An Independent Fundamental Baptist church ideally represents the faith and practice of a first century New Testament Christian assembly. Today, the above terms are necessary to distinguish such a church from others and to clarify what we believe as Christians according to the Bible.
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I. The Church
A. The Definition B. The 3 Pillars -- Liturgy -- Polity -- Theology II. Independent A. What it does not mean B. What it does mean III. Fundamental A. The definition B. The components C. Their maintenance IV. Baptist A. Distinctives B. Acrostic |
I. The ChurchA. The DefinitionIt is important, first of all, to explain what is meant by church. The church is an assembly of born-again Christians. The church is the body of Christ (Eph 1:22-23) and the people of God, that have been baptized in order to show their identification as a believer in Jesus Christ. A local New Testament church, then, is a body of believers who have been immersed upon a credible confession of faith in Jesus Christ. The church is banded together by a common belief in the Bible, whose purity is maintained by loving discipline. The church's charter is the New Testament; its head is Jesus Christ (Col 1:18), and its purpose is to glorify God through instruction, fellowship, worship, and evangelism. I. The ChurchB. The Pillars1. Liturgy -- The order of worship.The New Testament church conducted a simple informal worship service where the preaching of God's Word was central and two ordinances were practiced: the Lord's Supper (1 Cor 11:26-27) and Baptism (Acts 8:36-38, 18:8). These convey no saving grace and therefore are not sacraments, but simply memorials or reminders of what Christ has already done by His death, burial, and resurrection. I. The ChurchB. The Pillars2. Polity -- The type of church govnmt.Christ oversees and guides His church through the working of the Holy Spirit (Eph 1:22; John 16:13). The government of the church is congregational. That is to say, there is no religious hierarchy or external body dictating and controlling each local church's policies. The authority for each church resides in the congregation, not merely because of convenience but because this appears to be the teaching of the New Testament. The congregation is under the absolute authority of Scripture and the functional leadership of the pastor (1 Tim 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-7) and served by deacons (Acts 6; 1 Tim 3:8-13). I. The ChurchB. The Pillars3. Theology -- The strongest pillar.Without this pillar the other two will fall. The teachings of Scripture must be taught and preached clearly, soundly, and without confusion (1 Tim. 4:6; 2 Tim 4:2; Titus 2:1). The harshest condemnation is pronounced upon those who preach a false gospel (Gal 1:8-9) and it is extremely important to preach the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27). You can read more about our beliefs here. II. IndependentA. What the term does not mean
1. This does not mean that the church is independent from God's authority and leadership. II. IndependentA. What the term does mean
1. The local church is autonomous, meaning that it does not subject itself to any authority external to the local church. III. FundamentalA. The DefinitionThis term is not to be confused with political or religious extremism as used for example: "Islamic fundamentalism." Fundamental refers to the church's desire to reaffirm and defend the essential doctrines or fundamentals of the New Testament Christian faith. III. FundamentalB. The Components:The fundamental doctrines: III. FundamentalC. Their Maintenance: Separation
1. Personal--from the world. Christians are not to love the world.1 John 2:15-17; 2 Cor 6:14-7:1 IV. BaptistA. The Baptist DistinctivesThe independent Fundamental Baptist church is characterized by certain historic Baptist principles or distinctives. IV. BaptistB. The Baptist AcrosticThis tool helps aid in remembering the Baptist Distinctives as outlined in "Distinctives" (found above). |