Baptist churches in Chesapeake VA and indeed all over the world have become so many. It is estimated that there are over one hundred different groups that claim to be a subtype of the Baptist church. Many of these churches appear to hold conflicting beliefs and even practices. It therefore becomes necessary to examine the principle distinctive features that are acceptable in these streams of churches.
Baptist churches regard the New Testament part of the word of God to be the final authority concerning all matters touching of faith. This is because the institution of churches was an idea that only came in the time of the New Testament. This was after the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came down after Jesus had gone to heaven.
They also believe that Jesus Christ is the overall head of the church. The church is considered to be a bride to Jesus who will come back to take it after some time. The bible is believed to be the only word of God and is complete with no other new ideas are acceptable for addition.
The members of Baptist churches must all be born again. They must also be baptized in plenty of water like Christ did at river Jordan. Salvation comes through a personal belief in Christ that he died and rose again. It must be accompanied by a public confession of believing Christ. Young children are exempted from being saved until when they are mature to understand the matters of religion. Before then it is belief that they are under the grace and mercy of God.
There is also a strong belief in separation of the church institution from the ruling state. They believe that no power or authority is higher than the word of God. Therefore the church must not be in anyway controlled or manipulated by state in their operations. They however believe in elections and participation in civil authority directly or through prayers so that the nation stays in peace.
The Baptist church also believes that every saved Christian is a priest by himself. This means that there is no need to have any mediator for one to ask for forgiveness or even in praying for different issues. The basis of this being that the barrier that prevented people from accessing their God as symbolized by the temple curtain was broken through the death of Jesus. So everybody is justified to talk to God in prayer directly.
There is also the belief of autonomy of local churches. This is to mean that local church is to be governed solely by the word of God through one leader called a pastor. There must not be a higher group that overlooks the affairs of that church to give directions. The issues of hierarchy and popes as the overall leaders are therefore rejected.
Baptist churches in Chesapeake VA believe in the words of the bible as a whole. They believe that the old as well as the New Testaments were all inspired by God. The older testament serves to remind Christians of how God handled people long before Jesus came with the issues of grace.
Baptist churches regard the New Testament part of the word of God to be the final authority concerning all matters touching of faith. This is because the institution of churches was an idea that only came in the time of the New Testament. This was after the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came down after Jesus had gone to heaven.
They also believe that Jesus Christ is the overall head of the church. The church is considered to be a bride to Jesus who will come back to take it after some time. The bible is believed to be the only word of God and is complete with no other new ideas are acceptable for addition.
The members of Baptist churches must all be born again. They must also be baptized in plenty of water like Christ did at river Jordan. Salvation comes through a personal belief in Christ that he died and rose again. It must be accompanied by a public confession of believing Christ. Young children are exempted from being saved until when they are mature to understand the matters of religion. Before then it is belief that they are under the grace and mercy of God.
There is also a strong belief in separation of the church institution from the ruling state. They believe that no power or authority is higher than the word of God. Therefore the church must not be in anyway controlled or manipulated by state in their operations. They however believe in elections and participation in civil authority directly or through prayers so that the nation stays in peace.
The Baptist church also believes that every saved Christian is a priest by himself. This means that there is no need to have any mediator for one to ask for forgiveness or even in praying for different issues. The basis of this being that the barrier that prevented people from accessing their God as symbolized by the temple curtain was broken through the death of Jesus. So everybody is justified to talk to God in prayer directly.
There is also the belief of autonomy of local churches. This is to mean that local church is to be governed solely by the word of God through one leader called a pastor. There must not be a higher group that overlooks the affairs of that church to give directions. The issues of hierarchy and popes as the overall leaders are therefore rejected.
Baptist churches in Chesapeake VA believe in the words of the bible as a whole. They believe that the old as well as the New Testaments were all inspired by God. The older testament serves to remind Christians of how God handled people long before Jesus came with the issues of grace.
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