Sound The Trumpet

We receive many comments and questions from our blog. Sometimes, we answer the questions directly, some of the comments are trollish and are responded to with the delete key and some are here. So, here are a few of the short-answer kind of questions...

Question:
Isn't the head of the church in Rome?

No. The head of the church is Christ. Ephesians 5:23 The local church here on earth is led by its Pastor. God never establishes a 'chain of government' for the church. The idea of people ruling over groups of churches is an idea contrived by man.

Question:
Would you ever consider going to a Bible church or are you strictly Baptist?

While a real Baptist Church is a Bible church, we must sadly accept that there are differences in connotations of words. While words have specific definitions, their connotations may be completely different. Sadly, this has come to be true with many "Bible" churches. There certainly are good "Bible" churches out there, but it seems that the majority of them are leaning away from the Word of God and toward liberalism.

Question:
Did God really intend for man to rule over women? Aren't men and women equal? Can't they do the same things?

I believe God plan, from the beginning, was to have man and women be equal. However, Eve was deceived. As a result of Eve being deceived, women were placed under the leadership of men. Men are to love their wives as Christ loved the church. This is an all-consuming, sacrificial love. Then, the real, Biblical love of a man should earn the respect and following of his wife. Just as the Bible commands the husband to love his wife, the wife is commanded to submit to her husband. Again, the key lies with the husband. If the husband is a tyrant, he is not being obedient to God. His love for his wife should be such that she wants to please him. I am planning to deal with this in more detail in a coming post. Be sure to look for a post entitled, "Who Rules the Roost."

Question:
Isn't gluttony a sin? Is gluttony preached against at your church?

Yes, it is. Before I get into the detail of the answer, let me say that I was not born yesterday. I realize that the author of this comment is attempting to take a pot-shot at me. That is fine. There are many people who do not like the fact that I preach the truth. They are especially concerned when the truth I preach lands squarely on their sin. As they attempt to take this juvenile shot at me, they do not know that I have lost over 70 pounds. Now, back to the answer.
Gluttony is a sin. It is an overindulgence. Webster's 1828 Dictionary defines a glutton as, "One eager of any thing to excess." So, one can be a glutton for food, one can be a glutton for alcohol, one can be a glutton for Facebook, one can be a glutton for gossip, one can be a glutton for ... Well, you get the idea. Some things, in moderation, are acceptable, but in excess, they are a sin.
Is gluttony preached against at our church? Yes, just like every other sin under the sun. You should visit sometime. If you're saved, the Spirit inside of you will be right at home, but your flesh will not be happy!

What is a contemporary church and why is it wrong?

The Bible version debate is a very critical as well as a very contentious one. The passions run very deep on both sides of the issues. However, many people promote a neutral position on the issue by saying that you can read whichever version you wish, so long as it speaks to you. So, before we examine the issue itself, let’s take a moment to examine the history of the issue as well as why it is so important.

The devil has always used the tool of perverting the Word of God to deceive people. The devil began this practice in the Garden of Eden. God had specifically told Adam and Eve that they could eat of any fruit of the garden except the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. God warned them that when they ate of that tree, they would die. The devil commented that they would not surely die. Thus, we see the very first time the Devil changed the Word of God. As Lucifer changed the Word of God, Adam and Eve believed him, sinned and condemned the world to death from sin. From this one example, we see the very real danger of perverting the Word of God.

In the New Testament, prior to the canonization of Scripture, we are warned about strange and diverse doctrines (1 Tim 4:1, Heb 13:9). We are also warned of other doctrines in the following passage.

2 John 1:10-11 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: (11) For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.

In fact, it was John, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit of God cautioned:

Revelation 22:19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

This is a very strong warning for anyone who adds to, removes from or changes the Word of God.
Throughout the Bible times, we see the Devil using this tool. He knows the power of Scripture. In fact, the devil cannot stand against Scripture. That is why we are instructed to memorize Scripture:

Psalms 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

Memorizing Scripture is a tool any saint, any believer in God can use to defend against the attacks of the Devil. But, when you memorize Scripture, which version do you memorize? Consider Jesus, Himself. Jesus could have spoken and caused the devil to flee from Him. However, Jesus set an example for us when He was tempted: Jesus quoted Scripture.

Matthew 4:1-11 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. (2) And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. (3) And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. (4) But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. (5) Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, (6) And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. (7) Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. (8) Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; (9) And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. (10) Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. (11) Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.

This is the exact same tool we have at our disposal. Even though Jesus was God in the flesh, He humbled Himself and used the same tool we can use – the Word of God. Since we know God wants us to be successful Christians, He wants us to have His word.
Finally, Jesus is the Word of God. We see this in John 1:1-4

Joh 1:1-4 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (2) The same was in the beginning with God. (3) All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. (4) In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

Imagine having a form of God in your hands. Now, consider the power of those words. That thought helps us understand why the Devil flees from the Word of God but consider the next verses:

Re 19:15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

Re 19:21 And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.

It is that which comes out of the mouth of the Lord which will slay the nations. Jesus' spoken word will be the destruction of all those nations and people who rebelled against Him.

When we realize the Bible is the best weapon we can put in our arsenal to defend against the Devil, when we realize the Bible is a representation of Jesus in our hands, it is easy to understand why the Devil wants it destroyed or corrupted.

In the next article, we will examine the preservation of the Word of God.

How does a church grow? By evangelism.

Luke 14:23 And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.

Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

Proverbs 11:30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.

The Lord makes it quite clear that He wants us to win souls. If we sit quietly in our own homes or in our own church how will we win souls? We cannot. Typically, the lost man will not wander into the church of his own accord. We must go to the lost and compel them to come in under sound preaching.

So, when you are looking for a church, you must look for an evangelistic church. What kind of outreach program does the church have? Does the church have a church-wide outreach program? A program where the entire membership of the church is encouraged to go door-to-door, and evangelize the lost. Some churches have no soul winning program. How will this church ever grow?

Moreover, this can be an indicator of the spiritual condition of the church. If there is no outreach, it is very likely that there is no burden for souls in the church. If there is no burden for souls in the church, it is likely there is no burden for souls in the pulpit.

2 Tim 4:1-5 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; (2) Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. (3) For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; (4) And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. (5) But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

Paul charged Timothy to make full proof of thy ministry. Part of making "full proof" of his ministry was doing the work of an evangelist. This does not mean the Pastor should neglect his church and travel as our contemporary evangelist does. One of the great men of my life, Dr. Bob Kelley, once said, "I have no use for a pastor who leaves his church two or three times a month." The pastor should be the lead evangelist in the church, but he should be in the church. He should lead the church by example, showing them how to be an evangelist in the community.
What should visitation look like?
First, the participants must be saved. This should be simple enough. How can you share a testimony of salvation if you have never been saved? How can you withstand the attacks of the devil if you do not have the help of the Holy Spirit of God in your life? Second, the evangelists of the church must be separated. There are many aspects to separation. However, it is simply a matter of being different from the world. When a lost person is looking for something different, we need to be different. We need to be able to show the lost the difference between living for Christ and living for the world. Along with the idea of separation, the people who are visiting need to be properly dressed. They are representing the testimony of the church. More importantly, they are representing Christ. You can read more about modesty in this article. Third, the people who are visiting must have the proper attitude. It is very possible that someone could have a bad day which carries over into a bad visitation experience. Finally, two-by-two is the rule. One should strive to never visit alone, if possible. Also, less experienced people should paired with more experienced people.
A visitation program should always be paired with some kind of discipleship program. Our church primarily uses the First Steps series. Any new convert needs to be quickly and soundly taught the basic principles of the Word of God.

As you read the last two articles, they certainly should have seemed to be very personal in nature. That is, they did not seem to have anything to do with choosing a church. They were building a foundation. In order to chose a church, we must look at the Biblical standards upon which every church should be based. Some of those standards are corporate - they should apply to the entire church. However, some of the Biblical standards we should look for in a church are personal standards. The church which does not promote Biblical personal standards should be avoided.

Friendship of the World

A church will never rise above the leadership of the church. We have looked at the Biblical qualifications of the Pastor, now we will look at some practical standards the Pastor should have.

1 Tim 3:2 A bishop then must be blameless...

When we consider a Pastor, we should look for someone who is blameless. We could group all the measures of blamelessness into one category: he has control of his flesh or he is not worldly.

James 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

We will see a preacher's hatred for the world in his preaching and in the direction his church is headed. If the church is growing as it should, there will be people in the congregation from all walks of life and from all stages of Christian growth. It would be normal or even expected to see a new or baby Christian sitting near a mature saint of God in the same congregation. This is evidence that the more mature Christians are winning souls to Christ. However, we cannot expect that baby Christian to have the same standards the mature saint has. God has not been working on the new Christian as long. So, we would be wrong to judge a congregation because we see a few people who still look worldly. Though we would be wrong to judge a church because we saw a few worldly people in the congregation, if we saw a worldly pastor or deacon, we would be absolutely right to leave that church and never return. As James 4:4 so clearly points out, to be a friend of the world is to also be an enemy of God.

1 John 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

Sadly, I know some preachers and pastors who love the things of the world. This could be things such as carnal television and movies, ungodly music, inappropriate dress or anything which divides the preacher from the preaching of the Word of God. Their preaching is changed by their love for the world. When sin is in their life, they are hindered. They cannot preach against sin! As they weaken their stand against sin, their church's stand against sin is weakened. Finally, the individuals in their flock are never taught of their sin and are allowed to wallow in their own personal sin.

This all describes the carnal church. The carnal church should be avoided. By contrast, the church you should attend is a church where the Pastor is preaching the whole council of God, is preaching a salvation message, is preaching an encouraging message and is preaching a message which is clearly against sin. Of course, if the Pastor is preaching against sin, it is very likely that he is clean from the sin he is preaching against. This Pastor is not perfect, but is is moving in the right direction. As he moves in the right direction, his flock will follow him. This is a sign of a church you should attend.

Anyone who has listened to anything the world has said has heard the phrase “separation of church and state.” This is a myth. There is no such thing as separation of church and state. However, there is a “separation” in the Bible. It is not the “separation of church and state” myth, but it is the separation from the world that every Christian should demonstrate in their lives. As Christians, we are called to be distinct, peculiar and set apart people. We should be a people who are quickly and clearly known by the world to be Christians and our lives should be an enticement to the people in the world to come to the Lord.

Simply, separate means to set or keep apart. In the case of believers, from what are we separating?

Mat 25:32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:

There will come a time when all will gather before God. At that time, God will separate the sheep from the goats. If God is a shepherd who is being separated? It does not take much study of the Word of God to realize God is separating the Christians who are the sheep from the unsaved who are the goats.

Luke 6:22-23 Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake. (23) Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.

Next, we see that separating from the world should not be a problem. If we are actually walking as Christians and living the Christian life we should be living, the world will separate from us. In fact, we should rejoice! When we realize our walk is such that worldly are convicted and made uncomfortable by our presence so much that they cast us out of their company, we should leap for joy! It is not God who is causing the separation in this passage, it is the unsaved who are separating from the believers. To be cast out from your unsaved friends is a tremendous testimony for the believer. It means that God is working and showing through you. It means that the Holy Spirit in you is convicting those around you.

2 Cor 6:14-18 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? (15) And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? (16) And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. (17) Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, (18) And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

The term “yoked” is one that may not be familiar to you. A yoke is a wooden bar which attaches two animals, such as oxen, at the neck so that they can work together. If the two oxen want to go in different directions, they will never accomplish anything or the stronger will pull them in circles. In the case of Christians being yoked with unbelievers simply means that a Christian is somehow bound to a believer. In almost every case, the believer is pulled down into disobedience.
This passage is giving us a clear exhortation to avoid the peril of being bound together with unbelievers. The Word of God only makes two distinctions: believer or non-believer. When a believer is bound to an unbeliever, the believer will almost certainly fall. God knows this. We should offer a testimony and we should offer the Word of God to the unsaved, but we should never be bound up with them.

The Basics of Practical Separation

1 Pet 1:16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

Separation will be natural when we simply obey God. We are commanded to he holy. When we are holy, the unsaved will either see our testimony and come to Christ or they will be convicted by our testimony and separate from us.

1 Cor 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

Living a holy life should not be difficult. The body of the saint of God is the temple of the Holy Spirit of God. Yes, if you are saved, the Holy Spirit of God lives within you. You need only allow Him to do His work in you. When you do, you will direct people to Christ. Also, when you allow the Spirit of God to work through you, you will be a conviction to the people around you.

Personal Separation

Before we get started, let’s look at what we mean by “worldliness” or “the world.” In the Bible, as well as in discussions with fellow Christians, you will hear the terms "world" and "worldliness." Basically, these terms refer to those who are unsaved and the things the unsaved people do. Another way to think of it is like this: the world will always do what the devil wants. So, worldliness is always going to be sinful.

John 15:19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

When one decides to become a Christian, many things happen: God, in the form of the Holy Spirit, will move into the new believer's heart and begin working, God chooses to adopt us and our desire to sin changes into a desire to serve God, etc. Of those, note that God chooses to adopt us and we are marked. Lucifer knows that he cannot get our souls any longer and, I believe, we are marked. From that moment on, the world (those who follow Lucifer) hates us. The degree to which they hate us depends on our testimony. The more bold we are for Christ, the more the world hates us. This begs the question: "Why would the world hate us?" When we are saved, the devil knows he cannot touch our soul. We will never go to hell. If a Christian is doing what he should, that Christian will be a thorn in Satan's side. When a Christian has the testimony he should, and serves Christ as he should, he will be winning souls for Jesus. The effective Christian will have a testimony which will steal souls from the devil. Of course, the devil hates this and fights against it. He certainly uses every tool he can to fight. Often, he will use the new believer's old friends to fight this battle.

Rom 12:14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.

When we are saved and begin walking with God, the world will hate us. The world will begin to war against us and our walk. What should we do? First, we need to walk with God without fear and without discouragement. Second, we need to remember that those who now oppose us do not understand what they are doing. They do not understand that they are pawns on Satan's Chess table. So, how do we respond to them? We love them and we pray for them. Then we allow God to deal with their hearts.

Gal 5:19-21 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, (20) Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, (21) Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

As we talk about the world, we also talk about the flesh. These are the things we still want to do, even though we are saved. Things we know are sinful, things we know are wrong. Yet we still want to do these things. It is when this happens that we realize there is a clear difference between what our flesh wants to do and what our spirit wants to do.

James 1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

Even when our flesh wants to do wrong, we should strive to do right. Yes, it is a battle which will rage in our bodies as long as we live, but it is a battle we must win.

Developing Personal Standards

Before we can really begin to develop personal standards, we must take a moment to define the following terms: precepts, principals and preferences. Understanding the difference between the three is vitally important to having a victorious Christian life as well as living a life where we do not superimpose our preferences where we should not.

Precepts

First of all, what is a precept? It is a rule or principle prescribing a particular course of action or conduct (Dictionary.com). For our discussion, let’s equate a precept with “Thus saith the Lord.” Basically, a precept is a direct commandment from the Lord. Exo 20:15, “Thou shalt not steal” is an example of a precept. It is a clear, direct command from God. There are many such precepts throughout the Word of God.

Principles

A Principle is a directive from God derived from the Word of God, based on other precepts and examples. Sometimes, principles are not quite as clear as precepts, but violating a biblical principle is as much a sin as violating a precept. For example, we all know that men should not look at pornography, but why is this? Is there a statement in Scripture saying, “Thou shalt not look at pornography”? No. But there is a very clear principle.
First, there is a precept: Exo 20:14 Thou shalt not commit adultery.
Second, there is an example. Jesus explained in Mat 5:28, …whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
Based on the precept and the example, we can safely assume that looking at porn is a sin, right? Exactly. That is how a principle is defined.

Preferences

A preference may be related to precepts and principles, but do not have a direct link to Scriptures. An example of a preference would be something like: I don’t want to own a television because I might be tempted to let the television dominate my life.
Now, a television is not, in itself, evil. It is a tool, a device. Granted, you can watch evil things on a television. You can also watch things on television which edify your spirit, entertain, educate or inform.
There are some who claim that owning a television is a sin. When they make this claim, they are in error. The Scriptures do not address the television, but many people do use televisions for evil programming. Some people have looked at only the bad, and assumed it is all bad. Based on this faulty assumption, they have made the blanket statement that owning a television is evil. They have elevated their own personal preference to the level of a precept. In effect, they have added their personal preference to the Word of God.
Adding to the Word of God is evil. Forcing standards on someone where there is no principle or precept to support the standards is also wrong.

Guidelines for Personal Standards

As you determine your personal standards, there is at least one verse you should always use as a filter. This verse gives you the clear guideline for everything you do in your life!

1 Cor 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

When we consider our actions in the light of this verse we are forced to consider our actions in the light of how it will bring glory to God. Would drinking that beer glorify God? No. Would going to that movie theater glorify God? No! Would telling that lie glorify God? No. Pick your sin - will it glorify God? No.

Mat 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Through all that we do, we must remember that our light - the light of Jesus Christ dwelling within us must always shine. Sin hides the light within us and prevents those around us from seeing the love which God offers to all.
At this point, we could examine a list of individual precepts, one by one, but we will not. Every day, you should examine yourself and ask the Lord to reveal anything to you that is against His Word. As you grow closer to the Lord, the Lord will show you things that you need to change. the rest of your life on earth will be a process of growing and changing to be more like Christ’s likeness.

Closing

What does all of this have to do with the church? Stay tuned. That is what we will examine in the next issue.

In Biblical churches, there are only two offices: the Pastor and the Deacon. We have examined the first office, the Pastor. In this article, we will look a the second Biblical office: The Deacon.

Acts 6:1-4 And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. (2) Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. (3) Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. (4) But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

In this passage we see the calling of the first deacons and we see why they were called. In the passage, we see that the number of Christians is growing. In fact, the number of believers has grown to the point where the Apostles could not attend to the needs of all the widows as well as the instruction of the Word of God. The Spiritual feeding of the flock of God is far more important than the waiting of tables. Yet, attending to the physical needs of the church are important as well. Which should be neglected? God's answer was to add the office of the deacon to the church. God instructed these men to choose out a number of faithful men to attend to the daily needs of the flock while the Apostles dealt primarily with the Word of God. In today's church, the deacons should, in a sense, insulate the Pastor from the daily distractions of the church so that he can dedicate himself to study. The Pastor should be devoted to studying the Word of God that he may feed and protect the flock. As God gave certain qualifications for the Pastor, He also gave a clear set of qualifications for the Deacon. We will not rehash them here as they are practically identical to the qualifications of the Pastor.

1 Tim 3:8-13 Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; (9) Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. (10) And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless. (11) Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. (12) Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. (13) For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

The Bible clearly states that the Deacon must be grave or serious, not a liar, not a drinker, one who is saved with a pure conscience. The Deacon must be proved. In other words, he must be a mature Christian. Like the Pastor, he must be blameless. The deacon must also be the husband of one wife. Sorry, but that means there cannot be any deaconesses! And, as the Pastor, the Deacon must have his own house and children in order.

1 Tim 3:1-7 This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. (2) A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; (3) Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; (4) One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (5) (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) (6) Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. (7) Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

Blameless

Husband of one wife

This one seems to be of great contention or confusion in these latter days. It is very sad to see so many good people end their marriage in divorce. There is much to be said on the topic of divorce and remarriage, but that is not the topic here. The topic here is the qualifications of the pastor. The pastor is to be the husband of one wife. This is not to be misinterpreted as the husband of one wife at a time. Consider this passage:

John 4:16-18 Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy husband, and come hither. (17) The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband: (18) For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly.

Of course, Jesus never asked a question to get information. He asked this woman to go get her husband, knowing that the man she was with was not her husband. The point here is that Jesus also pointed out that she had five husbands in the past. In comparison with 1 Tim 3:2, we can clearly see that the Lord is speaking of the total number of marriages. The pastor should be the husband of one and only one wife. There should never be a pastor who has been married, divorced and remarried.

Sadly, there is another aspect which must be addressed. In our day there are many women who believe they are called to preach and even pastor. It is quite simply impossible for God to call someone to do something which directly contradicts the Word of God. A woman cannot be the husband of one wife.

Likewise, a man who is unmarried is not qualified to be a pastor. He is not the husband of one wife.

Perhaps it is saddest that we have to mention this last one, but a sodomite cannot be a pastor. The sodomite is clearly not the husband of one wife. More than that, though, how could we even dare to dream of God calling someone to shepherd a church when that person is living in open rebellion to the Word of God - living in an open abomination.

Vigilant

Jesus is the shepherd but the pastor is the under-shepherd. Jesus has delegated some of the responsibility of protecting the flock to the pastor. As a shepherd, the pastor must be ever watchful of the trends of society. The pastor must be all but militant in his response to the attacks of the devil and the pastor must be quick to sound the warning when the devil attacks. He does this primarily through his preaching.

Sober

There are two possible applications of the word sober. As we will see a little further in this article, the pastor should not be one given to wine (beer, liquor, etc.). While the pastor should certainly not be a drunk, I believe the better application of sober would be one who is marked by sedate or gravely or earnestly thoughtful character or demeanor [m-w.com]. The pastor should be grave or serious. This aspect of his character shows his maturity and his ability to deal with the serious, even life and death decisions he may face. He should be thoughtful as his answers to questions and conversations could have an eternal effect on his flock.

Of good behavior

Given to hospitality

Apt to teach

Not given to wine

Not a striker

Prov 25:28 He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.

Not greedy

1 Tim 6:10a For the love of money is the root of all evil...

Patient

Having his children in subjection

Not a novice

Of a good report of them which are without

Acts 2:41-47 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. (42) And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. (43) And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. (44) And all that believed were together, and had all things common; (45) And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. (46) And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, (47) Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

2 Cor 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

Removal From A Church

Mat 18:15-17 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 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 unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.

Church discipline is a doctrine which many so-called churches have lost, but it is a clear Biblical teaching. Jesus, Himself, instructs us in the three steps of this practice. When someone offends us, or does something to damage the church or the cause of Christ, we are to go to that person individually, privately, and discuss the offense. If both people are right with God then this was an innocent mistake, the offense will be dealt with and it goes no further. If there is a rebel involved, it may take another step. So, two or three witnesses are taken and the offender is confronted yet again. Hopefully, the offender will realize the gravity of the circumstance and repent. Still, there will be those who refuse to repent of their transgression. In this case, he should be brought before the church, publicly. If he still refuses to repent, then he should be removed from the role of the church and treated as any other unsaved man would be treated. In my opinion, anyone who refuses to see their transgression after all of these steps have been taken has, very likely, never been saved.

Rom 14:5 One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.

While the Bible is true, and is not subject to any private interpretation, as individuals, God gives us a free will. We have a God-given liberty to determine what we will believe or reject. This is evidences in the vast number of religions both those of the true faith as well as the countless religions based upon the false teachings of men.

Rom 14:12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

If one chooses not to accept the Word of God, that person will be judged according to their works - according to the fruits of their sin nature. Choosing to reject the Word of God does not remove one's responsibility. Still, we all have that choice before us. We would consider the Apostle Paul to be one of the greatest Christians to ever live. Yet, Paul described himself as the chief of sinners (1 Tim 1:15).

Tit 1:9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.

Finally, we have the freedom to convince or attempt to convince those who are crazy enough to not believe. Yes, the United States was founded as a Christian nation. It is because the United States is a Christian nation with the principle of Individual Soul Liberty that the United States has been successful. If the U.S. were a country, like others, where a particular religion were all but forced upon the individual, it would have failed.

The Lord’s Supper is one of the two ordinances of the church and, like baptism, it is an ordinance of the church that is frequently misunderstood and misapplied. Some people even teach that it is required to keep our salvation. Again, it is sad that the religions of the world have created substitutions for the Lord’s Supper without looking to the Bible for the true meaning behind the Lord’s Supper (or Communion).

What Is the Lord’s Supper?

1 Cor 10:16 the cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? the bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?

The Lord’s Supper is often referred to as communion. Communion is merely an instance of fellowship or sharing in something. In many middle eastern cultures, even today, fellowship is centered around meals. If you are friends with someone, you eat with them. When we partake of the Lord’s Supper, we are demonstrating our fellowship, or communion with the Lord. There are two distinct aspects of fellowship within the Lord’s Supper. The blood of Christ and the Body of Christ.

1 Cor 10:21 Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils.

There is clearly a communion with the Lord which can be enjoyed by all. Likewise, there is a communion with the devil with which we can all be partakers. However, one cannot partake in communion with the Lord and with the Devil.

1 Cor 11:2 Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.

1 Cor 11:23-26 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: (24) And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. (25) After the same manner also he took 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, in remembrance of me. (26) For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord’s death till he come.

This two passages are connected by the phase, “…I delivered unto you…” and “…as I delivered them to you…” This passage is describing what was delivered to the church: the ordinances of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.

1 Cor 11:24 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. (25) After the same manner also he took 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, in remembrance of me.

Throughout the Bible, the children of Israel were commanded to set up memorials or reminders of what the Lord had done for them. Communion is a memorial in the life of the Christian to remind us of what the Lord has done for us. We are to take Lord’s Supper in remembrance of Jesus (vs. 24). There is no Scripture which commands us to take the Lord’s supper to obtain salvation. We are commanded to participate in the memorial.

1 Cor 11:26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord’s death till he come.

Some question how often we should partake in the Lord’s Supper. There is no clear Scriptural guidance on this. The only requirement is that we eat and drink to show the Lord’s death until He returns.

The elements of the Supper

Mat 26:26 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.

1 Cor 11:24 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.

The first element of the Lord's Supper is the bread. The bread symbolizes the body of Christ. Plainly, the Jesus explained that He broke the bread to represent how His body was broken for us. Remember, our very salvation is only available because Christ's body was broken and sacrificed for us. Some also teach that taking the bread or body of Christ represents our communion with the body of believers in Christ.

Mat 26:27-29 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; (28) For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. (29) But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.

The second element of the Lord's Supper is the cup. When we take communion, we drink grape juice - unfermented grape juice. Neither the Bible nor Jesus condoned the consumption of fermented wine. That said, the cup (wine, new wine, grape juice) represents the blood shed to provide the remission of sins for us all.

Who Should Participate In the Lord’s Supper?

1 Cor 11:27-32 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this 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 bread, and drink of that cup. (29) For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. (30) For this cause many are 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.

Many are sick and many sleep (are dead) because they took communion unworthily. This begs the question, "Who is worthy to take communion?" Verse 31 of this passage gives us an indication: we should judge ourselves that we would not be judged by the Lord. What would Jesus judge us of? Sin! If we examine ourselves and deal with the sin in our own lives, we would not be judged of those sins by the Lord. Of course, it is impossible for the one who has never been saved to completely deal with the individual sins in their lives. So, salvation becomes the first requirement. One must be saved to participate in communion.

Closed or Open

Some churches allow anyone to examine themselves and determine if they should or should not participate in communion. Others limit communion to the membership of that local church. This is a matter of preference - it is not addressed in Scripture. However, in my opinion, it would seem logical that one be a member of a local assembly of believers and must be in good standing with that assembly to participate in communion. If one is not an active member of a local church and not in good standing with that local church, I find it difficult to believe that he is in fellowship with Christ.

What is Baptism In the true church, there are two ordinances for the believer: Baptism and the Lord's Super. (An ordinance is simply a rule, a law or a statute established by a sovereign power. What power is more sovereign than God?) Some people make much more out of these ordinances than they really are. They are ordinances. That is to say that they are actions the Lord wants us to take, but they have absolutely no bearing on whether we are saved or not. The first of the two ordinances we will look at is Baptism. What is the significance and the symbolism of baptism? How does someone get baptized? When should you get baptized? How does baptism affect your salvation? These are all questions you will be able to answer when you complete this study.

Eph 4:4-5 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; (5) One Lord, one faith, one baptism, (6) One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

This first passage shows us that there should be only one baptism. There is only one Lord - Jesus. We are only saved once and after that salvation, there is only one baptism.

Col 2:12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

Col 2:12 compares baptism to burial. The entire baptism is symbolic of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. Baptism is also symbolic of our death to sin and our walk in a new life. When one is saved, he should become dead to sin. Sin should no longer reign in his life. In fact, after salvation, the new believer is actually fully alive for the first time. Spiritually, we have been quickened or made alive. Remember, before someone is saved, their spirit is dead. There is a hole in their life where their spirit should be. Baptism does not regenerate the dead spirit and it does not wash away our sins. Baptism is merely a symbol of our death to sin and our resurrection into a new life. Baptism is also symbolic of Christ's physical death, burial and resurrection. Likewise, baptism can relate to our physical death and upcoming resurrection. Baptism is a very powerful, rich symbol, but it is only a symbol.

Mark 1:10 And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him:

John 3:23 And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized.

Rom 6:5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

These verses are all telling us something about baptism. Notice how "much water" is required, how they were coming up out of the water and how they were "planted." All of these terms are showing us something. Many false forms of Christianity, including the practices of the Catholic church and her Protestant offspring (remember, a true Baptist is NOT a Protestant) practice "sprinkling." In other words, when they claim to baptize someone, they only sprinkle a little water over their head. This practice does not require "much water," does not require the one being baptized to "come up out of the water" and does not illustrate someone being planted. In fact, the Greek word which is transliterated as our English word "baptize" is βαπτίζω (baptizo). Literally, this word means "to immerse." Some speculate we have our English word baptize because of the political pressure placed upon the translators of the day. It is certain that they were faithful to the accurate translation of the Word of God, but it is equally certain that the religious and political powers which existed in that day (the Catholic church) did not want the Word of God accurately translated into the language of the common man. One doctrine they held on to was the doctrine baptism. They taught that baptism was required for salvation and must be performed on an infant. Teaching anything contrary to this was heresy. A complete and accurate translation of the word βαπτίζω and its variations to indicate immersion would result in death. To be faithful to the Scriptures and, quite literally, keep their heads, the translators did not translate, they transliterated. That means that they translated the individual letters into English letters, thus accurately and faithfully representing the Scriptures.

1 Cor 15:1-4 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; (2) By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. (3) For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; (4) And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

Rom 6:5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

In the verses we have studied so far, we see baptism compared to being planted or buried. In this passage (1 Cor 15:1) we see how Jesus died for our sins, was buried and rose again out of that grave. When we compare 1 Cor 15:1 to Romans 6:5, we see that we are also planted in the likeness of Jesus' death and raised up out of that death. Baptism is a symbol of that death, burial and resurrection. Who Should Be Baptized? Again, there are many religions which have practices regarding baptism which are not Biblical. Who should be baptized is another aspect which has been perverted. Some believe that one must be baptized to be saved (or go to heaven). Some also believe that children and infants should be baptized to protect them from Hell. Both of these are un-Biblical teachings. In fact, I believe these are teaching which are condemning people to Hell. There are people who rely upon their baptism to prove they should go to heaven. It is almost as though they are planning to show their baptism certificate to get into the gates of heaven.

Acts 8:12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

Acts 2:41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

Acts 8:36-37 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? (37) And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

In each of the verses above, we see that receiving the Word of God through preaching and believing are before salvation. In other words, the example we see is that one must believe to be Scripturally baptized. This is further confirmed in this verse:

Acts 10:47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?

Acts 10:47 is asking if anyone who has the Holy Spirit (someone who has been saved) can be forbidden from being baptized? The answer is no. Being saved and having the Holy Spirit is a requirement to be saved.

Acts 16:30-33 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 stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.

Again, the jailer was saved first, then baptized.

Acts 18:8 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.

They believed first, then were baptized.

Luke 23:39-43 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. (40) But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? (41) And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. (42) And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. (43) And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

Jesus promised to see this malefactor in paradise, yet he was never baptized. If baptism were required for salvation, this man could never have been saved. However, we know that Jesus’ promise is true and that Jesus saw this man in Paradise. Baptism was not required. Why Should We Be Baptized?

Mat 3:13 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.(14) But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? (15) And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness. Then he suffered him. (16) And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: (17) And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

The very first thing we see is that Jesus thought it was important to be baptized. In fact, Jesus wanted to be baptized to “fulfill all righteousness” (vs. 15). Did Jesus need to do anything to be righteous? NO! However, Jesus did set an example for us. We also see that the father was pleased to see Jesus baptized.

Acts 2:38 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 Ghost.

As the Father was pleased to see Jesus baptized, we can suppose that He would be pleased to see us baptized as well. However, we have a command to be baptized in Acts 2:38. Again, this is one of the passages which is often misapplied. Some teach that this passage means that we must be baptized to have our sins cleansed. This would contradict many other passages in Scripture: it would make baptism a work one could do to earn their salvation on their own. The very first error in this theory is the fact that there are no contradictions in Scripture. You cannot find one verse which contradicts anything else in Scripture. Knowing that there are no contradictions in Scripture, how do we explain this passage? Easily. Just as you could read this verse to indicate baptism is required to obtain the remission of sins, you could also read this verse in a way which indicates that we should be baptized because we have already obtained the remission of our sins. The latter meaning is grammatically correct and does not contradict the Scriptural teaching of Baptism in any way. In the next article, we will look at the second ordinance of the local church – the Lord’s Supper.

In our acrostic for BAPTIST, the letter 'A' represents Autonomy of the Local Church.

Col 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

Eph 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.

The local church is an independent body accountable to the Lord Jesus Christ, the head of the church. All human authority for governing the local church resides within the local church itself. Thus the church is autonomous, or self-governing. No religious hierarchy outside the local church may dictate a church's beliefs or practices. Autonomy does not mean isolation. A Baptist church may fellowship with other churches around mutual interests, but a Baptist church cannot be a "member" of any other body.

As we look at what kind of church to consider, we must look more deeply into the reasons why we are distinctly Baptist. What does it mean to be a Baptist? The names we often ascribe to different religious groups (Baptists, Presbyterian, Methodist, Roman Catholic, Mormons, etc.) are clear indicators of what we believe and why. I have said this before, but I will say it again: I am a Baptist. That begs the question, "Why am I a Baptist?" I am a Baptist because I believe the Bible. It really is that simple! As I examine the Bible, and compare it to other sects and religions, I cannot see any other cult, sect, religion or practice that honors and adheres to the Word of God. In class, I was given a simple acrostic which clearly defines some of the major differences between a true Baptist and some of the other religions out there (later in the series, we will look at some of the differences between a true Baptist and others who claim to be Baptist). That acrostic spells BAPTIST. In this article, we will look at the first letter: B, for Biblical Authority. As we examine the authority of the Bible, must realize that the Bible is the very Word of God. Yes, there are many books which claim to be The Bible, which are not. You cannot be a Bible believer if you do not hold the Bible in your hand. We will discuss which is actually the Bible in a future article.

1 Thes 2:13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

There is a clear proclamation that the Bible is the very Word of God. Yes, it was received through the hands of men, but it is still the Word of God. Imagine someone taking transcription. That is very much like what the penmen of the Bible did: they were transcribing for the Lord. Understanding that the Bible is the Word of God, and likewise understanding that God is sovereign, then we must logically assume that the Word of God is our authority. We must also assume that the Word of God is truth since God cannot lie.

2 Pet 1:20-21 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. (21) For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

If the Bible is true and is the Word of God (and it is), then we must accept all of it as it applies to us. This verse explains to us that there cannot be any private interpretation of the Bible. So, the Bible simply says what it says.

2 Tim 3:15-17 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. (16) All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (17) That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

Finally, Paul wrote to Timothy under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost and admonished him that all Scripture is good to be used for doctrine, for reproof, for correction and for instruction in righteousness. The Bible is the ultimate authority for all matters of faith, practice of worship, and lifestyle of the believer. Regardless of what any single person or group of people may believe to be true, the Bible must be considered the final authority. If the opinions of any person or group of people disagree with the Bible, those opinions should be discarded. We can accept the Bible (KJV for the English-speaking people) as our ultimate authority because of the nature of the Scripture. The Scripture is the very WORD of GOD to man. We know that God simply cannot lie, and the Bible has proven itself to be the Word of God! Men have tried to elevate creeds and traditions to be equal to the Word of God. Most notable of these are the Mormon Church with their Book of Mormon and the Roman Church (aka Catholic) with their various creeds, councils and the ramblings of their pope - all of which seem to change the truth of the Word of God to suit the leaders of the church at the moment. However, as a BAPTIST, one must accept and rely upon the Bible as their sole and final authority. If some doctrine or practice contradicts the Bible, it must be discarded in favor of the Biblical truth.

Baptist
"What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet" [Romeo and Juliet, Act II, Scene ii]. Shakespeare proposed that a name means little in the description of something. What does a name mean? Is a name relevant? When comparing churches, a name means a lot! The very first thing we need to look at is the name of the church. It should be distinctively BAPTIST! There are some clear distinctives to being a Baptist. These distinctives are very important and we must look for a church which is distinctively Baptist.
The first distinctive of the Baptist church is its history. Contrary to popular claims, Baptists are the only ones who can trace their heritage back to Christ. The Catholic Church cannot, nor can the myriad of Protestant churches which were birthed out of the Catholic church. Why is this important? First, as a Baptist, I have a pure heritage. Second, as a Baptist with a pure heritage, I am not subject to the abominable teachings of the Catholic church. We could exhaust many books speaking about what a Baptist is not. It is more expedient to explain the basics of what a Baptist is.
As the name implies, one of the key tenants of the Baptist faith is regarding baptism. According to the Word of God, a person is not saved by baptism. Salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Apart from a saving faith in Jesus, one cannot be saved no matter how many times they are sprinkled or immersed.

Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.

Yes, as we will see, baptism is important, but it does not affect one's salvation. Salvation is a gift of God. If we had to be baptized, salvation would be the result of one's ability to be baptized, it would be the result of a work. Salvation is a gift! Consider the thief on the cross who hung beside Jesus: when was he baptized? He was not. He died on the cross, yet Jesus promised to see him in paradise. To be saved, one must understand that he is a sinner. He must also understand that there must be a payment for his sins. The unsaved must believe that Jesus is God and that Jesus paid the price for the sins of all mankind. The sinner must ask Jesus to save him. Apart from salvation by grace through faith, one cannot be saved. When a church teaches that one may be baptized to cleanse them from their sins, that church is in opposition to the Word of God. In fact, that church is in opposition to God, Himself and is teaching heresy.

The Bible teaches that water baptism is always by immersion (you go completely under the water), after one is saved. Without salvation, baptism is meaningless. Baptism is, however, an ordinance of the church. That is, one must be baptized to be in obedience to the Word of God. When one is baptized, the baptism is not to cleanse one from sins or as an act of salvation, baptism is symbolic. When we are baptized, we are identifying ourselves as a Christian. We are also using the symbolism of baptism to show the world we have been buried in sin and raised to walk in newness of life.

Rom 6:1-5 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? (2) God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? (3) Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? (4) Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. (5) For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

Baptism is about identifying oneself with Christ. When we go under the water in baptism, we symbolize our death to sin. When we are brought out of the water, we symbolize our coming resurrection. Baptism is purely symbolic.

Baptism is also an act which takes place after salvation.

Acts 8:36-37 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? (37) And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

This eunuch wanted to be baptized and was asking what prevented him from being baptized. Philip replied by basically asking the eunuch was saved - he believed. The eunuch could only be saved if he had already believed, if he had already been saved.
Baptism is one of the many traits which make us distinctly BAPTIST. In the next article, we will look at some more of the traits which make us distinctively BAPTIST.