REGLION When it was founded and by whom The number of adherents in 2000 How Scripture is viewed Who God is Who Jesus is How individuals are saved What happens after death The definition of the Church How each looks at the Sacraments Other practices and beliefs The major divisions and trends today.
First Baptist Church of Camden
WHEN WAS IT FOUNDED AND BY WHOM? In 1612, John Smyth and other English Puritans formed the Baptist Church. In 1639, the first Baptist church in America was established in Providence, Rhode Island.
HOW MANY ADHERENTS IN 2000? There are approximately 100 million Baptists worldwide, and 25 to 30 million in the United States. Denominations Worldwide Denominations in the USA Other Catholic Orthodox Lutheran Anglican Presbyterian Methodist Anabaptist Congregational Baptist
HOW IS SCRIPTURE VIEWED? Scripture is inspired and without error, the sole, final, totally trustworthy rule of faith. The standard Protestant canon is accepted. (Baptist churches vary in the extent to which they continue to view Scripture as without error.)
WHO IS GOD? The one Creator and Lord of all, existing eternally as the Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). WHO IS JESUS? The eternal Son incarnate, (in the flesh) fully God and fully human, conceived and born of the virgin Mary, died on the Cross for our sins, rose bodily from the grave, ascended into heaven, and will come again in glory to judge us all.
SALVATION We are saved by grace alone when God imputes to us his gift of righteousness through faith alone in Christ, who died for our sins. Good works are the inevitable result of true faith, but in no way the basis of our right standing before God.
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER DEATH? The souls of believers upon dying go immediately to be with Christ; and, at Christ's return, their bodies are raised to immortal, eternal life. The wicked will suffer eternal punishment in hell.
WHAT IS THE CHURCH? The church (universal) is the body of Christ, which consists of the redeemed throughout history. The term "church" usually refers to local congregations, each of which is autonomous, whose members are to be baptized believers and whose officers are pastors and deacons. Churches may form associations or conventions for cooperative purposes, especially missions and education.
WHAT ABOUT THE SACRAMENTS? Baptism is immersion of believers only as a symbol of their faith in Christ. The Lord's Supper is a symbolic memorial of Christ's death and anticipation of his return.
WHAT ARE SOME OTHER BELIEFS AND PRACTICES? Most Baptist bodies emphasize evangelism and missions. Church and state are to be separate.
WHAT ARE THE MAJOR DIVISIONS OR TRENDS? Southern Baptist (15 million), a conservative body, are the largest Protestant denomination in the USA. National Baptist (5 to 8 million) is a mainline church. American Baptist (1.5 million) is also a mainline church.
The Only Way to God "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14:6) "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;" (1 Timothy 2:5) There is only one way to God, "But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death." (Revelation 21:8) "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6:23) "And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life." (1 John 5:11-12)