Baptist History, Heritage and Distinctives – D.B. Ray – Equality in the Kingdom Part THREE of THREE – Section I. — Baptist peculiarity fifth tested by THE bible.

Thomas E Kresal January 1, 2020

Baptist History, Heritage and Distinctives – D.B. Ray – Equality in the Kingdom Part THREE of THREE – Section I. — Baptist peculiarity fifth tested by THE bible.

The only way to become great in the kingdom of Jesus, is to be a great servant. Every minister is equal in point of privilege with every other member of the church ; but, as a minister in his official capacity, he is subject to, and inferior to the church. His individual acts or decisions have no more binding force than those of any other member. It appears, from the Scriptures, that all the true members of the churches in the kingdom of Christ, have equal privileges in the following particulars : First: The true members of the kingdom of Christ have been made equally free from the bondage of sin.

Jesus said (John 8:36): “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.”

And this spiritual freedom applies to all classes, male and female, bond and free. Second: They are all equally the children of God; the apostle says: (Gal. 3:26-29):

“ For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”

Thus we find, that all true members of the church are equally the children of God, and equal heirs according to the promise, without any reference whatever to sex or position in society.

Thomas E. Kresal from: Baptist Succession by D.B. Ray, Chapter XII, page 212-13