We Are Baptists: The Fundamental Truths of Our Faith and Message

By Dr. E. Solomon Ernst

Recognizing that many are uninformed and confused about their doctrinal point of view in the Baptist church, author Dr. E. Solomon Ernst offers more information about the doctrines of what Baptists believe and why they believe. In We are Baptists, he presents a look at the fundamental truths of the Baptist faith and message.

Written especially for Baptists, the book is guided by the teachings of the Bible about the great truths of Jesus Christ. It focuses on God, the father; son; Holy Spirit; the Holy Bible; and man. It also contains a look at a host of teachings, including the Baptist church as the body of Christ, sin, repentance and salvation, God’s grace and the family, Baptist cooperation and other denominations, believers’ water baptism, the Lord’s Supper, evangelism, and more.

We are Baptists taps into the core of the Baptist witness and provides a relevant reflection and pedagogy upon the disciplines of the Baptist faith. Suited for textbook purposes in a seminary or Bible college, small-group studies, and Bible study settings, it challenges, motivates, and helps Baptists understand they are people of the Bible.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Archway Publishing
• Release date: Feb 17, 2022
• ISBN: 9781665716956

Dr. E. Solomon Ernst

Dr. E. Solomon Ernst, an ordained Baptist preacher, was, for many years, senior pastor of four Baptist churches including Trinity International Baptist Church, Columbus, Ohio. He currently serves as special envoy and direct representative of the president of the Liberia Baptist Missionary and Educational Convention Inc. and Pastoral Advisory Board of Columbus State Community College. Ernst and his wife, Marva, have five grown children and are parents to other foster and spiritual children.

Book preview

Copyright © 2022 Dr. E. Solomon Ernst.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means,

graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by

any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author

except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Archway Publishing

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.archwaypublishing.com

844-669-3957

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in

this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views

expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the

views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are

models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Book dedication photo taken by Pate Charles

as for the Greek and Hebrew alphabet image is a public domain

Scripture taken from the New King James Version® Copyright © 1982

by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations taken from The Holy Bible, New International

Version® NIV® Copyright © 1973 1978 1984 2011 by Biblica, Inc.

TM. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

ISBN: 978-1-6657-1694-9 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6657-1693-2 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-6657-1695-6 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2021925736

Archway Publishing rev. date: 02/17/2022

I

dedicate this book to my beloved wife,

Marva Andrea Ernst, who has been a source of

inspiration to me in my ministry and to

the Liberia Baptist Theological Seminary, West

Africa, the foundation and birthplace

of my ministry.

Photograph%20of%20my%20wife%20staples_scan.jpg

Contents

Foreword

Preface

Introduction

The Church as the Body of Christ

Cooperation and Other Denominations

Water Baptism and Lord’s Supper (Communion)

Sin, Repentance, and Salvation

Social Order, Religious Liberty, Peace, and War

Lord’s Day, Kingdom, and Eschatology (Last Thing)

Death, Resurrection, Heaven, and Hell

God’s Grace in Alliance with the Family of God

Evangelism and Missions

Stewardship and Christian Education

The Holy Bible (Scriptures)

God the Father

God the Son

God the Holy Spirit

Man (Humankind)

The Baptist Church Covenant

Some Favorite Hymns of Our Baptist Faith

About the Author

Acknowledgments

Foreword

Dr. E. Solomon Ernst has tapped into the core of the Baptist witness, and every Baptist needs this book as a guide to help understand who they are as disciples in the Baptist church. In my years of teaching and leading in the Baptist church, I have discovered that the average believer does not understand the core tenets of who they are as Baptists. This book is insightful because it gives new converts, as well as those who have been longtime members, biblical directives in understanding who they are as Baptists. I highly recommend you read this valuable resource and encourage others to the same.

—Rev. Dr. John S. Little

Senior Pastor, Resurrection Missionary Baptist Church

Columbus, Ohio

Dr. Evans Solomon Ernst provides a relevant reflection and pedagogy upon the disciplines of the Baptist faith. This is an essential read when so many within the faith have adopted doctrine that is not rooted in the foundational disciplines of Baptist doctrine. This book will positively impact the paradigm and praxis of all who serve and lead within the Baptist witness.

—Rev. Dr. Jonathan McReynolds

Senior Pastor, Aenon Missionary Baptist Church

Rochester, New York

Preface

This book is written for those who are Baptists so they can give an answer about what they are. Ninety percent of the Baptists in the world are willing to refer to themselves as Protestants. They are ignorant of what Baptists believe, and some go so far as to think that the Baptists came from the Roman Catholics.

If you study the history of Baptists, you will see at a glance why they are proud of their heritage. We are not proud in a disdainful way but are humble because we can go back to the banks of the River Jordan. The Al-Maghtas ruins on the Jordanian side of the Jordan River was the location for the baptism of Jesus and the ministry of John the Baptist.

After reading this thoroughly, there will be no doubt in your mind why we are proud of our heritage, and you will be proud of a group of people even though you might not be one of us. We have made it possible to have today what you now have: religious freedom.

I wish to make clear to readers that Baptists do not teach or believe that you have to belong to their church to be saved. We do not believe that because we are the people of the book and oldest church in the world, we hold the keys to the kingdom of God, and no one else can preach Jesus.

I want my readers to know that not all the thoughts contained in this book are original. I have received help from many sources, including statements made by Oscar Gibson, former pastor of Eighteenth Street Baptist Church of Louisville, Kentucky; Herschel H. Hobbs, former pastor of First Baptist Church of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; and Dr. Charles Stanley, senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Atlanta, Georgia. They have been gathered over a period of years, and I believe these sources are profitable today. Contributions to this book also came from the following Baptist leaders: Dr. J. M. Pendleton, former professor of theology in Union University; Dr. J. B. Cambrell’s book Baptists and Their Business; Dr. George W. McDaniel, The People Called Baptist; Dr. F. F. Gibson, former pastor of Walnut Street Baptist Church, Louisville, Kentucky; the Baptist Faith and Message of the Southern Baptist Convention; and some great hymn writers.

My whole purpose is to present to you in clear and reasonable arguments the stand that we take as Baptists. While reading this book, you will discover that we are not Protestant and that Baptists have a great heritage. Everyone who wants to understand the fundamental truths of the Baptist faith and message and why I believe what I believe as a Baptist will find it helpful to read this book, and you will refer to it again and again.

Introduction

The Church that Jesus built has not always been called a Baptist Church. We do know, however, that Jesus built His church while He was here on earth with us. And I say also to you, that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My Church and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it (Matthew 16:18). On this day, the Lord changed His name from Simon to Peter, which means a fragment of a rock, immovable mass. Jesus is the Living Solid Rock on which the Redeemed as living stones are built; for other foundation can no man lay (1 Corinthians 3:11). In essence, the Church belongs to Christ, and He is the head (Colossians 1:8). With His Church, the power of death caused by sin shall not prevail against it, because victory was won at the Old Rugged Cross (Matthew 16:21–24). This tells us plainly that He built the Church while He was on earth and not after He ascended. The point I wish to make clear is that the Church Jesus built was not built by the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost, but it was empowered on the Day of Pentecost by the Holy Spirit.

The people who made up this Church that Jesus built were called Christians. And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church, and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch (Acts 11:26). This could well signal the beginning of teaching of the New Covenant as it had been given to Paul by Christ. It was at this place that they received the name of Christians, as followers of Christ, from the outside world and accepted it (Acts 26:28; 1 Peter 4:16). The name Christians was given to them in mockery by the enemies of Christ at Antioch. The name Baptist was given to us in ridicule and mockery by pedobaptist, opponents of the people who rejected the baptism of babies. A pedobaptist is one who advocates infant baptism. According to Church history, this group of people began under Constantine the Great in AD 300. They are not Baptists but are infant baptizers.

Now we come to a most interesting discovery. Out of the seven hundred odd -isms and beliefs in the world, for every one, you can find the date and the name of their human founder. For instance, Martin Luther founded the Lutheran Church; Henry VIII founded the Episcopal Church; John Wesley founded the Methodist Church, although he never left the Church of England; John Calvin founded the Presbyterian Church; Alexander Campbell founded the Disciples, out of which came the Church of Christ and the Christian Church; William Miller founded the Advents, out of which came the Seventh-Day Adventists, Seven-Day Baptists, and the Church of God; and more. This statement may be astonishing, but it is true that there is no personality this side of Jesus Christ who is a satisfactory explanation of Baptists. We originated not at the Reformation, or in the Dark Ages, or in any century after the Apostles. It was a group of Baptists who stood with Christ on Mount Olivet and received their marching orders: Go into all the world and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always to the end of the age (Matthew 28:16–20). As a matter fact, the church in Jerusalem was a Baptist church. As people of the Book (the Bible), the question is yet to be answered: Is there a personality this side of Jesus Christ who is a satisfactory explanation of Baptists? If so, give me the name of the founder of the Baptist and the date they were founded, and have three church historians agree with you—one a Catholic, one a Protestant, and one an atheist. Thus, there is no personality attached to the founding of the Baptist Church.

57564.png

I.  The Church as the Body of Christ

A. The Church

1. The Meaning of the Word Church

The English word church is a translation of the Greek word ekklesia. The word ekklesia comes from two other Greek words, the preposition ek, meaning out or out of, and the verb kalein, meaning to call. Thus the word ekklesia means those who call are called out. The word ekklesia is used 115 times in the New Testament. At least ninety-two times, it refers to the local church. In this sense, the word church includes all believers in Christ of all ages. And I say also to you, that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My Church and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it (Matthew 16:18). The Lord changed his name from Simon to Peter, which means a fragment of a rock, an immovable mass. Jesus is the Living Rock on which the redeemed as living stones are built; no person can lay another foundation (1 Corinthians 3:11). The church belongs to Christ, and He is the head (Colossians 1:18). The church that Jesus built has greater power, and the power of death caused by sin shall not prevail against it; victory was won at the cross.

Let us examine the church that Jesus built. First, the New Testament held to the fact that no one could become a member of the church except by baptism (immersion), and only after they had accepted Christ as their personal Savior. Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them (Acts 2:41). This means some believed what Peter said, gave their hearts to God, and repented of their sins; they were then baptized in water. The incident of the Old Testament is repeated here in the New Testament on the day of Pentecost. It is recorded in Exodus 32:28 that on the first day of Pentecost, the day the Law was given, some three thousand men died, and on this day of Pentecost, due to the cross, some three thousand people were saved.

The scripture says, But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the Kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Now as they went down the road,, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, ‘See, here is water, what hinder me from being baptized?’ Then Philip said, ‘If you believe with all your heart, you may.’ And he answered and said, ‘I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God’ (Acts 8:12, 36–37).

Second, the New Testament churches were independent churches. They were not told by any other church what to do. They were directed by the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. A New Testament church of the Lord Jesus Christ is an autonomous local congregation of baptized believers associated by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the gospel; observing the two ordinances of Christ; governed by His laws; exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His Word; and seeking the gospel to the ends of the earth. Each congregation operates under the Lordship of Christ through democratic processes (1 Peter 5:1–4; Hebrews 11:39–40).

Third, these churches rendered absolute Lordship to Christ. There were no presiding elders, no priests, no pope, and no cardinals to lord it over them.

Fourth, they were characterized by the observance of two ordinances: baptism and the Lord’s Supper. They were merely pictures: baptism (the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ) and the Lord’s Supper (portraying His death until He comes).

2. The Marks and Characteristics That Identify the Baptist Church in the New Testament Church

The church, by definition, is a local visible body of born believers who have been immersed in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and have banded themselves together under the leadership of the Holy Spirit to carry on a visible work and to produce visible results.

(1) The Baptist Church is a New Testament church that acknowledges Christ as the head: For the husband is the head of the wife, as also Christ is the Head of the Church and He is the Savior of the body (Ephesians 5:23). The text refers to the Lord being the Savior of believers, who make up the church. While the husband cannot be the Savior of his wife in redemptive terms, he can be protector and provider.

(2) The Baptist Church relies on His atoning sacrifice and resurrection for justification. And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation (Romans 5:11). For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established (Romans 1:4).

(3) The Baptist Church depends on the Holy Spirit for sanctification and leadership. That I might be a minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:16). Howbeit when He the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: And He will shew you things to come (John 16:13).

(4) The Baptist Church is a church united in belief of the gospel, and that gospel is centered in Christ only. Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men, by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12). The text proclaims unequivocally that Jesus alone holds the key to salvation, and in fact is salvation, which says it all.

(5) The Baptist Church is a church meeting together for worship. Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the day approaching (Hebrews 10:25). It is important that believers in the Baptist Church assemble together, however, the meeting might be conducted, encouraging one another in the faith, especially during these last days.

(6) The Baptist Church is a missionary church. Go therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the age (Matthew 28:19–20). Amen! This particular text applies to any and all who follow Christ, no matter their ages.

3. The Marks That Distinguish the Baptist Church in the New Testament; Is Christ the Head of the New Testament Church?

(1) Christ is the head of the New Testament church. And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be Head over all things to the church, which is His body, fulness of Him who fills all in all (Ephesians 1:22–23). The text suggests that Christ fulfills the destiny for which humankind was originally created. In other words, He is the absolute, ultimate authority because of the old, rugged cross. This indicates that the church has its source of life in Him, sustained and directed by His power, the instrument also by and through which He works. As Christ was the True Israel and is the True Man, He