I grew up in the Southern Baptist Church and was constantly led to feel that John the Baptist founded the Baptist Church. Properly, it produced feeling: John was a “Baptist” we have been “Baptists.” So John have to have began the Baptist Church, appropriate? Yes, optimistic considering at its ideal. Perception is, as they say, truth. Sometimes our notion and Fact are in opposition. And, occasionally, we discover out the difficult way.
Reading through the Bible in its entirety, fairly than pulling out a handy verse listed here and there, creates the Creator’s intended result – illumination of Truth.
At the age of 21 I began to study the Bible. Not the widespread everyday perusal via a couple of Psalms or Proverbs, but a deliberate, systematic examine of the 66 guides that make up the Bible. Reading the Bible triggered me to consider the factors we Baptists considered and practiced.
Soon after a mindful examine, I understood that there were a host of practices that we Baptists advocated that failed to align with the Bible. But a single Baptist doctrine stood out above all others – that John the Baptist established the Baptist Church.
Did John the Baptist begin the Baptist Church? Do you want to uncover it for oneself, or would you like to me share what I located? If you’re reading this sentence, I can believe that you want me to share what I located. Alright, here is expertise from the Term of God. I hope you will verify it for by yourself.
We uncover King Herod, in the 14th chapter of the gospel of Matthew, paying his birthday at his wintertime palace. He’d been capable to seize and imprison John at his palace. Why did Herod want John in shackles? Due to the fact John had stated that Herod shouldn’t be sleeping with his sister-in-legislation, Herodias consequently, John was incarcerated for his incendiary statement. Actually, Herod wanted to execute John, but feared the response of the crowds due to the fact the populous believed John to be a prophet of God.
Then, during the celebration of Herod’s birthday, Herodias’ daughter enticed Herod by dancing erotically before him. Evidently Herod was mesmerized by her seductive skills and promised to give her anything she needed. churches in Raleigh ‘d previously been coached by her mom on what to ask for. “Give me John the Baptist’s head on a platter!” demanded Herodias’ daughter. Herod was now between a rock and the proverbial difficult-spot. He failed to want to incite the crowds, but he also experienced to show that he was a male of his phrase. In the end he selected to make sure you Herodias’ daughter. Herod had John decapitated.
Why is this historic account of John’s loss of life crucial? Because it uncovers the response to the issue, “Did John the Baptist commence the Baptist Church?” How does it uncover the answer? John’s dying at the hand of Herod was prior to the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ created the very first prophecy that any church would be developed. Jesus said that He would construct a church – not John. Jesus explained that it would be His church – not John’s. John the Baptist established no church. His title “John the Baptist” was merely a descriptive phrase of his mission and actions. John was a baptizer of guys unto the baptism of repentance.
In the sixteenth chapter of the gospel of Matthew we locate Jesus questioning His disciples. “Who are the crowds stating that I am?” His disciples responded, “Some are declaring that you are John the Baptist. Some are saying that you are a prophet, these kinds of as Elias or Jeremiah.” But Jesus desired to know what His possess disciples thought. “But who do you consider I am?” Jesus questioned. Peter responded and stated, “You are the Christ (the Messiah Savior), the Son of the residing God!” Jesus exclaimed that Peter was blessed since his knowledge was offered by God and not by flesh. Then Jesus makes an extraordinary prophecy to Peter and to the rest of His disciples, “You are Peter, and on this rock (the rock of belief that Jesus was the Son of God, or what we would get in touch with the confession of faith in Christ) I will build my church.”
It was Jesus, not John, who said that He would construct a church. We find that the Lord’s prophecy arrived correct in the previous part of Acts chapter 2. That part of Scripture reveals that all who have been saved have been added to the Lord’s church by God. God provides the saved to the Lord’s church. There was no earthly council, no associations, and no conventions that voted on possible church member candidates.
In addition, Christ’s church was a “blood-acquired” institution, as mentioned in the 28th chapter of the ebook of Acts. It was to be an important, divine, blood-bought establishment that the saved of God would be included to by God.
Consider this real truth: John did not prophecy that he would build any church. John did not give his blood for a church. John was basically the fore-runner for the Christ.
Historical past records that the Baptist Church was established by a man named John Smyth, an Anglican priest ordained by the Church of England in 1594. Smyth became a “Separatist,” and fashioned the 1st “Baptist” church in Holland someplace among 1607 and 1609 – some 1570 a long time after Christ recognized His church. Smyth “re-baptized” himself by pouring h2o in excess of his head. Then he baptized (poured) his followers. 1609 is the unofficial beginning of the Baptist Church.
Prior to his dying, Smyth abandoned his Baptist views and commenced attempting to proselytize his followers into the teachings Menno Simons, and the Mennonite Church.
Present day Baptist Church members are a team of good, honest, ethical, and zealous folks. Even so, they belong to a man-created group. They belong to a church that was not bought with Christ’s blood, hood-winked in believing that John the Baptist started their firm. How is this feasible? Baptist people have not taken the time to investigate their very own heritage. They haven’t taken the time to diligently review the Scriptures of God. They “presume” that what they’ve been instructed is the reality.
Why would so numerous excellent individuals align them selves with an business that was plainly established by a gentleman, rather of just obeying the guidelines of Peter located in the 2nd chapter of Functions and currently being included to the church of Jesus Christ by God Himself? The reply is as simple as the nose on your confront. They just never know. They are ignorant of these biblical and historic details.
Every Baptist want to know that Jesus Christ started His church and gave His blood for it. Paul told the church at Ephesus that Christ cherished the church and gave Himself for it. Paul also said that Christ is the Head of His church, and the Savior of His human body, the church.
So we boil it down to this: do you want to be a member of the church that Jesus Christ recognized, or do you want to be a member of a church established by John Smyth? My decision is Jesus. Give me the prospect to obey the recommendations for salvation found in Acts two, and God will insert me to the church of Christ, Acts two.
If you have the spiritual desire to be a “Christian ONLY,” and a willingness to uncover the one, real, New Testomony church of the Bible, Michael problems you to study the ebook Muscle mass and a Shovel. It’s not only a story that will get you right away and not allow go, but it will obstacle your current beliefs beyond your creativity.
