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The Invasion Of Protestant
Theology
by
William L. Brown
Pastor, Carmichael Baptist Church
Text: I Timothy 3:15
Introduction:
There is an invasion of Protestant theology into the ranks of
Baptists. It is often subtle and slight at first. The invasion is slow but
persistent. It actually had its beginning long before the reformation but it's
systematic conquering of Baptists theology was met with some indifference during
the six4een hundreds. One such invasion came in the form of a much-publicized
confession of faith known as the "Westminster Confession" around 1645.
Some Baptists rewrote parts of it to reflect their differences but enough it
slipped into the theology of Baptists that little difference is seen between
many Presbyterians and many Baptists today. They are so nearly aligned that some
see themselves as co-workers with the same faith and doctrine with a few minor
peculiarities. First we need to understand where Protestant theology had its
beginning. Where did the reformers get their doctrine? Whose disciples were they
before they began a reformation? They were part and parcel with the whore of
Babylon. Their doctrine was Roman Catholic. This system of doctrine is what they
sought to reform. They never went far enough. They would have been better of
casting off the old garments entirely but instead sought to sow new threads into
a garment that was already stained with the blood of God's true people.
THE INVASION INTO THE DOCTRINE OF BAPTISM:
A. The wrong mode:
1. Dipping or immersing is the admitted mode of the ancient churches. Every
Protestant historian and theologian who is honest notes this.
2. Luther, Calvin, and Wesley all admitted immersion was the Biblical
method of Baptism. (Read them explain Romans 6 and other passages)
3. The Greek word for baptism, baptize, etc. is baptiso - meaning to dip or
to immerse. It means to plunge in and take out.
4. There are specific Greek words used for pouring, sprinkling, and washing
and never are any of them used in connection with baptism.
5. Great pains are taken by many to explain why they practice something
other than what the early churches practiced.
B. The wrong design:
1. Why be baptized? To enjoy a covenant relationship? To ensure the
blessings of God upon our children? This is not all that far removed from the
heresy taught by Roman Catholicism which teaches salvation through the church
and through the administrations of her ordinances.
2. They teach they grace of God is conveyed through these ordinances. They
give the emblem the substance of truth conveyed to someone whether they are a
believer or not.
C. The wrong subject:
1. While some will baptize adults, they are taught to baptize their
infants. Unknowing, unwilling, faithless participants.
2. The Bible is clear that those who express faith in a risen Savior, in
Jesus Christ who died for them, who was buried for them, and who was raised up
for them, If thou believest thou mayest be baptized.
a) ACT 8:37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou
mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of
God.
b) MAR 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he
that believeth not shall be damned.
D. The wrong administrator:
1. Where did they receive their baptism? How is it they can simply remove
themselves from the great harlot and presume to baptize. (Graves - Trilemma)
2. Let me ask you a question. What would you do if I sprinkled an infant in
this very church, yet continued on to also immerse adults who professed faith
in Christ?
3. I would hope you would exclude me for heresy. We have Baptist preachers
today who would accept the immersion of a Pedobaptist preacher simply because
he immersed a believer.
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