Baptists Differ From Protestants

“Baptists Differ From Protestants”
Acts 2:42-47

Introduction

  • This morning I want to share with you a few simple observations as to why Baptists are not Protestant.
  • The reason for this study is because recently I placed my mother in a rehab/nursing home facility in Mulvane, Ks. that is of Catholic venue.
  • Upon filling out the paperwork I found them asking of what religious background my mother is and which service would she enjoy to participate in. The only two choices were Catholic or Protestant.
  • Being a Baptist, it was hard for me to put down “Protestant.” Because we are not Protestant. I thought “I wonder if our deaf church knew?”
  • Protestantismis the second largest form of Christianity with collectively more than 900 million adherents worldwide or nearly 40% of all Christians.
  • It originated with the Reformation (A movement against what its followers perceived to be errorsin the Roman Catholic Church).
  • Ever since, Protestants reject the Roman Catholic doctrine of papal supremacyand sacraments, but disagree among themselves regarding the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist.
  • Protestants emphasize the priesthood of all believers, justification by faith alone(sola fide) rather than by good works, and the highest authority of the Bible alone (rather than with sacred tradition) in faith and morals (sola scriptura).
  • The “Five solae“ (Set of 5 principles help by the Lutheran church) summarize basic theological differences in opposition to the Roman Catholic Church.
  • Protestantism is popularly considered to have begun in Germany in 1517 when Martin Lutherpublished his Ninety-five Theses as a reaction against abuses in the sale of indulgences by the Roman Catholic Church, which gave the impression to people their ability to offer remission of sin to their people.

 

I.                   Who Is the Founder?

A) A very important question

  • When searching for a church, it is vitally important to know where it comes from “doctrinally.”
  • There are many Protestant churches that hold to a certain person being the founder…
  1. The Lutherans – Martin Luther (A German professor of Theology, composer, priest and monk)
  2. The Reformed – John Calvin (A French theologian, pastor and reform leader)
  3. The Presbyterians – John Knox (Scottish minister, theologian, reform leader)
  4. The Methodists – John Wesley (English pastor and theologian)
  • You may ask… “Who Founded the Baptist Church?” If all churches were founded by one man and according to most of the Protestant reformers being started by a man named John, we Baptist could say our founder is “John the Baptist.”
  • However, that would be false. Baptists were not started by one person.
  • We are called “Baptists” because we baptize those who have accepted Christ and we reject infant baptism that is practiced by other denominations.
  • If we did look to human authors or founders of the Baptist churches I believe that we would look to Jesus Christ and his apostles.
  • We Baptists differ from Protestants in our “birthplace” …
  1. Lutherans – Germany
  2. Reformed – Switzerland and Netherlands
  3. Presbyterians – Scotland
  4. Episcopalians – England
  5. Baptists – Palestine
  • The Baptist “creed” (a statement of essential features of religious faith) is the Word of God (Bible).
  • The Protestant churches use the Augsburg Confession, the Canons of Dort, or the Westminster Confession as their creed.
  • Baptists have never identified with the Protestant or Roman Catholic churches.
  • The “Reformation” is a time in the 1600’s where people were opposing the Catholic doctrines and establishing their own based on what popular theologians were propagating.
  • Baptists took a separate view from both Protestant and Catholic beliefs and suffered many martyred deaths as a result of their stand. (900 Baptists executed in less than 10 years)
  • Let us take a brief look at what “Baptist” believe…

II.                Baptist Belief (In Brief)

A) Christ is head of the church

  • Ephesians 5:21…Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. 22) Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. 23) For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
  • The Protestant and Catholic churches hold to men like the Pope, John Calvin, Martin Luther, and etc. as their founders, their leaders, their “head of the church.”
  • The Catholic Church holds “the Pope” as their final authority and leader of the church.
  • Baptist believe every word of the Bible as it was Authored by God himself, and written by the pens of men who were inspired by the Spirit of God when they wrote
  • Our belief and more scripture on Jesus being head of our church… Colossians 1:12…Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
  • 13) Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14) In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: 15) Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 16) For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17) And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. 18) And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
  • This old KJV of the Bible is not that hard to understand. Plain and simple folks.
  • Paul write to the church at Colossae telling them of the doctrines (Same as Baptists) of the church of Jesus Christ… which in part are…
  1. Made us partakers in Christ’s inheritance
  2. Delivered us from the power of darkness (Satan’s power)
  3. Made is people of light (People who understand the truths of God)
  4. Translated us to the Kingdom of Jesus Christ
  5. We are redeemed and forgiven our sins through the Blood of Jesus Christ
  6. Christ created all things and for Him it was all created
  7. Christ is head of the body (the church)
  8. A free church in a free state
  • Meaning that the state is separate from the church. WHY? Because it’s government is completely different.
  • The Baptist church operates differently and governs its people differently than the state.
  • Let us go to Matthew 22, and start with verse 15…Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his 16) And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men. 17) Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not? 18) But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites? 19) Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny. 20) And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? 21) They say unto him, Caesar’s. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s. 22) When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way.
  • When Jesus said… “Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.” He meant…what belongs to the world’s government, its leaders, give it to them. But what belongs to God, give it to Him. In other words, the worldly government is to be ruled by the worldly people, but the church is to be ruled by God/Jesus Christ.
  • Today the government is still trying to govern the church.

B) Individual accountability (answer) to God

  • Look in the book of our final authority in Romans 14:12… So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. 13) Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way.
  • The world and millions of churches do not comprehend this verse. They believe that is their responsibility to hold people accountable for their actions. THIS IS WRONG!
  • Paul clearly states here to the Romans “every one of us shall give account of himself to God.” Not to one another, not to the pope, not to the Southern Baptist convention, Not to the Presbytery… but TO GOD.
  • Everybody thinks it’s their sole purpose in life to run everybody’s life. NO, it is their own responsibility to see to it that they conduct their life according to God’s plan and that He (God will hold them accountable for how they live.

 

C) Believer’s Baptism

  • NO PROTESTANT holds to this belief.
  • In our Bible (God’s Holy Word) it tells us repeatedly … FAITH and REPENTANCE come before BAPTISM.
  • Peter said in Acts 2:38…Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
  • Jesus said in Mark 16:16…He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
  • Can an infant repent and believe? Of course not. Then why have them baptized? It makes no Godly sense. Never, not one time do you find infant baptism in the Word of God.

D) Regenerate church Membership

  • This means that a “Baptist” believes church membership is made up of people who believe in Jesus Christ and live accordingly.
  • Look at Acts 2:41…Then they that gladly received his word (Believed) were baptized (immersed in water): and the same day there were added unto them (Became members of the church) about three thousand souls.
  • In the Protestant churches, membership is either automatically given to people who come to their church, or go through some formality of some kind to be a member.
  • Hopefully this study has helped you to determine that Baptists are not Protestant.