The Baptist Distinctives, the reason we are Baptists.

 

Individual Freedom.

 

The Freedom to Choose. Baptists believe that each person has the individual right and privilege to choose.

 

The right to choose to be saved, or reject what Christ has done. The right to choose to serve God or not to, the right to believe correct doctrine or follow lies, and false doctrines.

 

(Dan 4:24-37) "This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the most High, which is come upon my lord the king: {25} That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. {26} And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots; thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee, after that thou shalt have known that the heavens do rule. {27} Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by showing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity. {28} All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar. {29} At the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon. {30} The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty? {31} While the word was in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee. {32} And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. {33} The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds' claws. {34} And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation: {35} And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou? {36} At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me. {37} Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase."

 

Individual Freedom is the right to accept Christ or reject Christ, the right to choose to serve God, or not to.

 

Though it is true that God has the right to do anything consistent with His nature, it is equally true that He has chosen to exercise His rights by including the responsible and relatively free actions of people. I say relatively free simply because no one has absolute freedom if for no other reason than the limitations of being fallen human creatures. He has made us responsible, and when we fail to act responsibly we are justly blamed.

 

It is the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus who gives us freedom from the law of sin and death.

 

(Rom 8:2) "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death."

 

Adoption means complete freedom from former relationships, particularly to the Law (Gal. 4:5). In other words, the other side of adoption is freedom from the Law.

Redemption may be summarized around three basic ideas:

  1. People are redeemed from something; namely, from the marketplace or slavery of sin.
  2. People are redeemed by something; namely, by the payment of a price, the blood of Christ.
  3. People are redeemed to something; namely, to a state of freedom; and then they are called to renounce that freedom for slavery to the Lord who redeemed them. Gal. 5:13

 

Man was created with genuine freedom, but the exercise of that freedom in rebellion against God introduced sin into the human race. Though God was the Designer of the plan, He was in no way involved in the commission of evil either on the part of Satan originally or of Adam subsequently. Even though God hates sin, for reasons not revealed to us, sin is present by His permission. Sin must be within God’s eternal plan (or God would not be sovereign) in some way in which He is not the author of it (or God could not be holy).

 

Individual freedom also implies individual responsibility.

 

(Mat 12:36) "But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment."

(Rom 14:12) "So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God."

 

WE ARE BAPTISTS BECAUSE WE BELIEVE IN INDIVIDUAL FREEDOM

Authority of the Bible Freedom of the Individual Autonomy of the Church
Baptism & Lord's Supper What do you believe?? Offices of Pastor & Deacon
Priesthood of the Believer Separation of Church & State Saved Church Membership

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This page was updated on 03/23/00