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LUKE 20:4-7 was it from heaven, or of men? “The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then believed ye him not? But and if we say, Of men; all the people will stone us: for they be persuaded that John was a prophet. And they answered, that they could not tell whence it was.” The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

The Origin, Reformation and Restoration History of the churches. Key 1 st Apostasy 1 st Split Reformation Movement Restoration Movement

The Reformation – THE BAPTIST CHURCH – It’s History The Baptist Church is one of the major Protestant forces in the United States, with at least twenty seven denominations reporting an approximate membership of 29 million in 1983 (the largest among Protestant denominations in America). There are about 95,000 local Baptist churches in America, each independent of each other. Merits Students Encyclopedia, II:566Interestingly, in 1965, it was reported that the largest Baptist membership outside of the United States could be found in the Soviet Union, where there were approx. 512,000 Baptists. (Merits Students Encyclopedia, II:566) As a church, or organized churches, the Baptist Church had its beginning in Holland and England in the early 1600’’s.

The Reformation – THE BAPTIST CHURCH – It’s History THE HISTORY OF THE BAPTIST CHURCH – The BEGINNINGS –With the 16th century Reformation and its scattering effect across Europe, a number of slightly different convictions of faith began to be preached. In Germany and Switzerland, we find "Pedobaptists," who baptized infants and children (Lutheran and Reformed Churches). "Anti-Pedobaptists," who opposed infant baptism; And "Anabaptists," who re-baptized adults once baptized as children.

The Reformation – THE BAPTIST CHURCH – It’s History THE HISTORY OF THE BAPTIST CHURCH – The BEGINNINGS Handbook of Denominations in the United States, Mead, 8th ed., p. 35 –"The Anabaptists were the left wing of the Reformation and held to a literal application of the Word of God in social matters; they were communistic and pacifistic, opposing capital punishment, oaths in court, the holding of public office, and payment of taxes and interest; and they rejected infant baptism as unscriptural. They insisted upon the separation of church and state, and defended this belief heroically, to the point of fanaticism and martyrdom. Under persecution they spread all over Europe. Some fled to Norway, others to Italy, Poland, Holland, and England." (Handbook of Denominations in the United States, Mead, 8th ed., p. 35) –The Anabaptist faith had a great deal of influence upon the heritage of the Baptist Church.

The Reformation – THE BAPTIST CHURCH – It’s History THE HISTORY OF THE BAPTIST CHURCH – The BEGINNINGS - John Smyth. –John Smyth was the leader of a group of British Separatists which had fled to Amsterdam, Holland, to escape religious persecutions under James I. While in Holland, they met and lived with a group of Mennonites (followers of former Anabaptist leader Menno Simons). Smyth was completely taken with the Mennonite's teachings of the sole authority of the scriptures for man’s faith and practice, that baptism was the believer’s privilege, that church and state should be completely and forever separate, as well as other of their teachings. Handbook of Denominations, p.35 –Upon accepting these views, "Smyth re- baptized himself and his followers in the Anabaptist, or Baptist, faith and organized the first English church in 1609." (Handbook of Denominations, p.35)

The Reformation – THE BAPTIST CHURCH – It’s History THE HISTORY OF THE BAPTIST CHURCH – The BEGINNINGS - John Smyth –Later, because Smyth tried to make his followers Mennonites, he was excommunicated, and died in –With persecution waning, Smyth’s people drifted back across the English Channel, and in 1611 established another Baptist Church, this time in London. Roger Williams and John Clarke. –There is still dispute among Baptists over when and by whom the first Baptist Church in America was established. –Many scholars ascribe this recognition to Roger Williams at Providence, Rhode Island, in –In 1641, John Clarke established another Baptist Church at Newport, Rhode Island.

The Reformation – THE BAPTIST CHURCH – It’s History Theological Heritage Of The Baptist Church. –The first two Baptist churches which were established (Holland and England) were "General" Baptist churches. This is, they believed in a general atonement for all, thus rejecting Calvinism's limited atonement. –The first "Particular" (British) church dates back to The Particular Baptists were Calvinistic in theology. A third body, the Immersion Baptists, broke away from them, and in 1644 wrote a confession of faith which was very Calvinistic. –The first two Baptist churches in America were Particular, or Calvinistic, churches. Certain Calvinistic principles continue to be the theological standard for most Baptists today.

The Reformation – THE BAPTIST CHURCH – It’s History Chronology Of Baptist Church History. - [See The Hiscox Guide For Baptist Churches, p , a reprint from Robert G. Torbet’s A History of the Baptists (Revised), 1963]. – Swiss Anabaptists broke with Zwingli. – First English General Baptist church formed in Holland under John Smyth. – Organization of first General Baptist church in England by Helwys and Murton. – Organization of the first Baptist church in America; at Providence, RI, by Roger Williams, or in Newport, RI, by John Clarke. – London Confession of 1644; Calvinistic

The Reformation – THE BAPTIST CHURCH – It’s History Chronology Of Baptist Church History. - [See The Hiscox Guide For Baptist Churches, p , a reprint from Robert G. Torbet’s A History of the Baptists (Revised), 1963]. – The Confession of 1677 (Second London Confession), a revision of the Westminster Confession. – The London Confession of Particular Baptists (1689) was adopted by the Philadelphia Association, and by adding two articles, it became known as the Philadelphia Confession. – The New Hampshire Confession was written to combat the Arminianism of Freewill Baptists.

The Reformation – THE BAPTIST CHURCH – It’s History Chronology Of Baptist Church History. - [See The Hiscox Guide For Baptist Churches, p , a reprint from Robert G. Torbet’s A History of the Baptists (Revised), 1963]. – Division over slavery and the nature of denominational organization. Southern Baptist Convention organized at Augusta, Georgia. – "The Baptist Faith and Message" adopted by the Southern Baptist Convention. – Formation of the Conservative Baptist Association of America. – "The Baptist Faith and Message" was revised by the Southern Baptist Convention.

The Reformation – THE BAPTIST CHURCH – It’s History THE MAJOR BAPTIST CONFESSIONS OF FAITH. –One Universally Accepted Confession Does Not Exist Among Baptists. Baptist Church Manual, Revised, Pendleton, p. 43"Among Baptists, as their churches are independent, it is optional with each church to have a declaration or not, as it may think best." (Baptist Church Manual, Revised, Pendleton, p. 43) The Hiscox Guide for Baptist Churches, p. 18"Baptists have attached less importance to creedal statements than most other denominations. Nevertheless they, too, have some historic documents which they respect and use, but to which they are not bound." (The Hiscox Guide for Baptist Churches, p. 18)

The Reformation – THE BAPTIST CHURCH – It’s History The Major Baptist Confessions Or Declarations Of Faith Include: –The London Confession of Faith (1644). Issued by seven Baptist churches. –The Second London Confession (1677). Strongly Calvinistic. –The Philadelphia Confession (1742). Same as the Second London Confession, plus two articles. –The New Hampshire Confession (1833). Mildly Calvinistic. –Abstract of Principles (1859). Adopted by the Southern Baptist Seminary in 1859, and by the Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in A Baptist interpretation of the Westminster Confession. –The Baptist Faith And Message (1925; revised in 1963). Adopted by the Southern Baptist Convention.

IN CONCLUSION …. WHY THE USE OF CONFESSIONS OF FAITH? –They Provide A Consensus Of Opinion For General Instruction. ("The Baptist Faith And Message," Tract form, p. 4BAPTIST CHURCH: - "That they constitute a consensus of opinion of some Baptist body, large or small, for the general instruction and guidance of our own people and others concerning those articles of the Christian faith which are most surely held among us." ("The Baptist Faith And Message," Tract form, p. 4) Ibid., p. 4-5"That they are statements of religious convictions, drawn from the Scriptures, and are not to be used to hamper freedom of thought or investigation in other realms of life." (Ibid., p. 4-5)

IN CONCLUSION …. WHY THE USE OF CONFESSIONS OF FAITH? –They Are Guides In Interpreting The Bible. ("The Baptist Faith And Message," p. 4BAPTIST CHURCH: "That the sole authority for faith and practice among Baptists is the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments. Confessions are only guides in interpretation, having no authority over the conscience." ("The Baptist Faith And Message," p. 4) Baptist Church Manual, Pendleton, p. 42"As there is such a diversity of opinion in the religious world, it is eminently proper for those who appeal to the Scriptures as the fountain of truth to declare what they believe the Scriptures to teach." (Baptist Church Manual, Pendleton, p. 42)

IN CONCLUSION …. WHY THE USE OF CONFESSIONS OF FAITH? The Supremacy Of The Bible. –BAPTIST CHURCH: "The Bible contains the revelation of God to man. It is the supreme standard of faith and practice. Ibid., p. 41 –Whatever conforms to this standard is right - whatever deviates from it is wrong." (Ibid., p. 41) W. D. McGlothlin, former professor in the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, quoted from his book Baptist Confessions of Faith, intro.; in "Church Origins," p. 6, Bill Crews –"Primitive Christianity drew up no Confessions of Faith." (W. D. McGlothlin, former professor in the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, quoted from his book Baptist Confessions of Faith, intro.; in "Church Origins," p. 6, Bill Crews)

IN CONCLUSION …. THE BIBLE: –1 Corinthians 1:10 –1 Corinthians 1:10 - It is certainly true that we are to all speak the same thing. –Acts 2:42 –Acts 2:42 - The "apostles’’ teaching" (gospel) provided the basis for unity and instruction in the early church, not a humanly devised declaration. –Galatians 1:8-9 –Galatians 1:8-9 - If declarations of faith declare what is in the Bible, are they not superfluous as tools of instruction? THE BIBLE: –Ephesians 3:3-5 –Ephesians 3:3-5 - By reading the word of God, we can understand what it teaches, and therefore, correctly interpret it. –1 Corinthians 4:6 –1 Corinthians 4:6 - Do not such confessions crystallize divisions among people, rather than unite them? THE BIBLE: –Colossians 3:17 –Colossians 3:17 - Where is the Bible authority to write Confessions of Faith? There is none!

19 Hiscox J.M. Pendleton

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