A History of the Baptists by John T. Christian

1.4 Baptist origins in the United Kingdom.

Many Baptists cooperate through the Baptist World Alliance. The largest Baptist denomination is the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), with the membership of associated churches totaling more than 15 million. Baptist missionaries have spread their faith to every continent. In the 18th and 19th centuries, the First and Second Great Awakening increased church membership in the United States. In 1638, Roger Williams established the first Baptist congregation in the North American colonies. Helwys died in prison as a consequence of the religious persecution of English dissenters under King James I. Thomas Helwys formulated a distinctively Baptist request that the church and the state be kept separate in matters of law, so that individuals might have freedom of religion. Baptist practice spread to England, where the General Baptists considered Christ's atonement to extend to all people, while the Particular Baptists believed that it extended only to the elect. In accordance with his reading of the New Testament, he rejected baptism of infants and instituted baptism only of believing adults. Historians trace the earliest 'Baptist' church to 1609 in Amsterdam, Dutch Republic with English Separatist John Smyth as its pastor. ĭiverse from their beginning, those identifying as Baptists today differ widely from one another in what they believe, how they worship, their attitudes toward other Christians, and their understanding of what is important in Christian discipleship. Baptist churches are widely considered to be Protestant, though some Baptists disavow this identity.

Baptists generally recognize two ordinances: baptism and the Lord's supper. Baptist churches also generally subscribe to the tenets of soul competency/liberty, salvation through faith alone, scripture alone as the rule of faith and practice, and the autonomy of the local congregation.

Even the wickedness of ungodly men is restricted by predestination, so that the wrath of man shall praise God, and the remainder of wrath He will restrain.Baptists are Christians distinguished by baptizing professing believers only ( believer's baptism, as opposed to infant baptism), and doing so by complete immersion (as opposed to affusion or sprinkling). 'To our mind, either everything or nothing must be held in subjection to the will and providence of God.

Christian (JT Christian / John Tyler Christian)

A History of the Baptists by John T. Christian