What are the Main differences between reformed Baptists and other Baptists then?

I am a Calvinist Baptist. Doesn't that mean the 1689 Confession of Faith applies to me? My Baptist Church is not Calvinist. They are Baptist in faith and practice. So, they do not hold to the Confession, right?

 

The term "Reformed Baptist" did not exist prior to the early 1960's. The American Reformed Baptist movement started at Grace Baptist Church of Carlisle, PA. It was used to describe a shared set of beliefs among Confessional Baptists. The 1689 Second London Baptist Confession of Faith did play a crucial part in that. Confessional Baptists differed from other Calvinistic Baptists. There are quite a few Calvinistic Baptist churches that call themselves Reformed Baptists but they do not subscribe to the 1689 LBC. Jim Savastio did a good job of summarizing the distinctives of a Reformed Baptist Church. You can read it HERE.

 

Reformed Baptists believe we were saved or damned from all eternity for all eternity and there is nothing we can do to alter that outcome for ourselves or our loved ones. It is false theology.

While non-reformed Baptists generally agree the above view is bogus, they disagree among themselves as to what is the biblical truth.

 

In the past they were usually called Particular Baptist. There were also Strict and Particular Baptists. Gospel Standard Baptists, and many others.

 

Have a browse through 1689 Federalism There are acres of interesting stuff there.
The introductory videos are very helpful.

 

Brandon Adams got to you too?

 

A better name for Reformed Baptists would be Copy and Paste Baptists. They embrace the doctrines of men such as confessions, rather than working through what the bible actually teaches. A Baptist does not spend all his or her time in the furrows of other bible students. .

Did Christ die as a ransom for all, or just the previously chosen elect?
Should communion be open to all believers, or just to local church members?
Are we saved by grace through faith or saved by grace and given faith?

Do the Elders report to the congregation or does the congregation report to the Elders?

 

If Christ died for all then all must be saved. Scripture says he died for the sheep. He loved the church and gave himself for her.

 

Proverbs 12:15; Ecclesiastes 12:11.

 

Hi David, thanks for answering the first question. The problem with your answer is that scripture does not teach Christ's sacrifice for all mankind results in the salvation of all mankind. Everyone believing into Christ is saved, but unless a person is made alive together with Christ they remain unsaved. That is why we have the ministry of reconciliation.
Scripture says God desires all men to be saved, and that therefore Christ laid down His life as a ransom for all, but a person must be transferred into Christ to receive the "washing of regeneration" being made alive together with Christ.

Communion should be open to all professing believers, because scripture leaves participation (or not) to the professing believer.

We are saved by grace through faith, not saved then given faith.

The Elders report (and are accountable ) to the congregation.

 

Hi Van
Thanks for your reply.
If Christ died for all then all must be saved, or he was a failure.

Christ love the church and gave himself for it.

• Ephesias 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:
• 2Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
• 3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
• 4According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
• 5Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
• 6To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
• 7In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
• 8Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;
• 9Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
• 10That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
• 11In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
• 12That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
• 13In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

 

Repeating the claim does not support the claim. Christ would not be a failure, He is our perfect God. You solve the problem by saying He did not die as a ransom for all, whereas others solve the problem by saying Christ's sacrifice provides the way for everyone to be saved, and saves everyone God puts into the Way.

In summary, Christ became the propitiation (or means of salvation) for all mankind, but only those placed within His propitiatory shelter are saved.

Does Ephesians 1:1-13 provide any support whatsoever for the bogus doctrines of the TULI? Nope

1) To whom is the Letter addressed. The the individuals that had been transferred into Christ, thus those set apart (saints). Note those actually "in" Christ as faithful, thus the "called, chosen and faithful."

2) Next Paul tells us that those in Christ have been blessed.

3) Next Paul enumerates some of those blessing. First God has chosen them in Him before the foundation of the world. That means when God chose Christ to be His Redeemer, His Lamb, He also chose corporately everyone that would be redeemed by Christ, thus He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world.

4) Next everyone transferred into Christ undergoes the washing of regeneration and therefore arises as a new creation, holy and blameless.

5) Next, everyone transferred into Christ is predestined to be adopted at Christ's second coming, the redemption of our bodies.

6) Paul closes pointing out that after being transferred into Christ (baptized into Christ) we are then sealed in Christ with the Holy Spirit, as a pledge to our future adoption at Christ's second coming.

 

Don't feed the troll, David.

 

It's unfortunate that this has happened. The OP is a proper subject for a Baptist thread.
Maybe the answer is to have a dedicated Van thread so that he could post his nonsense to his heart's content and the rest of us could have an intelligent discussion elsewhere.

 

Another difference between Reformed Baptists and other Baptists is Covenant Theology. This distinction is important to make even between RB and other Calvinistic Baptists such as Sovereign Grace Baptists or Primitive Baptists. I think this is what Martin Marprelate was getting at when he cited www.1689federalism.com. The two competing eschatological systems between Baptists are Dispensationalism and Covenant Theology. The former traces itself back to the mid-19th century, whereas the latter in the early 17th century (if not earlier). Most RB churches that subscribe to the 1689 LBC embrace Covenant Theology. It is important to note that critics of Confessionalism charge that RB's follow a man-made document instead of the Bible. This charge is incorrect. The 1689 LBC is not on par with Scripture, however, it is an accurate summary of biblical doctrine that has withstood scrutiny for 328 years. That is why many RB churches have adopted the 1689 LBC as their doctrinal statement.

 

Non Confession based Baptists believe the Bible means what it says, Jesus will reign on earth for 1000 years.

Non Confession based Baptists believe Christ died as a ransom for all.

Non Confession based Baptists believe Christ became the propitiation (or means of salvation) for the whole world.

Non Confession based Baptists believe the Elders report and are accountable to the congregation.

Non Confession based Baptists believe we are saved by grace through faith.

Non Confession based Baptists believe in open communion, open to all professing believers.

 

You can simply say non-confessional.

I am sure that there are a variety of opinions regarding the above.

No, they are not lockstep on the matter.

Actually none believe your nonsensical view that propitiation is the "means of salvation."

Wrong again -- many non-confessional Baptist congregations only have men designated as deacons.They don't have men called elders aside from the Pastor.

On that score I'll give you one merit point.

Probably so.

Van, your score is 33%. Promise me that you will do better next time.