BAPTIST DOCTRINE BASED ON HISTORICAL BAPTIST DISTINCTIVES … VII. CONCERNING THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH AND THE KINGDOM OF GOD: Shiloh Baptist Church – Statement of Faith – Gwinn, Michigan

VII. CONCERNING THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH AND THE KINGDOM OF GOD: BY Shiloh Baptist Church – Statement of Faith – Gwinn, Michigan

We believe the institution of the church of Christ is a scriptural Baptist (not as a name, but as a doctrine) church that was started and established personally by the Lord Jesus Christ during His earthly ministry (Matt 16:18), and not at Pentecost. The church that Christ formed was both local and visible. (Matt 18:17). We reject the concept of a universal, invisible church, as it weakens the authority of the local churches and is unscriptural. We believe the scripture uses the word “church” in reference to local assemblies (1 Cor 1:2) and in an institutional ( Gal 1:13) or generic sense, (like we or us Heb 10:25). The local Baptist church is to be made up of born again, scripturally baptized believers (Act 2:41) by being a proper candidate (A person who is capable of and having believing faith and is saved), by proper mode (Deep water for total body immersion), and by a properly-authorized and ordained Baptist administrator, who is organized and authorized to carry out the works of the gospel ministry. The church is the house of God and is the pillar and ground of the truth (1 Tim 3:15). We believe that the succession, perpetuity and continuity of the scriptural Baptist church can be traced back to Christ and His apostles (Eph 3:20-21). The mystery of the church is exemplified by the husband and wife relationship, illustrating that Christ is the groom and the church is the bride (Eph 5:30-33). Therefore, marriage is to be between one man and one woman and is to exemplify Christ and His church. It is for this reason that any other view of marriage, other than between one man and one woman, is incompatible with the scriptures and therefore incompatible with the requirements in regard to the membership of this church body.

We believe the Scriptures teach that a Baptist church is a congregation of baptized believers, associated by covenant in the 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 only Scriptural offices of the church today are pastors (elders, bishops, evangelist as church planting pastors), and deacons, whose qualifications, claims, and duties are clearly defined in the New Testament. We also believe that pastors and bishops are called of God and appointed by the Holy Ghost over the flock of which God has made them overseer. We furthermore believe that deacons are not called of God, but rather are chosen of the people and appointed by the pastor for menial tasks, i.e. the needs of widows, orphans and the poor; The true mission of each church is found in the Great Commission; first, to make individual disciples; second, to build up the church by baptizing those believers (repentance before faith and faith before the water); and third, to teach and instruct as He has commanded; that his order cannot be reversed; that each church has the absolute right of self government, free from any interference of any hierarchy of individuals or organizations; that the one and only Head of each church is Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit; that it is Scriptural for churches of like faith and order to co-operate with each other in contending for the faith and for the furtherance of the Gospel, but that every church is the sole and only judge of the measure and method of its co-operation; that in all matters of membership, policy, government, discipline, and benevolence, the will of each church is final.

We believe that the very night that the Lord was betrayed He established the Lord’s Supper. We also believe that on this very night that the Kingdom which God Had appointed to Christ was, in turn, appointed by Christ to the church. For this reason, the church is the executor of the Kingdom of God and of the Last Will and Testament (New Testament) of our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ.

The individuals of a scriptural church body are enabled by the gifts of the Holy Ghost, and, as a body, are enabled individuals. The church was made the executor of the Kingdom when Christ appointed it to the church. For this reason the church is authorized with all power of heaven. With this in mind, the local visible church is the instrument by which the enabled membership, with all power, is to go into the entire world and preach the gospel of the kingdom, baptize and observe all things the Lord commanded.

Acts 2:41,42,47; 5:11; 8:1; 11:31; I Corinthians 4:17; 5:5,11,18; 11:2,23; II Corinthians 8:5,23,24; I Timothy 3:5,15; II Thessalonians 3:7; Romans16:17-20; Matthew 18:15-20; 28:19,20; John 14:15; 15:10; I John 4:21; I Thessalonians 4:2; II John 6; Philippians 1:1; Acts 6:1-6 14:23; 15:22,23; 20:17-28; I Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-9; Ephesians 1:22,23; 3:20-21; 4:11;5:30-33 I Corinthians 12:4,8-11; Acts 6:5,6; Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 5:23,24; I Peter 5:1-4; Jude 3,4; I Corinthians 5:11-13; 6:1-3; Luke 22:2930; Hebrews 6:4-5.