Hoyte Nelson's 

Poems/ Reflections & Biblical Essays

Biblical Essays

Poems & Reflections

Essay

Definitions related to Baptist Doctrines

T - Z         

31. The Trinity:

            God, Who is the eternal,  “One Lord” (Duet. 6: 4; Mk.12: 29); is also “Omniscience,” that is, (all knowing); “Omnipotent;” that is, (all power); and He is “Omnipresent;” that is (ever present). Who is revealed in Scripture as: “Father,” “Son’’ and “Holy Spirit;” thus, the “Trinity.”  Though He is beyond human comprehension; nevertheless, as Father, He is fully God; as Son, He is fully God, and as the Holy Spirit, He is fully God; yet, for our understanding He has revealed Himself as. “Father, Son, and Holy Spirit” – (Trinity). The Apostle John us the clearest picture of the oneness of the triune relationship in chapter one of his Gospel:

Verse one reads: “In the beginning was the Word, ...and the Word was God”

Verse three: “All things were made by Him....”

Verse ten: “And the world knew Him not.

Verse fourteen: “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”

            Jesus Christ is the Son of God: “Emmanuel.” (Isaiah 7: 14); that is, “God with us!”  Jesus is our Emmanuel! As the Son of God, Paul said of Him, “Who was born of the descendant of David, according to the flesh” [Rom.1: 3].

            And so, as recorded in the gospel of John,  “God is with us,” and we, (the disciples) John said, “beheld His (God’s) glory.”

            The Holy Spirit: Jesus said, “It is better that I go away, and if I go not away the Comforter (the Holy Spirit) will not come to you" (John 16: 7).

            If God had not become man, (born in Bethlehem’s Manger), we could not have known Him. And, if He had not sent the Gift of Pentecost, we could not have experienced Him.

            In other words, in the person of the Father, all things are purposed, in the person of the Son, all things are provided, and in the person of the Holy Spirit, all things are brought to pass. (Executed)

32. The Will of God:

            God does not intended for everyone to be a preacher, but God calls all His children to service, depending upon the gift provided by the Holy Spirit. Some seem to find God’s will early in life while others seek His will for long periods of time. God’s will for you may be very simple. You may be holding it in your arms, (working in the nursery); It could be to preach the “Word.”

            (Allow me to clarify very something very important: Some folk seem to think that a “God called preacher” simply walks into the pulpit and God gives him a message form heaven. No, God’s calls men to preach “the Word.” He only anoints the “Word” as it is proclaimed in the power of the Holy Spirit.

33. Why are we part of the Southern Baptist Convention:

            If I had only one word to explain the reason why we are part of the Southern Baptist Convention, it would be “Missions.” What do I mean by the word “mission?” I mean the methods used by Southern Baptists to minister to the lost and needy peoples of the world. That is, form the local church, the Association (which consist generally of a Parish or County), and through our State and Foreign Missions Boards.

            The Southern Baptist Convention was organized in 1845. Until the Civil War, we were a part of the “General Baptist of America” These people, often called by many different names, have paid a great price for our beliefs. (Baptist History, by J. M. Cramp, DD., etc.), and to them we owe a great debt of gratitude. (Though I make no claim to “Baptist Succession,” I do believe that there has always been a people, from New Testament time, who remained as true to what they understood to be the teaching of New Testament doctrines on the fundamentals of the faith, and they passed them down from generation to generation by word of mouth, and without the printed Word).

            Like the word “Christian” [Acts 11:26], Baptist did not choose the name “Baptist,” but was called “Ana-Baptists,” in later years; meaning to re-baptize, and finally, “Baptist” because we practiced baptism “baptizo” by immersion, etc.). [Romans 6: 4,5].   

            We are a part of the Southern Baptist Convention today, because we choose to be a part of a “cause” greater than a local church, and this “cause” is called “missions!”

34. The Cooperative Program:

            The key to the understanding of the Cooperative Program is the word “Cooperation.” We choose to cooperate for the greater cause of spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ. Prior to the adoption of the Cooperative Program, Southern Baptist churches took many offerings for the many needs that we supported.  In 1925 Baptists were trying to pay off seventy five million indebtedness accumulated over many years.

             The question before us (them) was this: How to avoid a repeat of this problem? A committee was appointed to pray and seek an answer to this problem. Born out of much prayer and the seeking of God direction, the Southern Baptist Convention adopted a program of a shared percentage of regular weekly offerings from cooperating churches; the percentage to be determined by each local church. Today, we know the story of God’s mighty blessings upon worldwide missions program through the cooperation of churches in this ministry!

35. What is the “priesthood of the Believer”?

            In the Old Testament, the "priests” were selected to minister at the Altar of Sacrifice, always offering the blood of animals as offerings for the sins of the people. (Ref: the book of Leviticus)  The High Priest would enter “The Holy of Holiest,” containing the Ark of the Covenant, which contained the tablets of stone on which the ten commandments were written. The covering of the Ark of the Covenant” was the “mercy seat” where blood was sprinkled, by the High Priest, as an offering for sin, offered only on the Day of Atonement. Etc.

            In the new covenant (Testament) we have the fulfillment of the old. The old covenant is now complete in Christ Jesus. (Hebrews 8: 13, and 9: 11-15), Christ has now become the final sacrifice, and so the need for earthly priests have been done away.

            Though the need for ”a priest” to offer sacrifices was fulfilled in Christ; now, Christ as our High Priest, is mediating for us before the Throne of God.

            The reason why we believe in the “Priesthood of the Believer,” is because, as believers, we have direct access to God through our High Priest, the Lord Jesus Christ, whom the Bible says is the only “mediator” between God and man.” (1 Tim. 2: 5)

36. What does “Autonomous” mean as it relates to Baptist churches?

            It means self-determination. The reason why this is important to Southern Baptists, unlike so many other denominations, we have no ruling body beyond the local church. As a matter of fact, all authority rests in the local churches through the elected “messengers” to the conventions, etc.

            A very important point of order is our voting procedure in The Southern Baptist Conventions, as well as our State Conventions. Etc., unlike many religious organizations, Baptist have no “delegates.”  We have what are called, “messengers.” elected by the local church. Each Messenger must vote individually as his or her own conscience dictates. Each church should elect only trusted messengers, and each messenger should make their own decision on each issue before the convention, as accountable only to God who is our final authority.