The Baptist Church was founded in 1609 by John Smyth in Amsterdam after he separated from the Anglican Church over the issue of infant baptism. Smyth started the first Baptist church, baptizing himself and his followers by immersion. However, he later renounced his Baptist views and tried to join the Mennonite Church before his death. Baptist churches today differ in their beliefs and doctrines from what is taught in the New Testament and from each other.

1. THE CHURCHES/KINGDOMS OF MEN
THE BAPTIST CHURCH
• In our previous studies, we noted that in Matt
16:18-19 Jesus said he would build His
church/kingdom. His church/kingdom is not of
this world per John 18:36. It is spiritual in
nature. He built only one per Eph 1:22-23 & 4:4.
• In Acts 2:47 we noted that on Pentecost in about
AD33, the Lord added to the church those being
saved who had repented and were baptized
according to the gospel preached by Peter on
that day.
1

2. THE CHURCHES/KINGDOMS OF MEN
THE BAPTIST CHURCH
• We also noted that those Colossians who had
been baptized (immersed in water – Acts 8:36),
were buried and then rose with Him in baptism.
They were dead in trespasses, had been
quickened or made alive with him and were
forgiven of their sins by the Lord Col 2:11-13.
• We noted that upon their obedience to the
gospel, the Colossians were translated into the
kingdom of His dear Son per Col 1:13
2

3. THE CHURCHES/KINGDOMS OF MEN
THE BAPTIST CHURCH
• The Lord built His church/kingdom in the first
century exactly the way He wanted it.
• According to Luke 1:33 there shall be no end
to the Lord’s church/kingdom.
• We noted that in the first century there were
local churches of Christ per Rom 16:16 and
that the same pattern of teaching was taught
in every local church (1 Cor 4:17; 2 Tim 1:13)
3

4. THE CHURCHES/KINGDOMS OF MEN
THE BAPTIST CHURCH
• Since the first century, uninspired men have
sought to build their own churches and have
regulated them according to their own
doctrine and commandments. See Matt 15:9
• John wrote in 2 John 9 that those who do not
abide in the doctrine of Christ do not have
God.
• In John 6:46, the Lord asks why those call
Him Lord and don’t do what He says.
4

5. THE CHURCHES/KINGDOMS OF MEN
THE BAPTIST CHURCH
• This will be another of numerous studies
examining the churches of men.
• We will note when they were established, who
established them and some of their doctrine
that contradicts the truth as written by the
inspired apostles in the New Testament. These
churches are not the Lord’s.
• Psalm 127:1 Except the LORD build the house,
they labour in vain that build it: ……
5

6. THE CHURCHES/KINGDOMS OF MEN
THE BAPTIST CHURCH
• Date of Origin 1608 or 1609
• Founder John Smyth – b 1570, d 1612
• Name General Baptist Church
• Location Amsterdam Holland
• http://www.reformedreader.org/smyth.htm
6

7. THE CHURCHES/KINGDOMS OF MEN
THE BAPTIST CHURCH
• John Smyth was ordained an Anglican priest
in 1594.
• He became increasingly frustrated with the
various churches – of Rome, of Luther, Calvin,
Zwingli and especially his own Church of
England, rejecting infant baptism which they
practiced.
• So, in 1600, he renounced Anglicanism
completely.
7

8. THE CHURCHES/KINGDOMS OF MEN
THE BAPTIST CHURCH
• He practiced medicine for a few years and then
joined a group of like-minded Separatists who
wanted to create a church of believers unbound
by the rules of the established churches.
• Their goal was to “walk in all his [Christ’s] ways,
make known or to be made known among them
. . . whatever it might cost them.”
• It ultimately cost them their country.
8

9. THE CHURCHES/KINGDOMS OF MEN
THE BAPTIST CHURCH
• Because of persecution by the Church of
England, John Smyth and his 50 or so followers
fled to Amsterdam in 1606.
• While there, he recited a confession of faith and
then first baptized (immersed) himself. For
doing so, Amsterdam Separatist Richard Bernard
nicknamed him a “se-baptist” (self baptizer). He
then baptized his other followers, forming the
first English General Baptist Church.
9

10. THE CHURCHES/KINGDOMS OF MEN
THE BAPTIST CHURCH
• Though his followers preferred to be called
“Christians Baptized on Confession of Their
Faith”, they were known primarily by the
shorter derogatory term as “se-baptist”.
• Eventually, they further shortened their
name to “Baptist” which removed the
derogatory part of the name and the term
stuck.
10

11. THE CHURCHES/KINGDOMS OF MEN
THE BAPTIST CHURCH
• There was a rather large number of
Separatists in Amsterdam which was known
for its religious tolerance.
• But Smyth didn’t agree with them
completely. He opposed using English
translations in worship, psalm singing,
sermon reading and the collection of
offerings. All supported by the NT.
11

12. THE CHURCHES/KINGDOMS OF MEN
THE BAPTIST CHURCH
• Nevertheless, his stated purpose was to create a
church like the one described in Acts.
• He believed each congregation, not its officers,
was the highest authority, next to God, and he
wrote this in his 1607 work Principles and
Inferences Concerning the Visible Church.
• He believed the Bible only allowed for
bishops/elders and deacons and these were
subject to the congregation. He was right in this
case.
12

13. THE CHURCHES/KINGDOMS OF MEN
THE BAPTIST CHURCH
• As noted, some of his beliefs were in
accordance to the NT. Others were in conflict
with it.
• Before his death, he abandoned his Baptist
views and tried to get his group to join the
Mennonite Church, generally regarded at the
time as a Baptist Church, even though they
sprinkle instead of immersing. Many did so
after his death.
13

14. THE CHURCHES/KINGDOMS OF MEN
THE BAPTIST CHURCH
• It should be noted that all Baptists claim that
the church of the first century was essentially
Baptist. G.H Orchard in his History of Foreign
Baptists stated “all Christian communities
during the first three centuries were of the
Baptist denomination in constitution and
practice. “
• Of course their name does not appear in the
NT and Paul condemns division per 1 Cor 1:10
14

15. THE CHURCHES/KINGDOMS OF MEN
THE BAPTIST CHURCH
• Most General Baptists adhere to the beliefs of James
Arminius whose doctrine was labeled Arminianism. He
taught that Christ died for all, but man has not from
himself or of his own free will any saving faith without
being born again and renewed by God in Christ through
His Holy Spirit so that he may be able to understand, think
wish and perform something good.
• It is this grace of God which begins, promotes and perfects
everything good to such a degree that even the
regenerate man without this preceding grace can neither
think, wish or do any good thing, nor resist any evil
temptation. This grace however is not irresistible which is
contrary to Calvinism.
15

16. THE CHURCHES/KINGDOMS OF MEN
THE BAPTIST CHURCH
• Most other Baptist Churches except for those labeled Free Will
ascribe to Calvinism which is known by the term TULIP.
• Total Depravity of Man – Men are born depraved inheriting sin
from their parents, unable to think a good thought or do a good
deed.
• Unconditional Election – God decided which individuals were elect
before creation and which were lost, the number unchangeable.
• Limited Atonement – Christ died only for the elect
• Irresistible Grace – God’s grace and salvation cannot effectively be
resisted since the Holy Spirit accomplishes it.
• Perseverance of the Saints – Since God selected the elect by His
irresistible grace and salvation, the elect cannot fall and be lost.
16

17. THE CHURCHES/KINGDOMS OF MEN
THE BAPTIST CHURCH
• Most all Baptist churches publish Articles of Faith,
Confessions of Faith or other writings that contain
what they believe and teach.
• The Southern Baptist Convention publishes the
Baptist Faith and Message. The current one is at
http://www.sbc.net/bfm2000/bfm2000.asp
• The National Baptist Convention publishes their
Articles of Faith at
http://www.nationalbaptist.com/about-us/what-we-
believe.html
• Free Will Baptists publish What We Believe at
http://nafwb.org/about/what-we-believe-2/
17

18. THE CHURCHES/KINGDOMS OF MEN
THE BAPTIST CHURCH
• The Southern Baptist Faith and Message says
• “All true believers endure to the end. Those
whom God has accepted in Christ, and sanctified
by His Spirit, will never fall away from the state
of grace, but shall persevere to the end.”
• The Bible says in 1 Tim 4:1 that in the latter
times some shall depart from the faith….
• In Heb 12:15 some may fail of the grace of God..
18

19. THE CHURCHES/KINGDOMS OF MEN
THE BAPTIST CHURCH
• The National Baptist Convention says
“justification … is bestowed, not in
consideration of any works of righteousness
which we have done, but solely through faith
in the Redeemer's blood;..”
• The Bible says in James 2:24 “Ye see then
how that by works a man is justified, and not
by faith only.”
19

20. THE CHURCHES/KINGDOMS OF MEN
THE BAPTIST CHURCH
• The National Association of Free Will Baptists says
“Man, being tempted by Satan, yielded and willfully
disobeyed God, becoming a sinner and incurring
God’s judgment upon sin. All of Adam’s descendants
inherit his fallen nature and thus have a natural
inclination to sin. “
• The Bible says in Matt 10:14 “…Suffer the little
children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of
such is the kingdom of God.”
• Children do not inherit their parent’s sins. Their
hearts become evil from their youth, not their birth
per Gen 8:21.
20

21. THE CHURCHES/KINGDOMS OF MEN
THE BAPTIST CHURCH
• All churches of men suffer the same problem.
• Psalm 127:1 Except the LORD build the house, they
labour in vain that build it: ……
• Matt 15:9But in vain they do worship me, teaching
for doctrines the commandments of men.
• 1 Cor 4:6 Now these things, brethren, I have in a
figure transferred to myself and Apollos for your
sakes; that in us ye might learn not (to go) beyond the
things which are written; that no one of you be
puffed up for the one against the other.
21

22. THE CHURCHES/KINGDOMS OF MEN
THE BAPTIST CHURCH
• 2 Pet 1:3 According as his divine power hath given
unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness,
through the knowledge of him that hath called us to
glory and virtue:
• Rev 22:18 For I testify unto every man that heareth
the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man
shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him
the plagues that are written in this book:
• 19 And if any man shall take away from the words of
the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his
part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city,
and from the things which are written in this book.
22

23. THE CHURCHES/KINGDOMS OF MEN
THE BAPTIST CHURCH
• Since God has given us all things that pertain to life
and godliness and we are not to add to or take away
from what He has given us, all of the Confessions of
Faith, Articles of Faith, etc are unnecessary and in fact
condemned by Jesus in Matthew 15:8-9.
• The Baptist Churches, like all other denominations,
are simply the churches of men which Jesus never
built nor sanctioned. Their worship is vain and they
do not have God per 2 John 9. Let their members
examine themselves whether they are in the faith of
the NT as Paul admonishes in 2 Cor 13:5.
23

24. THE CHURCHES/KINGDOMS OF MEN
THE BAPTIST CHURCH
• The Lord is clear on what one must do to be saved.
• John 8:24 Believe
• Lk 13:3 & 5 Repent
• Lk 12:8 Confess
• Mk 16:16 Baptized (Immersed)
• Acts 8:36 In Water
• Rom 6:17-18 Obeyed that form of
doctrine ..then made free
from sin
• Acts 2:41 & 47 The Lord adds the obedient to
His Church
24