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<\/strong><\/p>\n THE BAPTIST DISTINCTIVES ACROSTIC<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Baptist Churches are modeled after the New Testament Churches. Other denominations believe some of the basic New Testament doctrines; however, for the most part Baptists are the only ones who have held to all of the basic New Testament doctrines down through the years. These doctrines have been arranged as an acrostic spelling BAPTISTS for ease in memorizing them.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n B<\/span><\/strong> BIBLICAL AUTHORITY<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n \u00b7 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Its laws and doctrines are the only basis of our authority. <\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n 2 Timothy 3:16<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n 16 All scripture is<\/span> given by inspiration of God, and is<\/span> profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: <\/span><\/em><\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n A <\/span><\/strong>AUTONOMY AND INDEPENDENCE OF THE LOCAL CHURCH<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n \u00b7<\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span>A Baptist Church is independent and governs itself. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u00b7<\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span>We live in a day when the sovereign autonomy and independence of local churches is being challenged and even threatened by the drive toward the ecumenical merging of all “religions” into an apostate one-world church. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u00b7<\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span>A New Testament Church is independent of all popes, bishops, councils, conventions, associations, synods, conferences, or civil governments and its agencies that would seek to exert control over its operations and functions. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u00b7 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Baptist Churches seek to conduct their affairs as the Lord directs through the Holy Spirit because Christ alone is the Head of the Church. <\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Acts 15:1-30<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n Matthew 18:15-17<\/span><\/em><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n 15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. 16 But if he will not hear thee, then<\/span> take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. 17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it<\/span> unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. <\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n P<\/span><\/strong> PRIESTHOOD OF THE BELIEVERS <\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n \u00b7<\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span>Every believer has the right and duty to approach God in prayer and praise for himself without the aid of human priest, preachers, mediators or human ceremonies, rituals or forms. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u00b7 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Christ alone in the believer’s mediator.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n 1 Timothy 2:5<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n 5 For there is<\/span> one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n 1 Peter 2:5,9<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n 5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. <\/span>9 But ye are<\/span> a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n Hebrews 10:19<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n 19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n T<\/span><\/strong> TWO ORDINANCES FOR THE LOCAL CHURCH <\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n \u00b7<\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span>Baptism by immersion and the Lord’s Supper are the ordinances of the local church. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u00b7<\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span>These are symbolic acts, which portray the two basic facts in our relationship to Christ. Baptism by immersion of believers only pictures our union with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u00b7<\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span>For this reason, a Baptist Church does not baptize infants. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u00b7<\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span>The Lord’s Supper (communion) pictures our fellowship with Christ and in a symbolic memorial of His death till He comes. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u00b7<\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span>Neither ordinance has any saving merit but is matters of obedience to Christ’s teachings.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Acts 2:41-42<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n 41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them<\/span> about three thousand souls. <\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n 42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles\u2019 doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n Matthew 28:19-20<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: <\/span>20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even<\/span> unto the end of the world. Amen. <\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n <\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Acts 16:30-34<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n 30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. 32 And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their<\/span> stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway. 34 And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house. <\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n <\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n Acts 18:8<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n 8 And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized.<\/span><\/span><\/em> <\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n 1 Corinthians 11:23-32<\/span><\/em><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n 23 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same<\/span> night in which he was betrayed took bread: 24 And when he had given thanks, he brake it<\/span>, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. <\/span>25 After the same manner also he took<\/span> the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it<\/span>, in remembrance of me. 26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord\u2019s death till he come. <\/span>27 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this<\/span> cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that<\/span> bread, and drink of that<\/span> cup. 29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord\u2019s body. <\/span>30 For this cause many are<\/span> weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. 31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. <\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n I<\/span><\/strong> INDIVIDUAL SOUL LIBERTY AND RESPONSIBILITY <\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\n