BAPTIST

DISTINCTIVES
LESSONS:

THE BAPTIST SUCCESSION

THE BAPTIST NAME
WHAT IS A BAPTIST FUNDAMENTALIST
THE BAPTIST DISTINCTIVES
THE BIBLE AS THE ONLY AUTHORITY FOR FAITH AND PRACTICE
SAVED AND BAPTIZED CHURCH MEMBERS
TWO CHURCH ORDINANCES
THE PRIESTHOOD OF ALL BELIEVERS
INDIVIDUAL SOUL LIBERTY
TWO CHURCH OFFICES
THE AUTONOMY OF THE LOCAL CHURCH
SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE
 BAPTIST BELIEF AND MESSAGE

Biblical Authority (2 PETER 1:21)

Autonomy of the Local Church (MATTHEW 18:17)
Priesthood of All Believers (1 PETER 2:9)
Two Ordinances BAPTISM and COMMUNION (ACTS 2:41)
Individual Soul Liberty (ROMANS 14:5,12)
Saved, Baptized Church Membership (ACTS 2:47)
Two Offices PASTOR (ACTS 20:28) DEACON (1 TIMOTHY 3:13)
Separation of Church and State (MATTHEW 22:21)
LESSON ONE: BAPTIST
SUCCESSION

INTRODUCTION:
Let us begin to ask questions about
where BAPTIST began and what do they
believe. The purpose of this lesson is to
give a simple overview of where Baptists fit
in the present day picture of CHRISTIANITY
and to show why Baptists are a
continuation of BIBLICAL Christianity.
IMPORTANT PRINCIPLES TO BE
UNDERSTOOD
BEWARE OF ANY GROUP OR SECT TEACHING THE RESTORED
CHURCH THEORY.
CHRIST CLEARLY PROMISED THAT HIS CHURCH WOULD NEVER
CEASED TO EXIST (MATTHEW 16:18)
TRUE CHRISTIAN IS NOT DETERMINED BY A STUDY OF HISTORY
BUT BY A STUDY OF THE BIBLE.
A TRUE CHRISTIAN IS NOT DETERMINED BY ITS NAME BUT BY
ITS TEACHING AND PRACTICES.
THERE ARE SOME BASIC BELIEFS ACCEPTED AND TAUGHT BY
ALL TRUE CHRISTIANS AROUND THE WORLD.
MANY GROUPS AND SECTS ARE INCLUDED IN CHRISTENDOM
BUT NOT IN CHRISTIANITY.
BEWARE OF ANY GROUP OR
SECT TEACHING THE RESTORED
CHURCH THEORY.

All Cults use this theory to explain why

their sect was only founded in recent
years. They teach that the true church
founded by Jesus Christ CEASED TO
EXIST after the time of the apostles. The
true church was then RESTORED or
REVIVED through their founder or
founders.
QUESTION:

IT IS TRUE THAT THE

CHURCH FOUNDED BY THE
LORD JESUS CHRIST HAS
CEASED?
CHRIST CLEARLY PROMISED
THAT HIS CHURCH WOULD
NEVER CEASED TO EXIST.

(MATTHEW 16:18)
And I say also unto thee, That
thou art Peter, and upon this
rock I will build my church; and
the gates of hell shall not prevail
against it.
CHRIST CLEARLY PROMISED
THAT HIS CHURCH WOULD
NEVER CEASED TO EXIST.
From the founding of the church during the earthly
ministry of Christ until this present time, it has never ceased
or died out or been DESTROYED. The church of Christ may at
different times have ceased in some country or area of the
world. But still it continued to exist in other places. Over the
last 2000 years Gods people have always found in different
locations around the world. At certain times stronger than
the other times. In certain places more numerous than in
other places. But Christs church has been and will always be
TRIUMPHANT.
 TRUE CHRISTIAN CHURCH IS
NOT DETERMINED BY A STUDY
OF HISTORY BUT BY A STUDY OF
THE BIBLE.
A. Denomination will frequently refer to history to show that their existence can be
traced all the way back to the first century during the time of the apostles.
Many Baptist also use this approach to prove that they are true followers of
Christ.
B. In fact there are three basic ways used by Baptist to prove their SUCCESSION
(the fact that Baptist have continually existed since the apostles).
1. A continuous succession of Bishop (Pastor) all the way back to the apostles.
2. A continuous succession of Baptism all the way back to john the Baptist.
3. A continuous succession of Churches or Congregation all the way back to the
church in Jerusalem.
A TRUE CHRISTIAN CHURCH IS
NOT DETERMINED BY ITS NAME
BUT BY ITS TEACHING AND
PRACTICES.
A. CULTS will often take a name from the Bible to show that they are
Biblical. Even though their beliefs are definitely not Biblical they
declare themselves to be true followers of Christ because their
sects name is found in Gods Word.
B. In fact Gods people both individually and as group are called by
many terms in Scripture: believers, disciples, saints, Christians,
the way, the church of Christ, church of God, etc.
C. More important than the name of the group is its teaching, its
belief, its practices. The term Baptist has only been used by
believers for about the last 450 to 500 years.
however, the beliefs and practices of a Baptists have been
passed from generation to generation since the founding of the
church.
 THERE ARE SOME BASIC BELIEFS
ACCEPTED AND TAUGHT BY ALL
TRUE CHRISTIANS AROUND THE
WORLD.
1. The Bible is the inspired Word of God. It is the only written revelation for man. (2
Tim.3:15-17; 1 thess. 2:13; 2 Pet.1:20-21)
2. There is only one God, who exist in three equal but distinct Persons. (Deut. 6:4-5;
Matt. 28:19)
3. Jesus Christ was the eternal God manifest in the flesh to die for the sin of
mankind. (1 Tim.3:16;Acts 20:28)
4. Jesus was bodily resurrected and again sits in heaven with the Father. (John 20:24-
29; Luke 24:36-43)
5. Man is a guilty sinner who can be only be saved through grace by repentance and
faith in Jesus Christ. ( Rom.3:9-28;5:1; Gal.2:16; Acts 20:21;Rom.6:23)
6. The Lord Jesus Christ will one day literally return from heaven to judge the world.
(2 thess. 1:7-9; matt. 24 :29-31, 44)
 MANY GROUPS AND SECTS ARE
INCLUDED IN CHRISTENDOM BUT
NOT IN CHRISTIANITY.

A. CHRISTENDOM all groups, sects, or denominations who are

claiming followers of Christ and holding to the basics of the
Christian faith.
The collective Body of Christians throughout the world and
history. CHRISTENDOM

CHRISTIANITY
4
BAPTIST
3
BAPTIST FUNDAMENTALISTS
CONLUSION:

We have seen in this lesson that not all groups who

profess to be CHRISTIAN are actually CHRISTIAN. The
history name of a sect may be helpful in determining who is
true and who is not. However, the best way to know is by
studying a churchs belief and practices in comparison with
the Word of God.
Now for us, how can we describe ourselves? To put it
simply: our Religion is CHRISTIAN, our Denomination is
BAPTIST, our Doctrine is FUNDAMENTAL, and our
Association is INDEPENDENT.