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The Baptist Story Message 10 In the previous messages we have been brief and discussed the highlights of history without going into great detail. Hopefully the hearers and readers of these messages will be stirred to read and study this subject. We want to note in this message some doctrines involved, promises kept, the testimony of others, and sane accomplishments of Baptists. The Lord's church can be identified as saved, baptized, believers. Most of the N.T. was written to baptized people, "The Church of God which is at Corinth", and the seven churches of Asia in Rev 2 & 3. The Lord's church is always local and visible in the N .T. and was not born but built. If the Lord's church consisted of all the saved from Adam until now, then there would have been no need to promise to be with it always, the doctrine of eternal security would take care of the keeping of the church. There is no church in the 0. T., there is the congregation of Israel and a chosen nation but no church. Many believe when one is saved there is a supernatural baptism of the Holy Spirit, which makes one, a member of the universal, invisible, church and that this makes void the need for water baptism. Acts 10 and the salvation of Cornelious teaches us the emphasis on water baptism even after the supernatural experience of speaking in tongues was manifest to show these gentile believers had the same God as the Jews. Holy spirit baptism was peculiar to the N.T. and involved gifts of tongues, discerning spirits, prophecy, and so forth. The lord's church can always be identified by salvation by grace and personal repentance and faith in the lord Jesus Christ for salvation. The church has always been for freedom of religion and the individual responsibility of each person before God. "We preach Christ crucified" fully sufficient for salvation of all who will believe on him. No, baptism doesn't save, no, church membership doesn't save. As important as these matters of obedience are they have no saving power. Satan works to confuse any bible doctrine and change it's meaning. There are many doctrines peculiar to the true church, one may sum it up by saying the Bible alone should teach and govern the lord's church. If it cannot be found in bible doctrine and practice we should not do or teach it. Promises. In the Bible. God promised to bless the descendents of Abraham and curse those who cursed them; he has been faithful to his promise. In the N.T. Jesus promised his church that the gates of hell would not prevail and that he would be with his church through out all ages. The church's existence and power depend on the lord today just as much as in the past ages. Matt. 16:18; 28:18-20. We still have a work to do and the power of the lord to sustain us as in ages past, Christ still keeps his promise today. |