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Most Baptists do not believe that baptism is a requirement for salvation but rather a public expression of inner repentance and faith. [6] In general, Baptist churches do not have a stated age restriction on membership, but believer's baptism requires that an individual be able to freely and earnestly profess their faith. [62]
Baptists practice believer's baptism and the Lord's Supper (communion) as the ordinances instituted in Scripture (Matthew 28:19; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26). [5] [additional citation(s) needed] Most Baptists call them "ordinances" (meaning "obedience to a command that Christ has given us") [6] [7] instead of "sacraments" (activities God uses to impart salvation or a means of grace to the participant).
In 1702, a disorganized group of General Baptists in Carolina wrote a request for help to the General Baptist Association in England. Though no help was forthcoming, Paul Palmer, whose wife Johanna was the stepdaughter of Benjamin Laker, founded the first "Free Will" Baptist church in Chowan, North Carolina in 1727.
He found that the greatest number of Baptist churches at that time were Regular Baptist churches. [2] In the 1800s, the term Regular Baptist came to describe the Free Baptists. [2] This was a surprising change as the term regular initially described the opposing position to the Free Baptists (i.e., particular atonement).
The last thing Southern Baptists want is the government telling folks what to believe." Terry Mattingly is a journalist and teacher who focuses on religion and continues to study both writing and ...
[2] [3] [4] Baptists adhere to a congregationalist structure, so local church congregations are generally self-regulating and autonomous, meaning that their broadly Christian religious beliefs can and do vary. Baptists make up a significant portion of evangelicals in the United States (although many Baptist groups are classified as mainline ...
Free grace theologies hold that things such as turning from sin, baptism, or perseverance in the faith are not necessary for salvation, but instead hold that these things are necessary for eternal rewards. [97] Free grace writers generally agree that good works do not play a role in meriting, maintaining, or proving eternal life.
For the majority of Baptists, Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. [189] [190] Baptism does not accomplish anything in itself, but is an outward personal sign that the person's sins have already been washed away by the blood of Christ's cross. [191]