After the transgression, Adam and his help meet realized that they were naked, and they went . and hid themselves after making aprons of fig leaves.   But here is scripture.

And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?

LISTEN! Where are you now in the sight of God? If you are a saved person, you are standing justified before God, clothed in the righteousness of the Son of God. IF YOU ARE A SINNER, you are naked before the Lord. There isn’t anything that will clothe your naked soul before the Al­mighty Creator but the righteousness of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. You will find what the scriptures teach concerning this in part 2 of this chapter.

God told the serpent (satan) because of what he had done, he would place a curse upon him. The woman was told that her sorrow would be greatly multiplied, and that in her sorrow she would bring forth children.

Eve brought forth children unto Adam, and these also begat sons and daughters. From this first family the entire world has been populated. This is the reason that all are born in sin.

TRUE BAPTISTS BELIEVE THIS. Why? Because the Bible teaches it as I have given scrip­tures to prove the “total depravity of man.” There is a doctrine (A FALSE DOCTRINE OF COURSE) in the world that in Old Testament days, when Jews were born, that they were born children of God. Where is the scripture that teaches such a thing? It cannot be found. Oh yes; a doctrine of man!

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If this idea or doctrine was the truth, it would be right to say that God is a respector of persons. What does the Word of God say?

But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, in­dignation and wrath,

Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;

But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:

For there is no respect of persons with God. Romans 2:8-11.

Why will people not take what the scriptures teach instead of false doctrines? Because there are blind guides in the world, and those that follow them are led astray, and are heaping to themselves swift destruction.  Matthew 23:16-24, Luke 6:39.

Yes,”true Baptists”believe that everyone is born in sin, and need a redeemer to save them from SIN and HELL.

The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies. Psalms 58:3.

Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned. Romans 5:12.

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Because of Adam’s transgression, we have al­ready stated in this chapter that he was spiritually separated from God. Not only that, but it also caused a natural death.  How do we know?

And all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years: and he died. Genesis

5:5.

And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:  Hebrews 9:27.

So as the first man Adam had to die a natural death, even so must all of mankind. Let us go again to the apostle Paul and hear what he has to say relative to our sinful bodies.

The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.  I Corinthians 15:56.

David said that we were conceived and born in sin, and Paul is testifying that the last thing that everyone does is sin.   (That is to die).

In our conclusion of this subject, may I sin­cerely and prayerfully ask that the reader of this publication look at and study the great contrast between what false teachers say and what the Word of God says!

Evolutionists say — “Man sprang from apes.” God said — “He created man.”

Some people say — “Some men have been born children of God.”

God said — “All are born sinners.”

TRUE BAPTISTS BELIEVE what God has said in his Holy Word.  Thank God for his truth!

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God’s Plan Of Redemption

In part one of this chapter it was the desire of the writer to prove the “total depravity of man.” I only wanted of course to prove it by the Holy Scriptures. You were presented with sufficient proof, and to learn the need of man for a Saviour.

You will notice that the title of this section of chapter one is, “God’s Plan Of Redemption.” I want to point out here in the very outset of this subject that there is “ONLY ONE PLAN OF SAL­VATION FOR LOST HUMANITY.” And how happy and thankful that I am that, “TRUE BAP­TISTS BELIEVE THIS.”

If there is only one plan of redemption for the lost, the Bible will teach it, AND IT DOES!

As you read this booklet you may wonder why I refer to “true Baptists” and don’t say Baptists. I want you to consider this scripture. Listen!

Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel.  Romans 9:6.

SO IT IS – NOT EVERYONE THAT WEARS THE NAME BAPTIST, IS A “TRUE BAPTIST.” That is the reason why the writer “FELT LED” to title this booklet, “WHAT TRUE BAPTISTS BELIEVE.”

Let us now take our search through the pages of Holy Writ to find what and where the passage of lost sinners is from CONDEMNATION to LIFE EVERLASTING.

It is the sincere desire and prayer of the writer that those that are lost, and condemned before the

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Jerusalem. Here we find Peter as he spoke for the apostles. What sayeth the scriptures?

And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and breth­ren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.

And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;

And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. Acts 15:7-9.

In these verses of the Holy Bible, we are told that God did not manifest any difference whatso­ever between the Jews and the Gentiles. There were some of both races that had pure hearts. PEOPLE WITH PURE HEARTS ARE SAVED PEOPLE. — CHILDREN OF GOD. Did they re­ceive pure hearts without having faith in the Lord? NO! Then without repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, no one can be re­deemed from sin and eternal destruction today.

How many people in the world are command­ed to repent? In the preceding pages we proved that ALL people are sinners. This being true, then everyone is commanded to repent. This is another Bible doctrine and true Baptists believe it.

Where in the scriptures then do we find the statement to sustain this belief? Let us see!

One day the apostle Paul came to Mars’ Hill,

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and he saw people worshiping idol gods. Probably they were honest about it, BUT THAT DIDN’T SAVE THEM. There are too many people in the world today preaching this false, and unscriptural idea. Just satisfying self, doesn’t satisfy God. These people on Mars’ Hill were told what to do.

And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Acts 17:30.

This is a universal command. God would not tell the lost to do something that they could not do. Paul said that God had commanded ALL MEN EVERY WHERE to repent. Then in the writing of the apostle Peter we again read the following.

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. II Peter 3:9.

The Lord’s will is that all would be saved by his wonderful grace. But the sinner can only reach the grace of God through the conditions that have been made by the Lord.

In the New Testament, we hear Jesus as he spoke to people that believed, or at least they seem­ed to believe that some people had perished be-causethey were greater sinners than others. Let us hear our Savior speak.

There were present at that season some that

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told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.

And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things?

I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Luke 13:1-3.

Jesus is teaching here that people aren’t sin­ners because of crime, drunkenness, gambling, cursing or being liars, but they shall all perish except they repent.

For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, be­cause he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. John 3:17-18.

If you are a sinner, you need God. You can­not be saved by pleading your own case. You don’t have anything to offer God. If you think that you have lived a good life and that will deliver your soul from hell, you are wrong! A good moral life is alright to live, but it sure will not save a soul. You may say why not?

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God:

Not of works, lest any man should boast. Ephesians 2:8-9.

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True Baptists believe this. Again the apostle Paul tells us that we do not come in possession of salvation by our own merits.

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;

That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Titus 3:5-7.

This forever does away with man made doc­trines of any nature, shape, form or fashion that will let man think that he can reach God upon his own merits and be saved from his vile state of sin and condemnation. Sinners must realize that they are lost, condemned, and aliens before the Al­mighty God.

The prodical son left home, and went the way of the world. If he ever thought of home for a long time, it isn’t mentioned. Finally all of his money was gone. He then needed friends, but evidently he didn’t have any. Because he was in want, but no man gave unto him.

When did he think of home? When did he think of his father? Not until a certain thing hap­pened. WHAT WAS IT? He found himself be­tween submission and death. If he stayed where he was, he would die. To live, he must go to his

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father, and that empty handed. Would he live or die?

And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!

I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,

And am no more worthy to be called thy son make me as one of thy hired servants.

And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. Luke 15:17-20.

This boy reached the place that he saw death. This was when he was willing to submit his case and be willing to come humbly to the father, and be as the hired servants. But he received the best that his father had to give.

When unsaved people can visualize the fact that eternal death is waiting for them if they just go ahead in life as they are, but by submission to the will of God, and trusting in the Lord they can have the salvation of God in their souls, then they are coming God’s way.

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:23.

SINNERS SEEK THE LORD TODAY! Pray and ask God to save your soul from eternal de­struction, and sin.

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The question may arise in your mind; Did this boy lose his salvation, and returned to the father to be saved again. THE ANSWER IS NO! Let us reason together.

To return to a place means that you have been there before. As we think of the prodical son, we are reminded of a statement made by the Psalmist David.

Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee. Psalms 116:7.

Well, now when did David’s soul have any rest before he was saved? BEFORE HE REACHED THE YEARS OF ACCOUNTABILITY.

David further states that he loved the Lord because he had heard his voice and his supplica­tions. Did David pray? Yes he certainly did. A-gain he said in his writing;

I waited patiently for the Lord; and he in­clined unto me, and heard my cry.

He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.

And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praises unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord. Psalms 40:1-3.

David is referring to the awful condition that he was in as a sinner. The miry clay is referring, to strong holds of sin.

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The rock upon which his feet were founded, was Jesus Christ the Son of God. When vile, lost sinners find themselves in the condition that David was in, and they are convicted as he was, then they will pray for deliverance from the strongholds of sin and the devil.

Many people today are saying that sinners don’t have to mourn on account of sin. We as TRUE BAPTISTS believe that no sinner can be saved without repentance. Luke 13:3. He cannot repent without godly sorrow. II Cor. 7:10. Godly sorrow causes remorse, contrition in the heart.

When condemned and convicted sinners find themselves in this condition, they will pray and ask the Lord to save them. They may pray out in a loud voice or it may be a whisper of the inner man, but regardless which of these take place, there must be godly sorrow in the heart of the one seek­ing peace to their soul. Listen!

The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell gat hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow.

Then called I upon the name of the Lord; O LORD, I beseech thee, deliver my soul. Psalms 116:3-4.

David is saying that the very pains of hell got hold upon him, and he also stated that he found trouble and sorrow. Yes. unsaved people must have a godly sorrow for sin before they will give up their sins and turn unto the Lord for mercy.

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As I am writing these pages tonight, I am re­minded of my own conversion. I was saved at an old-fashioned altar on a mourner’s bench on Thurs­day night, September 5, 1935, at Caney Fork Bap­tist Church in Smith County, Tenn. The bench didn’t save me, but the Lord did.

Anywhere a sinner gets under conviction and calls on the Lord, that is his mourning place whether it is in the church, at home, in the field or some where else. GOD IS EVERYWHERE!

We as true and old-fashioned Baptists today are laughed at and made fun of because we believe and teach these things, but that is the sign that we are pleasing God.

Friends, I tell you what the truth is. People have so much pride in this wicked and sin cursed world today that they are ashamed to mourn or cry and ask God to save their souls from a burning hell! I know that it isn’t popular today to preach on hell and to warn unsaved people that they are going there, but if they don’t repent, they must forever go down to destruction.

People that object to the altar and the mourn­er’s bench so much, seemingly do most of the ob­jecting to the mourning instead of the bench.

If being a sinner, separated from God on the downward road to hell, with life uncertain, no pro­mise of tomorrow doesn’t cause a person to be sorrowful and to call on the Lord, what would?

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Paul said in the first chapter of Romans the following words.

For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. Romans 1:16.

What happens when the Gospel is preached and accompanied by the Holy Spirit? We will go to the word of God for the answer.

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Hebrews 4:12.

So God has his ordained means by which he reaches the lost world. HE CALLS MEN TO PREACH. I Corinthians 1:17. Hebrews 3:1.

But when it pleased God who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace,

To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood: Gal. 1:15-16.

We read in the 11th chapter of Hebrews of a large number of people that were saved in Old Testament days. These were saved through faith as sinners are saved through faith today. Abraham believed God and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Read Romans 4:1-3.

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In the seventh chapter of Luke we are told of a Pharisee desiring Jesus to come into his home and eat with him. A woman also came into the home and brought an alabaster box of ointment. She anointed his feet, and she also washed his feet with the tears from her eyes and dried them with the hairs of her head.

Here we notice the Pharisee which was a self-righteous man thought that if Jesus knew what kind of a person that she was, that he would not have anything to do with her.

Jesus then asked him some questions concern­ing forgiveness, but he, like our present day Phari­sees no doubt realized too late that he needed the Lord. Jesus said the following words to the woman that was a sinner.

And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace. Luke 7:50.

There are many, many more scriptures that could be presented to prove that God in his great mercy is ready to save all that will call upon him for deliverance from sin.

The writer feels that if only the scriptures given in this booklet were studied with an open mind, it would be enough to convince the world that all men are sinners. That there is only one plan of salvation, and that the terms of this plan upon which all must meet are repentance and faith which are inseparable.

The next thought that we want to take under

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consideration is “how do we know that we are saved.” There are multitudes of people in the world that can’t understand why true Baptists be­lieve in heart-felt salvation.

In the first place, how does a person know when he reaches the years of accountability and is responsible for his sins before God? The Bible is our authority on this question, as well as the other important things that we have been writing about in this booklet.

Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is exped­ient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I de­part, I will send him unto you.

And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin. and of righteousness, and of judg­ment: John 16:7-8.

When one is old enough to feel lost and away from God, according to the above scripture, the Holy Spirit reproves or convinces him that he is in that condition.

When a sinner then seeks the Lord for salva­tion and their prayer is answered, and is saved he has a knowledge of the same. Listen!

The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: Rom. 8:16.

Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. I John 4:13.

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And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us. I John 3:24.

But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. Romans 8:9.

There isn’t any statement in God’s Holy Word any plainer and easier to understand, than the ones just given.

These scriptures teach us that saved people have the Spirit of God, AND THEY KNOW IT! And they also teach that the person that doesn’t have THE SPIRIT OF GOD, IS NOT A CHILD OF GOD.

THE BIBLE SAYS THAT SAVED PEOPLE KNOW THEY ARE SAVED AND THE PERSON THAT DOESN’T KNOW ISN’T SAVED.

There are many in the world today wearing the name Christian, and will say that they don’t know, and will have to wait until the judgment to find out. A POOR and PITIFUL condition to be in. Those that wait that long to find out, WILL WAIT TOO LONG.

When the natural body is thirsty for a drink of water, and you find some water and drink it, do you suppose the person knows about that him­self or have to depend upon someone else to tell him? THEY KNOW IT THEMSELVES.

May God have mercy upon those in error, that they may know the truth before it is too late.

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Security Of The Believer

We now come to another important Bible doc­trine, and one that true Baptists believe. This thought is the security of the believer.

I have had people to tell me that they could go along with Baptist doctrine until the point of security came up and then they just couldn’t take that. DID YOU KNOW THAT IF IT WASN’T FOR ONE THING, I WOULDN’T BELIEVE IT MYSELF! Why do I believe it then? Because the Bible teaches it.

Jesus told us in the third chapter of John that the unbeliever was in the state of condemnation. IF a child of God could lose his salvation, would he not be back where he started? Of course he would. Where was that? In condemnation. Can he do it? I’ll take the Bible for an answer, will you?

Verily verily, I say unto you. He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemna­tion; but is passed from death unto life. John 5:24.

I thank God tonight that I believe that. To be saved by the grace of God, and kept by his power is the greatest thing in the world. Yes, we are kept by his power. HEAR THIS!

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

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Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. I Peter 1:3-5.

For the Lord loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved forever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off. Psalms 37:28.

Question — Will God forsake his saints?

Answer — No.

Question — Are God’s children preserved? Answer — Yes.

Question — How long are they preserved? Answer — Forever.

If one believes the scriptures, and don’t think that this is teaching the security of God’s children, please write me and tell me what it does teach and I’ll pay you for your trouble.

In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink. John 7:37.

Jesus is simply teaching concerning the thirst for spiritual water (salvation). If a person came in possession of that water then, and lost his sal­vation, would he thirst again? Yes. What saith the scripture?

But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. John 4:14.

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Children of God, have the love of God in their hearts. Should saved persons lose their salvation they would be separated from that love.

As long then as a person was in possession of the love of God and wasn’t separated from it they would still be a saved person. We must take what the word of God says about this. Here is proof.

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

Nay, in all these things we are more than con­querors through him that loved us.

For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:35-39.

We are so often told “THE BIBLE HAS AN ANSWER TO EVERY PROBLEM.” This is true. The professed Christian that seems to worry about the devil having more power than God (They must believe it) should read the above scriptures, real­izing that they came from God himself, and that it is the truth. WOULD YOU TAKE WHAT GOD

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Let us reason together just here. If a child of God could sin and lose his eternal salvation, be­come a child of satan, isn’t it reason enough to be­lieve that it was brought about by the power of the devil? Certainly so!

If satan could get one of God’s children, couldn’t he get two? YES.

If he got two, couldn’t he get fifty? YES. If he got fifty, couldn’t he get a thousand? YES.

If he could get a thousand, could he not get every one of God’s children? YES.

SO WHAT THEN?

If a Christian can lose his salvation, and be lost in hell, THEN ALL THAT WILL GET TO HEAVEN WILL DO SO ON THE MERCY OF THE DEVIL INSTEAD OF THE MERCY OF GOD. I don’t believe it!

In conclusion on this thought let us consider the other thought. There are many, many scrip­tures to prove and that teaches the security of God’s children, but we have other subjects that we wish to present in this booklet.

A question; what happens to Christians when they do wrong? God chastises them.

As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Rev. 3:19.

For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourageth every son whom he receiveth.

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If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Hebrews 12:6-8.

For the Lord loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved forever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off. Psalms 37:28.

“YES PRESERVED FOREVER,” FOREVER and FOREVER!

CHAPTER II

Christ And His Church

Church Prophecy And The Establishment

In the Old Testament, the old Prophets, by the Holy Spirit prophesied that in the last days that the God of heaven was going to establish a kingdom. This was to be the church kingdom.

And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be estab­lished in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it,

And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. Isaiah 2:2-3.

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Here the Prophet Isaiah about 760 years be­fore Christ was saying by the Holy Spirit that in the last days that the mountain of the Lord’s house was going to be established. We believe as the scriptures teach that the Lord did set up or estab­lish his Church while he lived in this world.

Some teach that the last days didn’t begin until pentecost. Is this true? When did the Lord speak to the people of this earth? While he lived here on earth of course. Listen.

God who at sundry times and in divers man­ners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,

Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Hebrews 1:1-2.

So if the days that Jesus lived in this world, were called the last days, and the God of heaven was to establish his kingdom in the last days, isn’t it logical to say that the church was established during the personal ministry of the Lord? Sure it is! Not before or after.

And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and con­sume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever. Daniel 2:44. There are at least four things taught in this verse of scripture that we would like to notice.

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(1)      God was to be the one to set up this kingdom and not man.

(2)      This kingdom was never to be destroyed.

(3)      Neither was this kingdom to be left to other people.

(4)      It was to stand for ever.

I believe every one of these things because the Lord in his word that he gave from Daniel 2:44, said so. Someone might say that if God was going to set up the church then it wasn’t Christ. Read this.

Behold a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Matthew 1:23.

Jesus said while he was on earth that he was about his Father’s business. ‘Also that all power was given into his hands.

There shall be an handful of corn in the earth upon the top of the mountain; the fruit thereof shall shake like Lebanon: and they of the city shall flourish like grass of the earth. Psalms 72:16.

You may ask the question; where in the Bible does any statement refer to the church as a city as David said “they of the city shall flourish like grass of the earth.”

And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me saying, Come

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hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife.

And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, Rev. 21:9-10.

Before Jesus could build his church, he need­ed material to build it with. God sent a man to prepare this material for the Lord.

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. John 1:6.

In those days came John the Baptist, preach­ing in the wilderness of Judaea,

And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

For this is he that was spoken of by the prop­het Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Matt. 3:1-3.

Here we see John the Baptist, a man sent from God, preparing people for the Lord. As you read further in the third chapter of Matthew, you discover that John commanded them to bring forth fruit, before he would baptize them.

WHAT DOES THE WORD “CHURCH” MEAN?

The word church comes from the Greek word “ekklesia” which means, “that which is called out.” Did Jesus do that? Here is scripture. Matt. 4:17-22. Also the following.

And it came to pass in those days, that he

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went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.

And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles; Luke 6:12-13.

And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. I Cor. 12-28.

It is impossible to put something in nothing. Paul told the church at Corinth, that the first thing set in the church was apostles. Then we can easily see why the Lord’s church existed while he lived on earth.

And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. Mat. 11:12.

The Lord is saying about 31 A. D. that the kingdom suffereth violence. If the church didn’t exist then and wasn’t set up until Pentecost, HOW, YES HOW IN THIS WORLD COULD IT SUF­FER? Anything that doesn’t exist, sure cannot suffer!

If space would permit, we would like to give a number of other scriptures telling of the coming of the church kingdom, and also others to prove that it was established during the personal minis­try of Christ.

But I feel that any one with an honest heart to know the truth, would be well satisfied and convinced by all the scripture given herein.

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CHURCH ORDINANCES

There are two ordinances placed in the church that Jesus built. And Jesus placed them in there himself. The first ordinance that we want to take under consideration at this point is baptism.

John the Baptist, of whom we have already studied about was God sent, and he baptized Christ, the Son of God. What did the Father have to say relative to the Lord’s baptism?

And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:

And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Matt. 3:16-17.

(Q.) What kind of baptism did Jesus receive?

(A.) Baptist baptism.

(Q.)  Was it right or wrong?

(A.)  It was right.

(Q.) Why was it right (or scriptural)? (A.) Because God was pleased with it. (Q.) Must we have the same kind to please God

today? (A.) Yes.

(Q.) How was he baptized?

(A.) He was buried in the water.

(Q.) How do we know that he was.

(A.) He went straightway up out of the water.

So in keeping with the scriptures today, to re­ceive scriptural baptism, one must be immersed.

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Of course repentance and faith are prerequi­sites of baptism. John demanded fruit meet for repentance before baptism. Yes, no one but be­lievers are entitled to baptism.

Then they that gladly received his word was baptized: Acts 2:41.

Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? Acts 10:47.

These people already possessed the Holy Spir­it before they were commanded to be baptized. And Christians, not sinners, are the ones with the Holy Spirit. So no sinner has a scriptural right to be baptized.

The Lord commanded his church in the 28th chapter of Matthew to make disciples and then to baptize them. Therefore saved, then baptism.

Listen to the apostle Paul as he was telling what the Lord sent him to do.

But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and those things in which I will ap­pear unto thee;

Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,

To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanc-

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tified by faith that is in me. Acts 26:16-18.

For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: I Cor. 1:17.

Here we have the plain truth as it is in Christ Jesus. Paul said he was sent to turn people from the power of Satan unto God, and also to turn them from darkness to light. Then he said, “Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel.”

So baptism “will not” turn people from the power of Satan unto God, neither will it turn people from darkness to light. If it did the Bible would be wrong, and thank God it isn’t! The con­clusion, “baptism is only for believers.”

The next ordinance is the Lord’s Supper. Who should take the Lord’s Supper? May I say as I be­gin to reason on this subject that, being saved and having scriptural baptism are prerequisites of the Lord’ Supper.

Only believers, or professed believers, were present at the institution of the Supper. Matt. 26:26; Mark 14:22; Luke 22:19.

Many people judge Baptists as unkindly, and take offense on our position on the Lord’s Supper. Whose Supper is it? The Lord’s. If the Lord in­stituted the Supper and it is his, shouldn’t he have the right to give the invitation to the proper sub­jects?

And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me;

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That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. Luke 22:29-30.

The Lord is saying here that his table is in his kingdom (church), so how could one on the outside eat of the table when it is on the inside? We are to keep the ordinances as they were de­livered unto us. I Cor. 11:2.

The Lord’s Supper like baptism has never been a saviour, because Christ is our Saviour. For what purpose then is the Lord’s Supper?

And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in rememberance of me.

After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.

For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come. I Cor. 11:24-26.

Those that have repented and exercised faith in the Lord and have been saved, then received scriptural baptism by the authority of the true Baptist church have the right to observe the Lord’s Supper. Yet let us not forget that those observing the Supper are to be in full fellowship with the church. I Cor. 11:28-30.

But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a rail-er, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. I Cor. 5:11.

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