INTRODUCTION

    A. Appreciation is expressed to the Duluth congregation for this timely
         lectureship, to the eldership, and to all who helped to make it a success.
         Appreciation is also expressed for your presence.  It is an indication of 
         interest in things of eternal import, and in particular, the topic under
         consideration this evening.

    B. As we begin the discussion of this topic, The Baptist Church in the Light 
        of the Bible, a few preliminary remarks are in order.

        1. A broad diversity of beliefs and practices come under the Baptist
            umbrella.

        2. Statistics from the Baptist World Alliance (BWA) for the year 2000
            indicate that their alliance represents over 165,000 churches worldwide
            with a combined membership of just over 44,000,000.  The US boasts
            about 100,000 churches and just over 33,000,000 members.  The
            Southern Baptist Convention is the largest single convention/association
            in the US claiming about 41,600 thousand churches and 16,000,000
            members.1

        3. These numbers do not include some Baptist groups such as Primitive
            Baptists, Berean Baptists, and others that differ in certain doctrinal 
            positions and refuse to be identified with recognized associations or
            conventions.

        4. By Baptist, I do not mean merely those who practice baptism by
             immersion.  I do include all who wear the name “Baptist” and the
             myriads of diverse doctrinal positions that they hold, individually and
             collectively.

        5. I have many, many friends who are of the Baptist persuasion.  It is
            impossible to represent every view, doctrinal and otherwise, that is held
            under the name of Baptist.  Therefore, I only pledge to represent those
            views that are commonly held and might be considered “mainstream,”
            though that term is itself ambiguous.  I also pledge to misrepresent no
            one intentionally and to treat all genuinely-held beliefs with the utmost 
            dignity and respect.

        6. Personal feelings and emotions do not determine matters of truth.

            a. If feelings were a safe guide, Mormons and Pentecostals would be on
                an equal par since both groups rely upon subjective feelings as
                confirmation of their conflicting doctrines.

            b. Jacob’s feelings of loss over Joseph were based on deceit 
                orchestrated by Joseph’s brothers, but Jacob’s loss seemed
                absolutely real.  “Then Jacob tore his clothes, put sackcloth on his 
                waist, and mourned for his son many days.  And all his sons and all 
                his daughters arose to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted,
                and he said, ‘For I shall go down into the grave to my son in
                mourning.’  Thus his father wept for him” (Genesis 37:34-35).

            c. Rather than rely on feelings, our watchword will be – “Oh, send out
               Your light and Your truth! Let them lead me; Let them bring me to
                Your holy hill And to Your tabernacle” (Psalm 43:3).

        7. Tonight’s lecture will consist of three major points of discussion
             followed by a concluding point.  The three points of discussion are: The
             “Light of the Bible” in the Light of the Bible, The Light of the Bible
              Shines Favorably on Some Baptist Doctrines, and The Light of the
              Bible Reveals the Deficiency of Some Baptist Doctrines.  The closing
              point and call to action is: The Light of the Bible Shows the Way to
              True Religious Unity.

        8. Scripture quotations are from the New King James version unless
            otherwise stated.

DISCUSSION

  I. THE “LIGHT OF THE BIBLE” IN THE LIGHT OF THE BIBLE.

    A. “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105).

    B. A brief excursion into Peter’s writings (2 Peter 1:16-21) reveals the
         apostolic view of the scriptures: their source, their reliability, their authority
         and their power.

        1. Verses 16 and 17 declare that God is the source of the apostles’
            doctrine and that it did not come from man (not “cunningly devised 
             fables”).

        2. Verse 18 declares that the apostles were eyewitness of the revelatory
             process, especially in the mountain of transfiguration and that their
             testimony was not merely hearsay evidence.

        3. Verse 19 refers to the “prophetic word confirmed,” an idiom, or
             formula, for the entirety of the scriptures.  So, not only had the apostles
            witnessed God’s stamp of approval on the Son, they also had been part
            and party to the confirmatory process by “…signs and wonders, with
            various miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His [God’s] 
            own will” (Hebrews 2:3).

        4. In logic, the “A form proposition” and the “E form proposition” are the
            strongest premises from which any argument may be developed.  Peter
            gets them both in 2 Peter 1:20 and 21.  The scriptures are vouchsafed
            by these statements.
 

  II. Verses 20 and 21a state a double-barreled universal negative:  “…knowing
       this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for 
       prophecy never came by the will of man…”

  III. Verse 21b states the universal affirmative: “…but holy men of God spoke
        as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.”

    C. “If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God” (1 Peter 4:11).
         The implications of this text are far-reaching.  If the oracles of God do not
         exist, then the statement is nonsensical.  However, Paul used this same
         expression in referring to the Old Testament scriptures delivered to the 
         Patriarchs and Fathers of the previous eras (Romans 3:2).  If the oracles
         of God do exist (and they do in the body of the 66 books of the Bible),
         then this text places a weighty responsibility on all who would speak in 
         any and all matters religious.

    D. Concerning the nature of truth, the Bible teaches that:

        1. Truth may be known.

        2. Truth is absolute

        3. Truth is required.

        4. Truth is consistent with itself.  Contradictions do not exist where truth
             prevails.

            a. Illustration:  Truth is like two parallel lines; extend them to infinity and
                they do not vary one way or the other.  This principle is also
                illustrated with railroad tracks.

            b. The biblical principle is stated by Paul at Galatians 2:18 - “For if I
                 build again those things which I destroyed, I make myself a 
                 transgressor.” When two positions contradict one another, both
                 cannot be true.  One may be false; both may be false; but at least
                 one is false!

  II. THE LIGHT OF THE BIBLE SHINES FAVORABLY ON SOME
       BAPTIST DOCTRINES.

    A. The Inspiration and Authority of the Scriptures as contained in the
         Southern Baptist Convention’s, The Baptist Faith and Message (BF&M,
          sometimes called a Confession of Faith):

          The Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired and is God's
           revelation of Himself to man. It is a perfect treasure of divine instruction.
           It has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth, without any
           mixture of error, for its matter. Therefore, all Scripture is totally true 
           and trustworthy. It reveals the principles by which God judges us, and
           therefore is, and will remain to the end of the world, the true center of 
          Christian union, and the supreme standard by which all human conduct,
           creeds, and religious opinions should be tried. All Scripture is a
           testimony to Christ, who is Himself the focus of divine revelation.2

    B. The Godhead (or Trinity) is professed scripturally to exist as three divine
         personalities each possessing all the attributes of God, “… but without
        division of nature, essence, or being.” 2

    C. An implicit distinction in the covenants is evident in the language of the
         BF&M although it is not explicitly discussed.  Numerous references are
         made to Christ and to the New Testament church.  To that extent, the
         New Testament church is at least recognized as an entity of the New
         Covenant.  Of course the scriptures explicitly teach that the New
         Covenant of Christ fulfilled the Old Law (2 Corinthians 3; Galatians 3 
          and  4; Colossians 2:13,14; Hebrews 1-10).

    D. The “mode” of Baptism is explicitly defined by the Baptist church at large
         as being via immersion (excluding other “forms” such as sprinkling or
         pouring).  Of course such is the inherent meaning of the word ordinarily
         translated as baptize in all its forms.  From a practical aspect, Romans
         6:3,4 speaks of being “…buried with Him by baptism into death…” The
         only way that this passage can have meaning is to see that baptism is, in
         fact, a burial.

    E. Some Baptists (but not all) correctly affirm that the miraculous gifts of the
        Spirit as noted in 1 Corinthians 12-14 have ceased.  The Indiana 
        Fundamental Baptist Fellowship clearly states this in article 4 of their
        Declaration of Faith.3  Others do not so clearly affirm the cessation of the
        miraculous gifts of the Spirit.  In practice, mainline Baptist churches do not
        teach that gifts such as speaking in tongues along with the gift of
        interpretation and similar spiritual gifts are extant today.

III. THE LIGHT OF THE BIBLE REVEALS THE DEFICIENCY IN SOME
      BAPTIST DOCTRINES.

    A. The Calvinist errors are deeply rooted in Baptist history though the 
         Southern Baptist convention seems to be intent on moving further and
         further away from these doctrines.  Primitive Baptists still, by definition, 
         cling tightly to the “fading tulip” of Calvinistic theories – (T)otal Hereditary
         Depravity, (U)nconditional Election, (L)imited Atonement, (I)rresistible
         Grace, and (P)erseverance of the Saints.  In as far as they hold to these
         tenets, they are wrong in every point.

        1. Sin is not inherited, it is committed: “Whoever commits sin also commits
             lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness” (I John 3:4).

        2. God did not choose those to be saved apart from the exercise of their
             free will.  Both the Pentecostians (Acts 2:37) and the Philippian Jailer 
             (Acts 16:30) asked what they must do to be saved and were told by an
             inspired apostle.  If election is unconditional, there is nothing that
             anyone can do; one’s fate is sealed!

        3. Christ’s atonement was not and is not limited; it is extended to
            “whosoever wills.”  “And the Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come.’ And let
            him that heareth say, ‘Come.’  And let him that is athirst come. And
            whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely” (Revelation 22:17
            KJV).

        4. Grace is not irresistible!  Jesus wanted Jerusalem of old to submit to His
             teachings, but they did not.  Hear how they resisted the truth. “O
             Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those
             who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children 
             together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not
             willing!” (Matthew 23:37).

        5. And finally, the doctrine of the perseverance of the saints (also called
             impossibility of apostasy, or “once saved, always saved”) results from
             scriptures interpreted out of their context.  Paul clearly stated that some
             had fallen from grace – “You have become estranged from Christ, you
             who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace”
             (Galatians 5:4).

    B. The failure to distinguish between the types of works identified in the New
         Testament leads to numerous errors.  Clearly there are works of God 
         which man is required to do in order to be saved and there are works of
         merit which cannot effect man’s salvation.

        1. If works of any and all kinds are without avail towards salvation
            (including the works of God which man is commanded to do), then 
            faith/belief is excluded.  Faith/belief is a work (John 6:28, 29) yet all
            agree that it is required to be saved.  Therefore, the scriptures clearly
            address at least two types of works.  Meritorious works of man are
            excluded (Ephesians 2:9) but the works of God must be joined with
            faith for justification to occur; it is not by faith only (James 2:24).

        2. Self-contradictions are inherent in these views and therefore cannot be
            true.  Grace only violates faith only, but both are taught.  Yet in practice,
            inconsistency abounds.  If it is faith only, or grace only, then where is the
            place for the sinner’s prayer that is so often promoted as the way to
            salvation?  Or, if it is grace only, or faith only, then where is room for
            confession with the mouth that Paul says is a condition of salvation
            (Romans 10:10)?

        3. A harmonious view of grace, faith, and works is possible.  It is not grace
            only or faith only.  Furthermore, God has enjoined man to do some 
            works (i.e., God’s works) as a condition to salvation.

    C. The Baptist Church treats baptism as an unessential act that merely ushers
         one into a local congregation.  As clearly as can be stated, there simply is
         no place in the scriptures that command or illustrate by practice this to be
         the case.  The baptized believers were added by the Lord to His church
         (Acts 2:47).  The Ethiopian Nobleman was baptized by Philip in a 
         deserted place without so much as a mention of a church and hundreds of 
         miles away from his home to which he was traveling.  Baptism is as the
         scriptures say:  “For the remission of sins” (Acts 2:38) and it is the means
         by which one comes to be “in Christ” (Romans 6:3,4; Galatians 3:27).

    D. Regarding the pastor system, i.e. a solitary pastor having a scriptural
         charge over a congregation and that by “democratic process”2 there is
         simply no authority for it.  Every place in the scriptures where one finds
         pastor, elder, bishop, or overseer in reference to the local congregation,
         they are plural in number.  Furthermore, the Bible certainly says nothing
         about a democratic process in ordaining and removing the highest
         congregational officers that serve in the Lord’s church.

    E. God, by definition, demands worship.  It is at His pleasure that we come
         before Him, not of our own.  Since worship is at His bidding, He has 
         specified the means to acceptable worship.  Yet, there are several
         departures from the scriptures observed in worship activities of the 
         Baptist churches.

        1. In the matter of giving, Paul specified that we are to give as we are
            prospered (1 Corinthians 16:2) and that each should give “as he 
            purposes in his heart” (2 Corinthians 9:7).  While a person may well 
            determine to give ten percent or more, the Bible is a silent as a tomb
            when it comes to specifying an amount that the New Testament 
            Christian must give.  This was borrowed from the Old Testament!

        2. The apostles of my Lord expected to observe the Lord’s Supper on a
             particular day of the week following the establishment of the kingdom
             (Mark 14:25), but like many other things, the details were hidden from
             them until after the coming of the Holy Spirit (John 16:12,13).
             However, as the details of the Church were unfolded to the disciples, it
             is evident that they were instructed to observe the Supper on the first
             day of the week (Acts 20:7).  Their example is adequate authority by 
             which to bind the first day of the week observance of the Supper 
             today.

        3. Singing is commanded of God, not playing (Ephesians 5:19 and 
            Colossians 3:16).  The Primitive Baptists had it right and still maintain
             that distinction.  Just as was done with tithing, the Baptist Church 
             borrowed instruments of music from the Old Testament.  No authority
             exists for the use of any instrument other than the heart of man in 
             worship to God today.

    F. The Lord has a Church (Matthew 16:18) and it ought to bear His name.

        1. Why choose a name that merely reflects one act commanded by the
            Lord, and that according to Baptist doctrine, an unessential one?  There
            is no exclusive name for the Lord’s church, but if a name must be 
            chosen why not choose a scriptural designation?

        2. In a sermon delivered on the evening of May 27, 1855, Charles H.
            Spurgeon, arguably the brightest candle to shine in the Baptist house, 
            said:  I say of the Baptist name, let it perish, but let Christ's name last for
            ever. I look forward with pleasure to the day when there will not be a
            Baptist living. I hope they will soon be gone.4

CONCLUSION AND CALL TO ACTION

    A. The Light of the Bible Shows the Way to True Religious Unity.

        1. We call upon readers and hearers to reason and act upon the scriptures.

            a. Isaiah 8:20 states, “To the law and to the testimony! If they do not
                speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.”

            b. Again Isaiah stated, “‘Come now, and let us reason together,’ Says 
                the LORD, “‘Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white
                as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool’” 
                (Isaiah 1:18).

        2. The call to action that we make is the call of the New Testament. 

        3. The parable of the sower defines how Christians are produced in any 
            generation and in any culture.

            a. Jesus gave the key to understanding when He said, “Now the parable
                is this: The seed is the word of God” (Luke 8:11).  God’s timeless 
                law of sowing and reaping applies in the spiritual world as well as the
                physical.

            b. The seed, i.e., God’s word, when planted in its purity will always
                produce Christians, nothing more and nothing less.  It cannot produce
                Baptists, Methodists, Lutherans or any other “ism” or “ite.”  It cannot
                produce nor sustain any human denomination (and all denominations
                are of human origin).

        4. Now another brief excursion into Peter’s teachings – “Since you have
            purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love
            of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having 
            been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the 
            word of God which lives and abides forever, because ‘All flesh is as 
            grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass 
            withers, and its flower falls away, but the word of the LORD endures
            forever.’  Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to
            you” (1 Peter 1:22-25).

            a. They purified their souls when they obeyed the truth (gospel).

            b. They were born again through the incorruptible word of God.

            c. That word of the Lord endures forever, even to this very moment in
                time.

            d. That word is that which was preached by the gospel.

    B. We call men to obey the gospel of Christ just as the first believers did 
         when the Resurrected Lord was preached for the very first time on
         Pentecost (Acts 2).

        1. By doing what they did, we become what they became, merely
            Christians.

        2. When we do what they did, God does what He did, and adds those that
            are saved to the church (Acts 2:47), not to a denomination, Baptist or 
            otherwise.

    C. What could be simpler and what appeal could be more valid?

ENDNOTES
 

1 Baptist World Alliance.  BWA Statistics  5 April 2002  Available [Online]:
<http://www.bwanet.org/fellowship/member-bodies/member-stats.htm> [9 April 2002].

2 Southern Baptist Convention.  Baptist Faith and Message  Adopted 14 June 2002  Available [Online] < http://www.sbc.net> [9 April 2002]

3 Indiana Fundamental Baptist Fellowship.  Declaration of Faith, Article 4
Available [Online] <http://members.iquest.net/~grace/ifbf.htm> [9 April 2002]

4 Spurgeon, Charles H.  300+ Sermons from the New Park Street Pulpit;
Sermon # 27 entitled,  The Eternal Name.  Available [Online] <http://www.bible.net/books/0008/0027.htm> [12 April 2002]