I grew up in the Southern Baptist Church and was constantly led to believe that John the Baptist started the Baptist Church. Properly, it made perception: John was a “Baptist” we have been “Baptists.” So John need to have commenced the Baptist Church, right? Yes, optimistic contemplating at its best. Notion is, as they say, truth. Occasionally our perception and Real truth are in opposition. And, at times, we discover out the tough way.
Reading through the Bible in its entirety, instead than pulling out a convenient verse right here and there, produces the Creator’s intended result – illumination of Truth.
At the age of 21 I commenced to go through the Bible. Not the frequent casual perusal by way of a couple of Psalms or Proverbs, but a deliberate, systematic examine of the 66 textbooks that make up the Bible. Studying the Bible induced me to consider the things we Baptists thought and practiced.
After a mindful examine, I understood that there ended up a host of methods that we Baptists advocated that didn’t align with the Bible. But a single Baptist doctrine stood out above all other people – that John the Baptist launched the Baptist Church.
Did John the Baptist start the Baptist Church? Do you want to discover it for by yourself, or would you like to me share what I located? If you’re reading this sentence, I can presume that you want me to share what I located. Alright, right here is information from the Word of God. I hope you will verify it for your self.
We find King Herod, in the 14th chapter of the gospel of Matthew, shelling out his birthday at his winter palace. He’d been in a position to seize and imprison John at his palace. Why did Herod want John in shackles? Due to the fact John experienced stated that Herod shouldn’t be sleeping with his sister-in-law, Herodias consequently, John was incarcerated for his incendiary statement. Actually, Herod wanted to execute John, but feared the response of the crowds simply because the populous considered John to be a prophet of God.
Then, throughout the celebration of Herod’s birthday, Herodias’ daughter enticed Herod by dancing erotically just before him. Evidently Herod was mesmerized by her seductive skills and promised to give her anything she desired. She’d currently been coached by her mother on what to request. “Give me John the Baptist’s head on a platter!” demanded Herodias’ daughter. Herod was now among a rock and the proverbial challenging-location. He did not want to incite the crowds, but he also experienced to demonstrate that he was a guy of his phrase. In the long run he chose to remember to Herodias’ daughter. churches in Raleigh experienced John decapitated.
Why is this historic account of John’s loss of life essential? Since it uncovers the reply to the question, “Did John the Baptist start off the Baptist Church?” How does it uncover the reply? John’s dying at the hand of Herod was ahead of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ produced the first prophecy that any church would be created. Jesus said that He would construct a church – not John. Jesus stated that it would be His church – not John’s. John the Baptist established no church. His identify “John the Baptist” was just a descriptive expression of his mission and actions. John was a baptizer of men unto the baptism of repentance.
In the 16th 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 stating that you are a prophet, this kind of as Elias or Jeremiah.” But Jesus desired to know what His possess disciples believed. “But who do you believe I am?” Jesus questioned. Peter responded and stated, “You are the Christ (the Messiah Savior), the Son of the dwelling God!” Jesus exclaimed that Peter was blessed simply because his understanding was provided by God and not by flesh. Then Jesus can make an extraordinary prophecy to Peter and to the relaxation of His disciples, “You are Peter, and upon this rock (the rock of perception that Jesus was the Son of God, or what we would contact the confession of religion in Christ) I will construct my church.”
It was Jesus, not John, who stated that He would build a church. We discover that the Lord’s prophecy came real in the previous portion of Functions chapter 2. That segment of Scripture reveals that all who have been saved were added to the Lord’s church by God. God adds the saved to the Lord’s church. There was no earthly council, no associations, and no conventions that voted on potential church member candidates.
In addition, Christ’s church was a “blood-bought” establishment, as said in the twenty eighth chapter of the guide of Functions. It was to be an crucial, divine, blood-bought establishment that the saved of God would be included to by God.
Contemplate this fact: John did not prophecy that he would create any church. John did not give his blood for a church. John was merely the fore-runner for the Christ.
Heritage information that the Baptist Church was launched by a gentleman named John Smyth, an Anglican priest ordained by the Church of England in 1594. Smyth turned a “Separatist,” and shaped the 1st “Baptist” church in Holland somewhere among 1607 and 1609 – some 1570 many years following Christ established His church. Smyth “re-baptized” himself by pouring drinking water over his head. Then he baptized (poured) his followers. 1609 is the unofficial starting of the Baptist Church.
Prior to his demise, Smyth abandoned his Baptist sights and began striving to proselytize his followers into the teachings Menno Simons, and the Mennonite Church.
Today’s Baptist Church associates are a team of very good, honest, ethical, and zealous men and women. Nevertheless, they belong to a male-made organization. They belong to a church that wasn’t purchased with Christ’s blood, hood-winked in believing that John the Baptist launched their firm. How is this feasible? Baptist people have not taken the time to look into their very own heritage. They have not taken the time to diligently research the Scriptures of God. They “assume” that what they have been advised is the reality.
Why would so many excellent individuals align themselves with an organization that was clearly founded by a gentleman, rather of just obeying the directions of Peter discovered in the 2nd chapter of Acts and becoming included to the church of Jesus Christ by God Himself? The answer is as basic as the nose on your experience. They just don’t know. They are ignorant of these biblical and historic information.
Every Baptist need to know that Jesus Christ launched His church and gave His blood for it. Paul advised the church at Ephesus that Christ beloved the church and gave Himself for it. Paul also explained that Christ is the Head of His church, and the Savior of His entire body, the church.
So we boil it down to this: do you want to be a member of the church that Jesus Christ set up, or do you want to be a member of a church launched by John Smyth? My option is Jesus. Give me the opportunity to obey the directions for salvation found in Functions 2, and God will incorporate me to the church of Christ, Functions two.
If you have the non secular want to be a “Christian ONLY,” and a willingness to discover the a single, true, New Testament church of the Bible, Michael problems you to read through the e-book Muscle mass and a Shovel. It’s not only a tale that will get you right away and not let go, but it will challenge your existing beliefs past your imagination.