IBCSR Baptist Distinctives
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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 confes- sions 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. These ordinances are discussed further in our church polity. Matthew 28:19, 20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-32
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 confes- sions 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. These ordinances are discussed further in our church polity. 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.
I 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- 20. Neither should control the other, nor should there be an alliance between the two. Christians in a free society can properly influence government towards righteousness, which is not the same as a denomination or group of churches controlling
the government.
Matthew 22:15-22; Acts 15:17-29
Freewill Offerings are the Finances of the Church
We do not believe in any unbiblical giving that is being preached today.
We believe in freewill giving. That is giving according as one purposeth in his
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.
I 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- 20. Neither should control the other, nor should there be an alliance between the two. Christians in a free society can properly influence government towards righteousness, which is not the same as a denomination or group of churches controlling
the government.
Matthew 22:15-22; Acts 15:17-29
Freewill Offerings are the Finances of the Church
We do not believe in any unbiblical giving that is being preached today.
We believe in freewill giving. That is giving according as one purposeth in his
heart. We also believe that the more a person surrenders his will to God and the
more sensitive we are to the Holy Spirit, the more He will help us determine the
right amount of giving to the church. We believe that the LORD will provide for his
church through faithful stewardship of the members.
II Corinthians 9:7
Assembly in Visible Form is the Nature of the Local Church
We oppose the universal invisible, universal visible and even satellite church forms. We believe that a church is local, proven by the epistles of the Apostles. They are addressed to a local assembly and never in a universal sense. We believe that when believers gather together to worship God, it is local and visible. Hebrews 10:25; I Corinthians 5:4; I Corinthians 16:1; Acts 20
Congregational Form of Government
We believe that the LORD’s design for the church is to be governed by Jesus Christ through saved, baptized and faithful membership. Jesus Christ is the head of the church and we oppose that He will rule through one person only, the pastor. Calling a pastor and deacons, conducting discipline and restoration, are all given to the authority of the body. Ordinances are given to the entire church. The letters of the apostle Paul are addressed to whole churches and not to one single individual controlling the church with the exemptions of the pastoral epistles. We support the priesthood of every believer and that every believer in the church can make Biblical decisions for the body. We can see this in the early church practice in Acts chapter 6.
Colossians 1:18; 1 Peter 2:9; Acts 6; Matthew 18:16; 28;
I Corinthians 11; Acts 13
Evangelical in the Work of the Great Commission
A true Biblical church is involved in missions, that is evangelizing the world through supporting missionaries in prayers and finances and sending out men to the mission field. We believe that a church that is not strongly involved in missions is a church outside of God’s will.
Matthew 28
You can download the pdf file by clicking here
II Corinthians 9:7
Assembly in Visible Form is the Nature of the Local Church
We oppose the universal invisible, universal visible and even satellite church forms. We believe that a church is local, proven by the epistles of the Apostles. They are addressed to a local assembly and never in a universal sense. We believe that when believers gather together to worship God, it is local and visible. Hebrews 10:25; I Corinthians 5:4; I Corinthians 16:1; Acts 20
Congregational Form of Government
We believe that the LORD’s design for the church is to be governed by Jesus Christ through saved, baptized and faithful membership. Jesus Christ is the head of the church and we oppose that He will rule through one person only, the pastor. Calling a pastor and deacons, conducting discipline and restoration, are all given to the authority of the body. Ordinances are given to the entire church. The letters of the apostle Paul are addressed to whole churches and not to one single individual controlling the church with the exemptions of the pastoral epistles. We support the priesthood of every believer and that every believer in the church can make Biblical decisions for the body. We can see this in the early church practice in Acts chapter 6.
Colossians 1:18; 1 Peter 2:9; Acts 6; Matthew 18:16; 28;
I Corinthians 11; Acts 13
Evangelical in the Work of the Great Commission
A true Biblical church is involved in missions, that is evangelizing the world through supporting missionaries in prayers and finances and sending out men to the mission field. We believe that a church that is not strongly involved in missions is a church outside of God’s will.
Matthew 28
You can download the pdf file by clicking here
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