Our Savior said, "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free"(John 8:32). It is our purpose in this tract to set forth the truth; and not to misrepresent any-one in any way. I have no animosity for any person because he (or she) is a member of the Baptist denomination. I know some very fine people who are Baptists. I am intensely interested in their eternal welfare. I believe that many of them are honest in their convictions, but they have been led to believe things that are diametrically opposed to the plain teaching of God's word. Our purpose in setting forth the things herein is to try to lead souls to the light of God's eternal word. For in the day of judgment we will not be judged by what we think, or what we feel, or even by that which we have been taught, but by the word of God (Acts 17:31; Rev. 20:12; John 12:48).
In this tract we have set side by side for your consideration, what "The Bible" and the churches of Christ teach, and "What The Baptist Church Teaches." We beg you dear reader to carefully compare what Baptists teach with that which the New Testament teaches, and you can clearly see that Baptists are out of harmony with the Bible on these twenty-five points. Dear friend, do you think that any religious people can contradict God's word (the very teaching that guided the church in the apostolic days), and still be pleasing to God? Now, turn to the following page and compare these teachings.
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The New Testament Church Teaches: |
The Baptist Churches Teach: |
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(Bible Doctrine) |
(Baptist Doctrine) |
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Read these references. |
Fill in blanks with sustaining references if you believe the following doctrines. |
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1. Name of the church, "churches of Christ"
(Matt. 16:18, Rom. 16:16) |
1. Name of church, "Baptist Churches."
______________________________________ |
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2. Members called "Christians" (Acts 11:26; I Peter 4:16).
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2. Members called "Baptists."
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3. Belief and baptism equals salvation (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:28). |
3. Belief only equals salvation, and then baptism. ___________________________
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4. Repent and be baptized "for" remission of sins (Acts 2:38).
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4. Repent and be baptized "because of" remission of sins ___________________
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5. "Baptized into Christ" (Rom. 6:3; Gal. 3:27). |
5. Already in Christ, and then be baptized. ___ |
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6. Baptism doth also now save us" (I Pet. 3:21)
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6. Baptism does not save us. ______________ |
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7. Baptized to wash away sins (Acts 22:16). |
7. Baptized with no sins to wash away. ______ |
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8. Baptized upon confession of faith (Acts 8:37; Rom. 10: 9-10).
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8. Baptized upon "experience" of feelings. ___ |
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9. Baptized by the authority of Christ (Matt. 28:18-19; Mark 16:15-16).
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9. Baptized by the authority of the Baptist Church after voted on. _________________
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10. Not justified by faith only (James 2:17, 20, 24)
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10. Justified "solely through faith in Christ" _________________
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11. The gospel is God’s power to save (Rom. 1:16; I Cor. 15:1-2)
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11. Direct operation of the Holy Spirit, God’s power to save. ______________
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12. The new birth is "of water and of the spirit" (John 3:3-5)
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12. The new birth is of the spirit, but not of water. ______________
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13. We receive the "gift of the Holy Spirit" after we become children of God (Acts 2:38; Gal. 6:4)
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13. We receive the "gift of the Holy Spirit" before we come children of God _________________
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14. Only in the name of Jesus Christ is there salvation (Acts 4:9-12)
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14. There is nothing in a name. One name is as good as another. _________________
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15. God’s "Whole family in heaven and in earth is named" after Christ (Eph. 3:14-15)
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15. Some members of God’s family are named Baptist, Methodist, etc. _____________
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16. Lord’s Supper to be observed on the first day of the week (Acts 20:7)
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16. Lord’s Supper to be observed one a year, twice a year, or once month. __________
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17. Sing, making melody in your hear (Eph 5:19; Col. 3:16.
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17. Sing and play, making melody on a mechanical instrument. ______________
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18. Only Christians commanded to pray (I Thess. 5:17-18; I Pet. 3:12; John 9:13)
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18. Alien sinners should pray for salvation. ___________________
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19. The Lord adds the saved to the church (Acts 2:47)
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19. The saved should join the church if they can be voted in. _________________
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20. Christ is the Savior of the church (Eph. 5:23); Body the Church (Col. 1:18)
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20. Christ is the Savior of those outside of the church. _______________________
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21. Faith comes by hearing the word of God (John 20:30-31; Rom 10:17)
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21. Faith is "wrought in the soul by the regenerating Spirit of God." __________
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22. We must do the will of God to be saved (Matt. 7:21; Heb 5:9)
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22. Just trust in the Lord and he will save you.
_____________________
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23. Saved people can fall from the grace of God (I Cor. 10:8, 12; Gal. 5:4)
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23. Saved people cannot fall from grace.
__________________
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24. Man can make shipwreck of his faith and be lost. (I Timothy 1:19-20)
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24. Man cannot make shipwreck of his faith and be lost. _______________
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25. Man’s salvation is dependent upon his obedience to God’s word (Heb. 5:9; I Pet. 1:22; II Thess. 1:7-9)
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25. Man’s salvation does not depend upon his obedience to God’s word, it is "wholly of grace." __________________
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Guardian of Truth XLI: 13 p. 8-9
July 3, 1997