Wisconsin Association of Regular Baptist Churches
As a Baptist churches we have historically believed in:
Biblical Authority
utonomy of the local Church
A
Priesthood of all believers
Two ordinances: Believers' Baptism & the Lord's Supper
Individual soul liberty
Saved church membership
Two offices: Pastor and Deacon
Separation of Church and State
Click here to see how these distinctives originated. Click here to see a more detailed discussion of our distinctives.
To see what we believe about such things as the Bible, Satan, Faith and Salvation, and many more things, click here to see our Articles of Faith.
Baptists arrived at these distinctives through careful study of the Bible. That is why these teachings are more precisely called the Biblical distinctives of Baptists rather than Baptist distinctives.
These teachings emerged as Baptist distinctives because individual Baptist churches have consistently and independently held to them, not because some group of Baptist leaders composed the list and then imposed the distinctives on local churches.
Church groups other than Baptists have held some of the Baptist distinctives, and one may even find churches that hold all of the distinctives but do not call themselves Baptist. Such groups are "baptistic," but for some reason they choose not to be identified as Baptists. On the other hand, some churches naming themselves "Baptist" are not truly Baptist because they no longer hold the historic Baptist beliefs or even the fundamentals of the Christian faith.
Baptists are people of the Book above all else. And Baptists enjoy a priceless heritage of generations who have exalted God's Son our Savior and have proclaimed God's inspired Word.
These teachings may be remembered by associating them with the letters that form the word "BAPTISTS."
Biblical
Authority
The Bible is the final authority in all matters of belief and practice
because the Bible is inspired by God and bears the absolute authority of God
Himself. Whatever the Bible affirms, Baptists accept as true. No human
opinion or decree of any church group can override the Bible. Even creeds
and confessions of faith, which attempt to articulate the theology of
Scripture, do not carry Scripture's inherent authority.
2 Timothy 3:15-17; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Peter 1:20, 21
Autonomy
of the Local Church
The local church is an independent body accountable to the Lord Jesus
Christ, the head of the church. All human authority for governing the local
church resides within the local church itself. Thus the church is
autonomous, or self-governing. No religious hierarchy outside the local
church may dictate a church's beliefs or practices. Autonomy does not mean
isolation. A Baptist church may fellowship with other churches around mutual
interests and in an associational tie, but a Baptist church cannot be a
"member" of any other body.
Colossians 1:18; 2 Corinthians 8:1-5, 19, 23
Priesthood
of the Believer
"Priest" is defined as "one authorized to perform the sacred rites of a
religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and God." Every
believer today is a priest of God and may enter into His presence in prayer
directly through our Great High Priest, Jesus Christ. No other mediator is
needed between God and people. As priests, we can study God's Word, pray for
others, and offer spiritual worship to God. We all have equal access to
God--whether we are a preacher or not.
1 Peter 2:5, 9; Revelation 5:9, 10
Two
Ordinances
The local church should practice two ordinances: (1) baptism of
believers by immersion in water, identifying the individual with Christ in
His death, burial, and resurrection, and (2) the Lord's Supper, or
communion, commemorating His death for our sins.
Matthew 28:19, 20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-32
Individual
Soul Liberty
Every individual, whether a believer or an unbeliever, has the liberty
to choose what he believes is right in the religious realm. No one should be
forced to assent to any belief against his will. Baptists have always
opposed religious persecution. However, this liberty does not exempt one
from responsibility to the Word of God or from accountability to God
Himself.
Romans 14:5, 12; 2 Corinthians 4:2; Titus 1:9
Saved,
Baptized Church Membership
Local church membership is restricted to individuals who give a
believable testimony of personal faith in Christ and have publicly
identified themselves with Him in believer's baptism. When the members of a
local church are believers, a oneness in Christ exists, and the members can
endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Acts 2:41-47; 1 Corinthians 12:12; 2 Corinthians 6:14; Ephesians 4:3
Two
Offices
The Bible mandates only two offices in the church--pastor and deacon.
The three terms--"pastor," "elder," and "bishop," or "overseer"--all refer
to the same office. The two offices of pastor and deacon exist within the
local church, not as a hierarchy outside or over the local church.
1 Timothy 3:1-13; Acts 20:17-38; Philippians 1:1
Separation
of Church and State
God established both the church and the civil government, and He gave
each its own distinct sphere of operation. The government's purposes are
outlined in Romans 13:1-7 and the church's purposes in Matthew 28:19 and 20.
Neither should control the other, nor should there be an alliance between
the two. Christians in a free society can properly influence government
toward righteousness, which is not the same as a denomination or group of
churches controlling the government.
Matthew 22:15-22; Acts 15:17-29
What we believe about...
The Resurrection, Personal, Visible, Premillenial Return of Christ and related events: |
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1. Of the Scripture:
We believe that the Holy Bible as originally written was verbally inspired and
the product of Spirit controlled men, and therefore has truth without any
admixture of error for its matter. We believe the Bible to be the true center of
Christian union and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds and
opinion are tried. (11 Tim. 3:16,17; II Peter 1:1921)
2. Of the True God:
We believe there is one, and only one, living and true God, an infinite,
intelligent Spirit, the Maker and Supreme Ruler of heaven and earth;
inexpressibly glorious in holiness, and worthy of all possible honor, confidence
and love; that in the unity of the Godhead there are three persons, the Father,
the Son and the Holy Ghost, equal in every divine perfection, and executing
distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption. (Ex. 20:2,3; I
Cor. 8:6; Rev. 4:11; I John 5:7)
3. Of Jesus Christ:
We believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and God the Son; that He is the
only Savior of mankind, God Incarnate in human flesh; the very God of Very God,
for whom and by whom all things were created; that He is the mediator between
God and men. We believe in His Virgin birth, His holy sinless life, His
vicarious death and bodily resurrection. (Acts 4:12; Rom. 8:3; Co1. 1:16; I Tim.
2:5; John 3:16; John 1:13; Heb. 1:8; Col. 1:15-19)
4. Of the Holy Spirit:
We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine person; equal with God the Father
and God the Son and of the same nature; that He was active in creation; that in
His relation to the unbelieving world He restrains the evil one until God's
purpose is fulfilled; that He convicts of sin, of righteousness, and of
judgment; that He bears witness to the truth of the Gospel in preaching and
testimony; that He is the agent in the New Birth; that He seals, endues, guides,
teaches, witnesses, sanctifies and helps the believer. (John 14:16,17;
Matt. 28:19; Heb. 9:14; John 14:26; Luke 1:35; Genesis 1:1-3; John 16:8-11; Acts
5:30-32; John 3:5-6; Eph. 1:13,14; Mark 1:8; John 1:33; Acts 11:16; Luke 24:49;
Rom. 8:14; Rom. 8:16; Rom. 8:26, 27)
5. Of The Devil, or Satan:
We believe in the personality of Satan, that he is the unholy god of this age,
and the author of all the powers of darkness, and is destined to judgment of an
eternal justice in the lake of fire.
6. Of The Creation:
We accept the Genesis account of creation and believe that man came by direct
creation of God and not by evolution. (Gen.1,2; Col. 1:16,17; John 1:3)
7. Of The Fall of Man:
We believe that man was created in innocence under the law of his Maker, but by
voluntary transgression fell from his sinless and happy state in consequence of
which all mankind are now sinners, not only by constraint, but of choice, and
therefore under just condemnation without defense or excuse. (Gen. 3:1-6, 24;
Rom. 5:19; Rom 5:12; Rom. 5:10-19; Rom. 1:18; Rom. 1:32)
8. Of The Virgin Birth:
We believe that Jesus was begotten of the Holy Ghost in a miraculous manner;
born of Mary, a virgin, as no other man was ever born or can ever be born of
woman, and that He is both the Son of God, and God the Son. (Gen. 3:15; Is.
7:14; Matt. 1:18-25; Luke 1:35; John 1:14)
9. Of The Atonement for Sin:
We believe that the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace; through the
mediatorial offices of the Son of God, who by the appointment of the Father,
freely took upon Him our nature, yet without sin; He honored the divine law by
His personal obedience, and by His death made a full and vicarious atonement for
our sins; that His atonement consisted not in setting us an example by His death
as a martyr, but dying for the unjust; Christ the Lord, bearing our sins in His
own body on the tree; that having risen from the dead, He is now enthroned in
Heaven, and uniting in His wonderful person the tenderest sympathies with divine
perfection, He is in every way qualified to be a suitable, a compassionate and
all sufficient Savior. (Eph. 2:8; Acts 15:11; Rom. 3:24; John 3:16; Matt. 18:11;
Phil. 2:7; Heb. 2:14; Is. 53:4-7; Rom. 3:25; I John 4:10; I Cor. 15:3; II Cot.
5:21)
10. Of Grace in the New Creation:
We believe that in order to be saved, sinners must be born again; that the new
birth is a new creation in Christ Jesus; that it is instantaneous and not a
process; that in the new birth the one dead in trespasses and in sins is made a
partaker of the divine nature and received eternal life, the free gift of God;
that the new creation is brought about in a manner above our comprehension,
solely by the power of the Holy Spirit in connection with divine truth, so as to
secure our voluntary obedience to the gospel; that its proper evidence appears
in the holy fruits of repentance and faith and newness of life. (John 3:3;
II Cor. 5:17; I John 5:1; John 3:6,7; Acts 16:30,31; II Peter 1:4; Rom. 6:23;
Eph. 2:1; II Cor. 5:19; Col. 2:13; John 3:8)
11. Of Justification:
We believe that the gospel blessing which Christ secures to such as believe in
Him is justification:
(a) That justification includes the pardon of sin, and the gift of
eternal life on principles of righteousness.
(b) That it is bestowed not in consideration of the works of
righteousness which we have done; but solely through faith in the redeemer's
blood, His righteousness is imputed to us. (Acts 13:39; Is. 53:11; Zech. 13:1;
Rom. 3:1; Rom. 5:9; Eph. 2:8,9; Rom. 5:1)
12. Of Faith and Salvation:
We believe that faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is the only condition of
salvation. (Acts 16:31)
13. Of The Local Church:
We believe that a local church is a congregation of immersed believers,
associated by covenant of faith and fellowship of the gospel; observing the
ordinances of Christ; governed by His laws; and exercising the gifts, rights and
privileges invested in them by His Word; that its officers are pastors and
deacons whose qualifications, duties and claims are clearly defined in the
Scriptures; we believe the true mission of the church is the faithful witnessing
of Christ to all men as we have opportunity. We hold that the local church has
absolute right of self-government, free from the interference of any hierarchy
of individuals or organizations; and that the one and only superintendent is
Christ, through the Holy Spirit; that it is scriptural for the true churches to
cooperate with each other in contending for the faith and for the furtherance of
the gospel; that each church is the sole judge of the measure and method of its
cooperation on all matters of discipline, of benevolence, and the will of the
local church is final. (Acts 2:41,42; I Cor. 11:2; Eph. 1:22,23; Eph.
4:11; Acts 15:13-18; Acts 20:17- 28; I Tim. 3:17; Col. 1:16; Eph. 5:23,24)
14. Of Baptism and the Lord's Supper:
We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water to
show forth in a solemn and beautiful emblem our faith in the crucified, buried
and risen Savior, with its effect in our death to sin and resurrection to a new
life; that it is prerequisite to the privileges of a church relation. We believe
that the Lord's Supper is the commemoration of His death until He comes, and
should be preceded always by solemn self-examination. (Acts 8:36-39; John 3:23;
Rom 6:2,3; Matt. 3:16; Col. 2:12; I Cor. 11:23-28)
15. Of The Security of The Saints:
We believe that all who are truly born again are kept by God the Father for
Jesus Christ.
(Phil. 1:6; John 10:28,29; Rom. 8:35-39; Jude 1)
16. Of the Righteous and the Wicked:
We believe that there is a radical and essential difference between the
righteous and the wicked; that such only as through faith are justified in the
name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and sanctified by the Spirit of God, are truly
righteous in His esteem: while all such as continue in impenitence and unbelief
are in His sight wicked, and under the curse; and this distinction holds among
men both in and after death, in the everlasting felicity of the saved and the
everlasting conscious suffering of the lost. (Mal. 3:18; Gen. 18:23; Rom.
6:17-18; I John 5:19; Matt. 25:34-41; Rom. 7:6; Rom 6:23; Prov. 14:32; Luke
6:23; John 8:21)
17. Of Civil Government:
We believe that civil government is of divine appointment, for the interests and
good order of human society; that magistrates are to be prayed for,
conscientiously honored and obeyed; except in things opposed to the will of our
Lord Jesus Christ who is the only Lord of the conscience, and the coming Prince
of the Kings of the earth. (Rom. 13:1-7; II Sam. 23:3; Ex. 18:21,22; Acts 23:5;
Matt. 22:21' Acts 5:20; Acts 4:19,20; Dan. 3:17,18)
18. Of the Resurrection, Personal, Visible, Premillenial
Return of Christ and related events:
We believe in:
(a) The Bodily Resurrection. (Matt. 28:6,7; Luke 24:39; John 20:27; I
Cor. 15:4; Mark 16:6;
Luke 24:2-6)
(b) The Ascension. (Acts 1:9-11; Luke 24:51; Mark 16:19; Rev. 3:21; Heb.
12:2)
(c) The High Priesthood. ( Heb. 8:6; I Tim. 2:5; I Jn 2:1; Heb. 2:17; Heb
5:9-10)
(d) The Second Coming. (John 14:3; I Thess. 4:16; Heb 9:28; Acts 1:11;
James 5:8)
(e) The Resurrection of the Righteous Dead. (I Thess. 4:13-18; I Cor.
15:53; I Cor. 15:42-44)
(f) The Change of the Living. (I Cor. 15:51-53; I Thess. 4:13-18; Phil.
3:20-21)
(g) The Throne of David. (Luke 1:32; Acts 2:29-30; Is. 9:6,7)
(h) The Millennial Reign. (I Cor. 15:25; Is. 11:4,5; Rev. 20:14; Is.
32:1; Ps. 72:8; Rev. 20:6)