02.02. Baptists

Baptists Every person should be able "to give a reason of the hope that is in him." (1 Peter 3:15)

I might say negatively, that no hope of ostentation or worldly ambition impels me to be a Baptist. If I did not feel assured that I was following the teaching of God’s word, and glorifying God in keeping my membership in a Baptist Church, I would certainly withdraw at once. The first question I propound, is: Do Baptists hold the truth and the whole truth as it appertains to the Christian religion? There are two great systems of doctrine extant―Baptist and Catholic, but they hold nothing in common.. If Baptist Churches are Churches of Jesus Christ, then Catholic Churches are anti-Christ. There is no compromise. It is clear cut, and no basis whatever to mix words Catholics and Baptists are antipodes.

Christian Catholics are anti-Christian. If the Church of Jesus Christ has a just claim of continuity, the Baptist or Catholic, one or the other, must form a link in the chain from 250 A. D. to 1520 A. D. Now to the record.

"There was a man sent from God whose name was John." (John 1:6) Isaiah, the prophet, Isaiah 62:2, says: "And thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord shall name." Baptist, is the only new name ever uttered by the mouth of the Lord, for his people. (Matthew 11:11) This Baptist preacher (John the Baptist) commissioned in heaven by God himself came to "make ready a people prepared for the Lord." (Luke 1:17) He made them ready, first, by preaching "repentance." (Matthew 3:2) Second, by demanding "fruits worthy of repentance" before he would baptize them. (Matthew 3:1-10) Third he included faith: "Saying unto the people, that they should believe on him that should tome after him, that is, on Christ Jesus." (Acts 19:4) Fourth, he gave the "knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins," (Luke 1:77) Fifth, he baptized them with (Greek in) water, they, confessing their sins. (John 1:3-33; Matthew 3:6) This Baptist preacher then "baptized the Lord―the head of the church." (Mark 1:9) Then the Lord took this material prepared for him by this Baptist preacher, who was commissioned by God for this purpose, and constituted the church; "And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues." (1 Corinthians 12:28) These adverbs of time in this passage, show clearly that the apostles were set in the church before they were given power to work miracles,―"gifts of healings" and "diversities of Tongues." The record says: "And he goeth up into a mountain, and calleth unto him whom he would; and they came unto him. And he ordained twelve that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach, and to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils," (Mark 3:13-15) Then follow the names that make up the church roll.

Every piece of material that went into the construction of this church was prepared, and made ready to the Lord’s hand, by a Baptist preacher, who received his commission direct from God himself. (Luke 1:17; John 1:6) This Baptist preacher also baptized the Lord to be the head of the church (Mark 1:9). Then the Lord took the material prepared for him by this Baptist preacher and organized the first church himself being the head (Colossians 1:18). Christ, as head, then gave this church the limited commission "to the lost sheep, only of the house of Israel." He commissioned them to work miracles, and "preach, saying the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matthew 10:1-8). Under this commission they "made and baptized disciples" (John 4:1-2).

After his resurrection, and just before his ascension, he gave this same church the enlarged commission, to all nations, to make and baptize disciples (Matthew 28:19-20). This Baptist Church thus clothed with divine authority, started on this divine commission. But were told to wait until they were "endued with the power from on high." (Acts 1:4-8; Luke 24:49) This promise was fulfilled on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-13). On the day of Pentecost this Baptist Church began their work of making and baptizing disciples under the enlarged commission. Here is their process: Peter preached (Acts 2:14-36). The people heard (Acts 2:37). They were convicted―"pricked in their heart" (Acts 2:37). They came before Peter and the rest of the apostles as anxious enquirers―"Men and brethren, what shall we do?" (Acts 2:37). Then Peter said unto them, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38). They are not yet ready for baptism, so Peter gives them the promise, but informs them that the promise is only to those whom "the Lord our God shall call" (Acts 2:39). They are still not ready for baptism. So Peter delivers to them a long exhortation: "With many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation" (Acts 2:40). During these exercises "they gladly received his word" (Acts 2:41). Now they are ready for baptism, and are baptized―three thousand (Acts 2:41). Now, if you will picture in your mind the apostle Peter standing before a vast throng preaching the crucified Christ, and charging their sin upon them, and then, see at least three thousand convicted of their sin, and all broken hearted, crying out in the anguish of their souls: "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" And then, see Peter step forth and lay the promises of the gospel before them in a long exhortation, and then, see the light burst in and hear them with exclamations of gladness receive his words; and then, see the apostle take these happy converts and baptize them, you will have the picture of a Baptist Church in operation under the commission of their Lord. This church now begins to multiply and the Bible speaks of churches of Judea, churches of Asia. The battle of these poor Galileans banded together for the conquest of this world, now begins in earnest. Through the centuries, that lie between then and now, they have waded through fire and blood. There is not a nation but what their soil, including our own, has been stained with Baptist blood. But we find them here today with the same doctrine and practice that characterized them in the days of Peter and Paul.