Cornerstone Independent Baptist Church
9/30/26 Wednesday Evening Service

  • Review:

    Turn to 1 Timothy 3:15

    Chapter thirteen: What Is A Baptist?

    This is the final chapter of our series. What is a Baptist, and why does it matter?
    It matters because contrary to popular opinion, not every church is alike.
    Across denominational lines, churches vary in a multitude of ways:
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    Churches vary in…
    Doctrine
    Philosophy
    Purpose
    Organization/structure
    Each of these are critical areas of a church. A church should clearly teach what it is and where it stands. That is our objective tonight - to enable you to simply explain who we are and what makes us distinct as a local church.

    Baptist History

    At least three theories of where Baptists originated:
    John the Baptist - “Baptist Briders” or “Landmarkism” or “Baptist successionism”
    From Protestantism
    From among the Anabaptists - Anabaptists were “heretics” that existed for many years outside of the RCC and before Protestantism in the 1500’s.
    *The name “Baptist” originated in England in the 1600’s, but the beliefs existed among some Anabaptists long before the name “Baptist” was coined.
    Read all of page 83.
    As we go through this list, if it sparks a deeper question, ask a question or fill out a question card…
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    B - Bible authority in all matters of faith and practice
    Read 2 Timothy 3:14-17
    We can see from this passage that…
    Paul’s ministry was one of teaching the Scriptures
    The Scriptures show us the way of salvation - Jesus
    The Old Testament was God-breathed Scripture and Paul and Peter and the other writers knew that God was using them to write Scriptures (2 Peter 3:15-16) that were profitable in all the ways Paul mentions.
    Almost all churches would say they value the Scriptures, but many lend equal authority to man’s tradition and extrabiblical writings. We strive to consistently look to the Scriptures as our sole authority.
    What makes Cornerstone distinct from many other churches in this region?
    Biblical Authority
    And…
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    A - Autonomy or self-governing power of the local church
    Our church does not function under any hierarchy of other churches or denominational organization. We independently function under the leadership of Christ and His Word.
    1 Timothy 3:15 KJV 1900
    But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
    A New Testament example of this in practice is when Paul directed the church at Corinth in what to do concerning the believer that was living in open sin.
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    1 Corinthians 5:4–5 KJV 1900
    In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
    It was the body of believers who were together responsible to remove the sinning individual from the protection of the church. This responsibility suggests a church vote and removal from membership since he had not voluntarily done so already.
    Turn to and read Titus 1:5
    Why did Titus travel throughout Crete to ordain elders or pastors in every city? So that they could function autonomously under the leadership of a pastor.
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    P - Priesthood (direct access to God) of each believer
    Turn to and read Hebrews 4:14-16
    I may joke about it a little bit, but we do not have a Baptist confessional booth in our church. If you are saved, you have a personal relationship with God. He created you to know Him and bring glory to Him.
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    T - Two Christ-ordained offices within the church
    Christ has clearly given us two positions of servant leadership within the local church - pastor and deacon. 1 Timothy chapter three and Titus chapter two outline this.
    Turn to and read 1 Peter 5:1-3
    The pastor is supposed to be a spiritually mature man who oversees the church and cares for its members’ spiritual lives. - Pastor Paul Frederick, The Baptist Distinctives and Why They Matter, page 36
    “A shepherd leads the flock; he does not drive it.” - Pastor Tom Brennan
    Speaking very broadly, that’s the responsibility of the pastor. Here’s your responsibility to the pastor.
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    Hebrews 13:17 KJV 1900
    Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
    As a church member, my guess is that you are sobered by the first part of that verse. But as a pastor, I am sobered by the second part.
    Application: I very plainly have a responsibility to lead. You as a church member very plainly have a responsibility to follow. But hear me in what I am about to say: Both roles are very closely watched by Jesus Christ and we will give account for how we fulfill our respective rules.
    How do I know if he is a Spirit-lead man? You must be Spirit-lead yourself.
    There is much confusion in churches surrounding the role of deacons today when there ought not be. Deacons are servants. The Biblical examples indicate that,
    …the purpose of deacons is to help churches reach more people, minister to more people, and to grow. They are able to take some of the burden of daily ministry off the pastor and to ensure the needs of the entire congregation are being met. - Pastor Paul Frederick, The Baptist Distinctives and Why They Matter, page 36-37
    Resume study here on Wednesday, 9/30/26
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    I - Individual soul liberty
    *Also called liberty of conscience
    Individual soul liberty…is the belief that every born-again believer has the ability to decide for themselves how best to apply Bible principles and will give account to God alone for those decisions. - Pastor Paul Frederick, The Baptist Distinctives and Why They Matter, page 39
    This belief is based on the fact that we have direct access to God and personal responsibility before God.
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    Romans 5:1-2, Hebrews 4:14-16, Romans 14:10-12
    This distinctive does not give us blanket excuse to go and live as we please or individually think. Fundamentally, it is limited by the authority of Scripture.
    Some limits to individual soul liberty:
    The Faith demands a conformity - Jude 3.
    Paul encouraged others to continue in the doctrine that he taught - 2 Timothy 3:14
    God does not intend for any believer to live on their own spiritual island.
    New Testament ethics and morals - Sermon on the Mount, 1 Corinthians 13.
    Effects of liberty on others - Romans 14:7; 1 Corinthians 8:7-13
    Local church discipline - Matthew 18:15-17
    What others think - 1 Corinthians 10:29, 32
    - Dr. Bob Dalton, Baptist History Class Notes, “Soul Liberty”
    Example of application: whether or not you choose to use social media is your decision. You have liberty to use social media, but you do not have liberty to post whatever you want.
    Why? Because you are an ambassador for Christ so there are limits to your liberty.
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    S - Saved and baptized membership only
    Unlike many other churches across Pennsylvania, infants cannot become members of our church. We love them! We want lots of them! But they can’t be members.
    To become a member of our church, you must have made a decision to trust Christ alone for salvation. You must have followed the Lord in believers baptism, and you must be in agreement with the constitution, doctrinal statement, and covenant of our church.
    Besides that, there are expectations of church members: faithful attendance, faithful service, etc.
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    T - Two ordinances given to the local church
    What is an ordinance? (We’re not talking about rockets and bombs.)
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    Ordinance: “a biblical practice exercised in the local church”
    - Dr. Paul Chappell, First Steps For New Christians, page 84
    There are two ordinances that are clearly mandated in the New Testament:
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    Baptism - Matthew 28:19-20
    The Lord’s Supper - 1 Corinthians 11:24
    We practice and administer these together as a local church.
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    S - Separation of church and state
    This does not mean that Christians must stay out of government! It means government must stay out of the local church!
    The state should have no power to intervene in the free expression of religious liberty. - Dr. Paul Chappell, First Steps For New Christians, page 86
    We as Christians ought to be salt and light in every area of our community - including government.

    Conclusion

    If you agree with these distinctives, I encourage you to join together with this church family in membership.
    Why?
    It’s the biblical pattern
    They had an organized membership in the early church. They numbered themselves. They numbered the new converts. They numbered the total church. They had an identifiable, organized membership. Notice how many times the word “number” appears in the book of Acts in the context of counting how many people were a part of the churches.
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    Acts 1:15 KJV 1900
    And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,)
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    Acts 1:17 KJV 1900
    For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry.
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    Acts 1:26 KJV 1900
    And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
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    Acts 4:4 KJV 1900
    Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand.
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    Acts 6:1 KJV 1900
    And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.
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    Acts 11:21 KJV 1900
    And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord.
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    1 Timothy 5:9 KJV 1900
    Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years old, having been the wife of one man,
    Widows could be “taken into the number” only under certain conditions.
    The Bible Knowledge Commentary 5:9–10

    Widows may be put on the list if they meet three primary qualifications. What exactly this list involved is not known.

    The Bible Knowledge Commentary 5:9–10

    more likely it was a [list] of those widows who were to receive assistance from the congregation.

    Altogether, it seems best to understand that the early church utilized some method of organization or numbering to clearly account for who was part of the church and who was not. By this membership, they could number new converts, care for the widows, and conduct church discipline. I am convinced that membership is the biblical pattern.
    It facilitates your obedience to the Lord
    Try being the Christian that God wants you to be without being active in a local church. You can’t.
    It fosters spiritual encouragement and accountability
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    Hebrews 13:17 KJV 1900
    Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
    Above all others, a pastor is accountable for those who have voluntarily committed themselves to the local church. Church membership is how Hebrews 13:17 becomes a reality.
    It enables greater opportunities of service and preparation for the Judgment Seat Of Christ

      • 1 Corinthians 5:4–5KJV1900

      • Hebrews 13:17KJV1900

      • Acts 1:15KJV1900

      • Acts 1:17KJV1900

      • Acts 1:26KJV1900

      • Acts 4:4KJV1900

      • Acts 6:1KJV1900

      • Acts 11:21KJV1900

      • 1 Timothy 5:9KJV1900

      • Hebrews 13:17KJV1900

Cornerstone Independent Baptist Church
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