptism upon the Confession of their faith and sins wrought by the preaching of the Gospel, according to the primitive Institution, (Matthew 28:19) and practice, (Acts 2:41). And therefore Churches constituted after any other manner, or of any other persons are not according to CHRISTS Testament.”
1644 London Confession of Faith Article 33
“That Christ has here on earth a spiritual Kingdom, which is the Church, which He has purchased and redeemed to Himself, as a particular inheritance: which Church, as it is visible to us, is a company of visible saints, called and separated from the world, by the Word and the Spirit of God, to the visible profession of the faith of the Gospel, being baptized into the faith, and joined to the Lord, and each other, by mutual agreement, in the practical enjoyment of the ordinances, commanded by Christ their head and King.”
1689 Second London ConfessionArticle 26, Point 1
“The catholic or universal church, which (with respect to the internal work of the Spirit and truth of grace) may be called invisible, consists of the whole number of the elect, that have been, are, or shall be gathered into one, under Christ, the head thereof; and is the spouse, the body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.”
1689 Second London ConfessionArticle 26, Point 2
“All persons throughout the world, professing the faith of the gospel, and obedience unto God by Christ according unto it, not destroying their own profession by any errors everting the foundation, or unholiness of conversation, are and may be called visible saints; and of such ought all particular congregations to be constituted.”
1689 Second London ConfessionArticle 26, Point 6
“The members of these churches are saints by calling, visibly manifesting and evidencing (in and by their profession and walking) their obedience unto that call of Christ; and do willingly consent to walk together, according to the appointment of Christ; giving up themselves to the Lord, and one to another, by the will of God, in professed subjection to the ordinances of the Gospel.”
1689 Second London ConfessionArticle 29 Point 2
“Those who do actually profess repentance towards God, faith in, and obedience to, our Lord Jesus Christ, are the only proper subjects of this ordinance [baptism].”
The New Hampshire Baptist Confession of Faith, 1833
Article 13, Of a Gospel Church “We believe that a visible Church of Christ is a congregation of
baptized believers 1 Cor. 1:1-13; Matt. 18:17; Acts 5:11; 8:1; 11:31; 1 Cor. 4:17; 14:23; 3 John 9; 1 Tim. 3:5, associated by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the gospel Acts 2:41-42; 2 Cor. 8:5; Acts 2:47; 1 Cor. 5:12-13; observing the ordinances of Christ 1 Cor. 11:2; 2 Thess. 3:6; Rom. 16:17-20; 1 Cor. 11:23; Matt. 18:15-20; 1 Cor. 5:6; 2 Cor. 2:7; 1 Cor. 4:17; governed by his laws Matt. 28:20; John 14:15; 15:12; 1 John 4:21; John 14:21; 1 Thess. 4.2; 2 John 6; Gal. 6:2; all the Epistles, and exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by his Word Eph. 4:7; 1 Cor. 14:12; Phil. 1:27; 1 Cor. 12:14; that its only scriptural officers are Bishops, or Pastors, and Deacons Phil. 1:1; Acts 14:23; 15:22; 1 Tim. 3; Titus 1, whose qualifications, claims, and duties are defined in the Epistles to Timothy and Titus.”
“Theological Principles” of ABGTS “The Church, as a spiritual fellowship, is the people of
God, the fellowship of all true believers. The Church as an organized body is a local congregation of baptized believers, organized for worship, observance of the ordinances, and the spread of the Gospel throughout the world. It is a self-governing spiritual democracy whose officers are pastors and deacons, who along with the other members are equal in rank and privilege under the headship and authority of Christ. The church two ordinances are the baptism or believers by immersion and the Lord Supper. They are symbolic expressions of the message of salvation. Christ is the Lord of the Church, both the spiritual fellowship and the local congregation.”
Baptist Ideals 1964IV. The Church 1. Its Nature
“In the New Testament the term church designates God’s people in their totality or in local assembly. The church is a fellowship of persons redeemed in Christ Jesus, divinely called, divinely created, and made one under the sovereign rule of God. The church as a local body—an organism indwelt by the Holy Spirit—is a fellowship of baptized believers, voluntarily banded together for worship, study, mutual discipline, Christian service, and the propagation of the gospel at home and abroad.”
Baptist Ideals 1964 IV. The Church 2. Its Membership
“ The church in local embodiment is a fellowship of regenerated and baptized believers associated by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the gospel. Properly, one qualifies for church membership by being begotten of God and by voluntarily accepting baptism. For such persons membership in a local church becomes a holy privilege and a sacred study. Simply to be enrolled in the membership of a church does not constitute membership in the body of Christ. The utmost care should be exercised to see that persons are accepted into the fellowship of a church only on reasonable evidence of regeneration and true commitment to Christ as Lord.”
The Believer’s ChurchA (or the) church is made up of those who have professed their faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and on the basis of that professed faith have been baptized.
III. Why a Believer’s Church?A. Historical BackgroundB. ReformationC. English SeparatistsD. Smyth and Helwys (General Baptists)
E. Authority and Limitations of the Magistracy
ReformationReformationSola scriptura
Sola gratia
Sola fides
Priesthood of the believer
English SeparatistsEnglish Separatists
Separated from the Church of EnglandBut they kept
Church + StateInfant baptism
The 1611 Confession of FaithArticle 70
“the outward baptism of water is to be administered only upon such penitent and faithful persons as are (aforesaid), and not upon innocent infants, or whicked persons (Matt. iii. 2, 3, compared with Matt. xxviii. 19, 20 and John iv. I).”
The 1611 Confession of FaithArticle 83
“the office of the magistrate, is a disposition or permissive ordinance of God for the good of mankind: that one man like the brute beasts devour not another (Rom. xiii), and that justice and civility may be preserved among men: and that a magistrate may so please God in his calling, in doing that which is righteous and just in the eyes of the Lord, that he may bring an outward blessing upon himself, his posterity and subjects (2 Kings, x. 30,31).”
The 1611 Confession of FaithArticle 84
“the magistrate is not by virtue of his office to meddle with religion, or matters of conscience, to force and compel men to this or that form of religion or doctrine; but to leave Christian religion free, to every man's conscience, and to handle only civil transgressions (Rom. xiii), injuries and wrongs of man against man, in murder, adultery, theft, ect., for Christ only is the king, and lawgiver of the church and conscience (James iv. 12).”
IV. The Church: Local and UniversalA. Particular BaptistsB. Asia Baptist Graduate Theological Seminary
C. “Baptists Ideals,” 1964D. “The Baptist Doctrine of the Church,” 1948E. A Local Church Is Fully the ChurchF. But Note Baptist Diversity
1644 Confession of FaithArticle 33
“That Christ has here on earth a spiritual Kingdom, which is the Church, which He has purchased and redeemed to Himself, as a particular inheritance: which Church, as it is visible to us, is a company of visible saints, called and separated from the world, by the Word and the Spirit of God, to the visible profession of the faith of the Gospel, being baptized into the faith, and joined to the Lord, and each other, by mutual agreement, in the practical enjoyment of the ordinances, commanded by Christ their head and King.”
1689 Second London ConfessionArticle 26, Point 1
“The catholic or universal church, which (with respect to the internal work of the Spirit and truth of grace) may be called invisible, consists of the whole number of the elect, that have been, are, or shall be gathered into one, under Christ, the head thereof; and is the spouse, the body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.”
The ABGTS “Theological Principles”“The Church, as a spiritual fellowship, is the people of God, the fellowship of all true believers. The Church as an organized body is a local congregation of baptized believers, organized for worship, observance of the ordinances, and the spread of the Gospel throughout the world. It is a self-governing spiritual democracy whose officers are pastors and deacons, who along with the other members are equal in rank and privilege under the headship and authority of Christ. The church’s two ordinances are the baptism of believers by immersion and the Lord’s Supper. They are symbolic expressions of the message of salvation. Christ is the Lord of the Church, both the spiritual fellowship and the local congregation.”
Baptist Ideals 1964 IV. The Church 1. Its Nature
“In the New Testament the term church designates God’s people in their totality or in local assembly. The church [universal] is a fellowship of persons redeemed in Christ Jesus, divinely called, divinely created, and made one under the sovereign rule of God. The church as a local body—an organism indwelt by the Holy Spirit—is a fellowship of baptized believers, voluntarily banded together for worship, study, mutual discipline, Christian service, and the propagation of the gospel at home and abroad.”
Baptist Ideals 1964 IV. The Church 2. Its Membership“The church in local embodiment is a fellowship of regenerated and baptized believers associated by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the gospel. Properly, one qualifies for church membership by being begotten of God and by voluntarily accepting baptism. For such persons membership in a local church becomes a holy privilege and a sacred study. Simply to be enrolled in the membership of a church does not constitute membership in the body of Christ. The utmost care should be exercised to see that persons are accepted into the fellowship of a church only on reasonable evidence of regeneration and true commitment to Christ as Lord.”
The Baptist Doctrine of the Church 1948
The One Holy Catholic Church. 2. “Although Baptists have for so long held a position separate from that of other communions, they have always claimed to part of the one holy catholic Church of our Lord Jesus Christ. They believe in the catholic Church as the holy society of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ, which He founded, of which He is the only Head, and in which He dweels by His Spirit, so that though manifested in many communions, organized in various modes, and scattered throughout the world, it is yet one in Him . . . . The Church is the Body of Christ and a chosen instrument of the divine purpose in history.”
Towards a Baptist Identity,” from the Commission on Baptist
Heritage of the Baptist World Alliance, 1989
“[Baptists] believe that as individuals come to put their trust in God and confess Christ as Savior and Lord (which they believe to be the scriptural conditions for baptism) so the church is created. . . . A local church so constituted represents in any place the church in that locality; it is fully the church, not a branch of some national or wider institution.”
V. The Functions of the ChurchA. BaptismB. CovenantC. AuthorityD. On Congregationalism and AuthorityE. Church OfficersF. Relationships between Congregations
Anthony Cross
“Because believer’s baptism emphasizes the necessity of conversion and forms a direct link between the spiritual authority of the New Testament and the Lord it reveals, it carries with it the unmistakable definition of the church, for which it is the door”
Baptist covenants had four applications
1. God’s covenant of grace made between God and human beings for their salvation in Jesus Christ
2. covenant as transaction in the Godhead in which the Son consented to the the Father’s will to do the work of salvation
3. the covenant between God and the entire church (the universal church) and with specific congregations
4. the covenant binding believers to a specific church and to each other
1644 London ConfessionArticle 34
“To this Church he hath made his promises, and given the signs of his Covenant, presence, love, blessing, and protection: here are the fountains and springs of his heavenly grace continually flowing forth; thither ought all men to come, of all estates, that acknowledge him to be their Prophet, Priest, and King, to be enrolled amongst his household servants, to be under his heavenly conduct and government, to lead their lives in his walled sheepfold, and watered garden, to have communion here with the Saints, that they may be made to be partakers of their inheritance in the Kingdom of God.”
1644 London ConfessionArticle 42
“Christ has likewise given power to his whole Church to receive in and cast out, by way of Excommunication, any member; and this power is given to every particular Congregation, and not one particular person, either member or Officer, but the whole.”
New Hampshire Confession of FaithArticle 13: Of a Gospel Church
“We believe that a visible Church of Christ is a congregation of baptized believers, associated by covenant in the 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 only scriptural officers are Bishops, or Pastors, and Deacons, whose qualifications, claims, and duties are defined in the Epistles to Timothy and Titus.”
Models of Church Government1. Hierarchical (Apostolic Succession)
Jesus
Apostle Apostle Apostle
Bishop Bishop Bishop
Priests Priests Priests
Models of Church Government2. Representative or Presbyterian
Models of Church Government3. Congregational
Baptist Distinctives and Diversities and Disagreements and Differences of Emphasis Among Baptists 1964
Authority: Christ as Head of the Church:
“Just as Christ is confessed as Lord of the individual believer, so also Baptists recognize him as head of the church. He is head of the church in its expression within a local congregation. He is likewise head of the church in its wider expression which includes all those redeemed by his grace. No vicar, pope, bishop, prophet, elder, minister, priest, council, synod, or convention can usurp the primacy of Christ’s authority. Neither may anything or anyone interfere with the directness of that authority to the church. The church, therefore, never moves with greater sureness, purpose, and victory than when it acknowledges its proper relationship to Jesus Christ. In the imagery of Scripture, we confess that the body must submit to the head.”
Baptist Distinctives and Diversities and Disagreements and Differences of
Emphasis Among Baptists 1964 The Scriptures:
“The Bible has always been recognized by Baptists as having a unique role and character. For them, the inspired Scriptures possess authority in all matters of faith and practice. Though not known as a creedal people, Baptists have, nevertheless, at times found it helpful to use creeds or confessions of faith. These have been used primarily as instruments to systematize and summarize certain biblical truths. Such formulated statements, however, have never been accorded the same status as Scripture. They have always been recognized as deriving their authority from the Bible; moreover, their validity had always been judged by the Scriptures.”
1644 London Confession of Faith“Concerning His kingly office, Christ being risen from the dead, and ascended into heaven, and having all power in heaven and earth, He doth spiritually govern His church, and doth exercise His power over all, angels and men, good and bad, to the preservation and salvation of the elect, and to the overruling and destruction of His enemies. By this kingly power He applieth the benefits, virtue, and fruits of His prophecy and priesthood to His elect, subduing their sins, preserving and strengthening them in all their conflicts against Satan, the world, and the flesh, keeping their hearts in faith and filial fear by His Spirit: By this His mighty power He ruleth the vessels of wrath, using, limiting and restraining them, as it seems good to His infinite wisdom.”
A DECLARATION OF FAITH OF ENGLISH PEOPLE REMAINING AT AMSTERDAM IN HOLLAND, 1611
“That the scriptures of the Old and New Testament are written for our instruction and that we ought to search them for they testify of Christ. And therefore to be used withal reverence, as containing the Holy Word of God, which only is our direction in all things whatsoever.”
A Declaration of Faith of English People Remaining in Amsterdam in
Holland, 1611, Article 11“though in respect of CHRIST, the Church be one (Ephesians 4:4) yet it consists of divers particular congregations, even so many as there shall be in the World, every of which congregation, though they be but two or three, have CHRIST given them, with all the means of their salvation. (Matthew 18:20. Romans 8:32. 1 Corinthians 3:22). Are the Body of CHRIST (1 Corinthians 12:27) and a whole Church. (1 Corinthians 14:23) And therefore may, and ought, when they are come together, to Pray, Prophecy, break bread, and administer in all the holy ordinances, although as yet they have no Officers, or that their Officers should be in Prison, sick, or by any other means hindered from the Church. (1 Peter 4:10 & 2:5).”
The 1644 London ConfessionArticle 42
“Christ has likewise given power to his whole Church to receive in and cast out, by way of Excommunication, any member; and this power is given to every particular Congregation, and not one particular person, either member or Officer, but the whole.”
1964 Baptist Distinctives and Diversities, “The Church: Democratic Government”
“Since the church is composed of the redeemed who have equal access to the presence, mind, and will of God, Baptists are convinced that the local church should be governed democratically by its own congregation. While it is not assumed that church decisions democratically arrived at always reflect the will of God, it is assumed that a spiritually sensitive congregation is less likely to misinterpret the divine will than an individual believer. The New Testament gives prominence to the congregation and the local expression of the priesthood of believers.”
The Baptist Doctrine of the Church(1948, the Council of the Baptist
Union of Great Britain and Ireland)
“A properly ordered Baptist church will have its duly appointed officers. These will include the minister (or pastor), elders, deacons, Sunday school teachers, and other church workers.”
A DECLARATION OF FAITH OF ENGLISH PEOPLE REMAINING AT AMSTERDAM IN HOLLAND, 1611
“That the Officers of every Church or congregation are either Elders, who by their office do especially feed the flock concerning their souls, (Acts 20:28, 1 Peter 5:2, 3) or Deacons Men, and Women who by their office relieve the necessities of the poor and impotent brethren concerning their bodies, (Acts 6:1-4).”
Bill J. Leonard
“While some of the early Calvinistic Baptists followed the Reformed model of a four-fold church leadership—pastor, teacher, deacon, elder—most churches down to the present day have used two church officers: pastors and deacons. Pastors are the ordained clergy, while deacons are a lay office chosen by the congregation to serve the spiritual, familial, and physical needs of persons.”
The Baptist Faith and Message, 2000 Article VI The Church
“While both men and women are gifted for service in the church, the office of pastor is limited to men as qualified by Scripture.”
The Baptist Doctrine of the Church1948
“The Baptist conception of the ministry is governed by the principle that it is a ministry of a church and not only a ministry of an individual. It is the church which preaches the Word and celebrates the sacraments, and it is the church which, through pastoral oversight, feeds the flock and ministers to the world. It normally does these things through the person of its minister, but not solely through the minister.”
Bill J. Leonard
“Although they ordain persons for ‘peculiar ministry’ of Word and sacrament/ordinance, Baptists give serious attention to the idea that all persons could go directly to God without the need of any other human mediator.”
Baptist Ideals “Every person is competent to go directly to God for forgiveness through repentance and faith. That person needs neither individual nor church to dispense salvation. There is but one mediator of God and people, Jesus Christ our Lord. After one has become a Christian, one has direct access to God through Christ. The Christian has entered into a royal priesthood and is privileged to minister for Christ to all. Christians are to share with them the faith they cherish and to serve them in the name and spirit of their Lord. The priesthood of believers, therefore, means that all members serve as equals under God in the fellowship of a local church.”
Baptist Distinctives and Diversities:The Church, An Ordained Ministry
“An ordained clergy has always been a part of Baptist structure. Ordination is a formal recognition that God has given a set-apart ministry to the church, that he has called people into his service, endowed them with spiritual gifts to bless the church, and further, that candidates have taken seriously the divine call by giving evidence of thorough preparation and a holy life. Ordination is an act of the local church and is conferred following the recommendation of a council, composed of ordained and lay representatives of other churches, which examines the candidate.”
Bill J. Leonard
“In some Baptist communions, any person approved by the church may administer baptism and the Lord’s Supper whether ordained or not. In other Baptist contexts, only duly ordained ministers or deacons can lead in these events”
A DECLARATION OF FAITH OF ENGLISH PEOPLE REMAINING AT AMSTERDAM IN HOLLAND, 1611
“That as one congregation hath CHRIST, so hath all, (2 Corinthians 10:7). And that the Word of GOD comes not out from any one, neither to lany one congregation in particular. (1 Corinthians 14:36). But unto every particular Church, as it doth unto all the world. (Colossians 1:5. 6). And therefore no church ought to challenge any prerogative over any other.”
VI. Some Concluding ThoughtsA. Daryl C. Cornett
B. Carol Crawford Holcomb
Daryl C. Cornett
“An unabashed commitment to the authority of scripture should preclude all other concerns. Baptists should sincerely seek to know what they should believe, what they should be doing, and what their churches should look like if they are in obedience to the Word of God.” Further, “Godly servant-leaders who understand that church is not a one-man show should foster a spirit of true fellowship in the work of the Gospel. Each congregation should be free to follow directly the Lord’s leadership, without interference from the outside. Each church should embody the teaching that each voluntary member of a church is spiritually capable and responsible. A democratic process helps best facilitate these principles, but it must be a guarded democracy. In a Baptist church democracy should connote responsibility, not the selfish assertion of privilege and individual rights”
Carol Crawford Holcomb
“Church historian ROSALIE BECK observed that ‘some Baptists in the late twentieth century absorbed the corporate world's view of leadership, and ministers declared themselves the chief executive officers, CEO's, of their churches. Baptists need to remind themselves that although the pastor is spiritual leader of the church, he/she still has only one vote and does not possess the power to alter the decisions of the congregation.’ When a pastor becomes a dictator or manipulates the democratic process, congregational polity is violated.”
Daniel Akins, James Leo Garrett, Jr., Robert L. Reymond, James R.
White, and Paul F.M. Zahl
Perspectives on Church Government: Five Views of
church Polity