Right Hand of Fellowship

Heaven Past Present Future Ministries

ENCOURAGEMENT TO ETERNAL FOCUS IN UNITY AND FELLOWSHIP OF THE GOSPEL

The Right Hand Of Fellowship

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Introduction

The following is a study of traditional Baptist faith and practice in defense of a pure gospel and baptism as a proper symbol of that gospel – the gospel being “the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes”. Romans 1:16 NASB It is written for my children and grandchildren. It is shared in hopes that more people will stand in the unity of Christ in the ages to come in the kingdom of heaven because they have heard a pure gospel message.

To prevent immediate wrong conclusions this treatise does not teach Baptist only enjoy the hope of heaven in salvation, only hold the gospel in purity, only practice properly the symbol of the gospel in baptism, or only have valid gospel ministers. Further it is recognized there are those who would like to discount and ignore search of Scripture and historical practice of the Lord’s churches on this subject with labels, questions of motivation and misdirection. I have noted in discussions about the preparation of this manuscript many in avoidance of this issue quickly claim Paul’s example as an excuse “to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified.” 1 Corinthians 2:2 NASB While noble to focus only on seeking souls for Christ these may forget the admonition of Jude, “Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.” Jude 3 NASB If we are possessors of the true gospel message of salvation, then even as the Lord led Jude the purity of that message to a lost world is a concern we cannot ignore. As Paul said any other gospel is no gospel at all. Galatians 1

Let it be known this author is neither Landmark nor ecumenical- but only believes the Word of God in attempt to teach and contend earnestly for the faith once delivered unto the saints. The study is neither meant for division, rebuke or correction- but only to increase dialogue among the saints in discovery of truth to preserve a pure gospel message in the generations to come until Jesus return. Our ambition should be as the Berea believers who were more “noble-minded than those in… for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily, to see whether these things were so.” NASB Acts 17:11

There are many today who do not understand historical stands of the Lord’s churches of which Baptist of the past and present continue that preserved for them the pure gospel so they might be saved. This study that contains Scripture and historical content of the faith of the Lord’s churches in these practices may take some time to digest. It is recommended that one first read the article in entirety before reviewing the many expanded references of Scripture, explanations, and historical writings that support the thoughts herein. May our message be unpolluted and may we each contend for the purity of that wonderful gospel of Christ. -

Lamentations 3:40 Let us examine and probe our ways, And let us return to the LORD. NAS

Until Christ returns His disciples will struggle among themselves and others over the acceptance of ordination, baptisms, and other religious rites of other groups who claim Christ. The struggle is not new. In Jesus day the disciples[ii ] wanted Him to stop others who were casting out demons. The book of Acts records where both the Apostle Peter and Apostle Paul testified on several occasions in church gatherings to questions by the Jewish churches over the Gentiles salvation, baptism, and ministry being accepted by the Holy Spirit.

In relative modern times “Baptist” from England[iii ] and America[iv ] continued the views[v ] of the heavily persecuted “Anabaptist[vi ]” from several centuries before them. Those who opposed their practice gave the term “Anabaptist” later shortened to “Baptist” in derision as a label. It was so specified because of their teaching and belief on proper salvation and baptism. In these assemblies, as the Anabaptist[vii ] and diversely named assemblies before them from the time of Christ, these baptized only adult believers. Further, after assuring a true faith in the accurate “gospel[viii ]”, these assemblies required adult believers coming from other groups such as the Catholic[ix ], Protestant[x ], and Pedobaptist[xi ] to be baptized acceptable to the Holy Spirit. This meant rejection of the religious rite of baptism by those ordained in these religious groups. This tradition is still maintained by most Baptist today.

Those who take such a position in practice in a world demanding increased tolerance of religious rites of others inevitably will incur persecution[xii ] of varied forms both now and in the future. This comes not only from the world religious systems, but also from brethren in Christ. As mentioned in the introduction many regardless of gospel purity in an ecumenical spirit of accepting all who religiously claim Christ fly the banner of Paul’s desire expressed to the Corinthians claiming “to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.” NASB I Corinthians 2:2. While a noble claim to focus only on winning the lost for Christ, forgotten is other Holy Spirit inspired Scripture such as the exhortation of Jude saying, “3 Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. 4 For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.” Jude 3-4 NASB

As possessors of the true gospel it is as important as well to contend for the purity of that gospel without condoning those who would change the power of God unto salvation. Therefore the Lord’s churches should look to the Scriptures and consider the historical practices of those of our past for a model to follow in application of such practices so as to stand only and always for truth in approval of God more than men.

Galatians 1:9-10

9 As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to that which you received, let him be accursed. 10 For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ. NASB

[i] Dayton, A. C. in Theodosia Ernest or Heroine of the Faith, 1852. Picture from page 9.

[ii] Mark 9:38-41

38 John said to Him, "Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we tried to hinder him because he was not following us." 39 But Jesus said, "Do not hinder him, for there is no one who shall perform a miracle in My name, and be able soon afterward to speak evil of Me. 40 "For he who is not against us is for us. 41 "For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because of your name as followers of Christ, truly I say to you, he shall not lose his reward. NASB

[iii] Jürgen-Goertz, Hans; Professor of Social and Economic History at the University of Hamburg, Germany, and a leading scholar on the AnaBaptist in The AnaBaptist, 1996, pg. 34.

“It is evident that Anabaptistism in England was not a backwater of fanaticism, isolated in sectarian defensiveness, but that it was a real option in the doctrinal choices of the day. Although these Anabaptist could hardly be described as having a high profile, they were still a symbol of nonconformity in sixteenth-century England and passed on the torch to the Independents, Quakers and Baptists of the seventeenth century. The history of the English Anabaptists, though difficult to write because of the scarcity of the sources, is a further example of how closely Anabaptism conformed to the conditions of its contemporary environment and spared no effort to keep abreast of current developments.”

[iv] Dayton, A. C. in Theodosia Ernest or Heroine of the Faith, 1852. http://www.pbministries.org/Theology/A.%20C.%20Dayton/Theodosia%20Ernest/theodosia_ernest.htm This book was written by A. C. Dayton. Born on September 4, 1813 in New Jersey, at the age of twelve he became a member of the Presbyterian church. Early in life he became a medical doctor but soon gave up his practice due to health reasons and moved to the south for its warmer climate. In 1852 at the age of 39 he became a Baptist. In September 1852, he wrote Theodosia Ernest. Ben Bogard said this was the book, "that brought him fame for all time." He died on June 11, 1865. His grave is located in Perry, Georgia. In volume one Dayton brings forth all the arguments concerning baptism. In volume two he sets forth all the reasons for the Baptist position on the church question.

[v] Horst, Irvin B., The Radical Brethren. Anabaptism and the English Reformation to 1558, 1972, pg. 174.

“Anabaptism was introduced into England from the Netherlands by a religious refugee between 1532 and 1535, fell of ground already prepared by Lollardy and to some extend blended with it to become an indigenous movement.”

[vi] Anabaptist as a label or a term of description was formed from two Greek works: “ana” meaning, “again” and “baptize” meaning, “immerse.”

[vii] Jürgen-Goertz, Hans in The AnaBaptist, 1996, pg. 7.

“The common distinguishing feature of these movements was a critique of infant baptism and the practice of a baptism of faith and confession. For this reason their members were termed ‘Anabaptist’.”

[viii] Romans 1:16-17, 1 Corinthians 15:1-4

Romans 1:16-17

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "But the righteous man shall live by faith." NAS

1 Corinthians 15:1-4

15:1 Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, NAS

[ix] Catholic in the Greek means “universal”. Roman Catholic referred to the Roman government endorsed system consisting of all Catholics as one universal system.

[x] Protestant so named because these as part of the Catholic system protested as reformers of the Catholic system at first and then eventually started new State churches of the Reformation in their respective countries. Baptist by practice have never been Protestant.

[xi] Pedobaptist practiced baptism of infants adding the sacrament of the rite of baptism as part of the gospel of salvation to those who received it.

[xii] Jürgen-Goertz, Hans in The AnaBaptist, 1996, pg. 7.

“Another feature which they shared was the fact that wherever they appeared they inspired social unrest and as a result were ruthlessly persecuted.”

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