FollowMeHome, let me see if I can give some specific instances of differences between Baptists and other denominations.
Baptism: Baptists--by immersion of believers only.
Church of Christ--by immersion, necessary for salvation.
.
Salvation: Baptists--by grace through repentance and faith.
Church of Christ and some others --repentance and faith plus
baptism.
Apostasy: Baptists--a true believer cannot lose his salvation.
Methodists, Episcopalians, Catholics, some
Pentecostals, Church of Christ--a saved person can lose
salvation. As a general rule, any denominaton which holds to
baptismal regeneration also believes in falling from
grace, although Methodists don't exactly fit that
category.
Lord's Supper: Baptist--a memorial only with no sacramental value.
Church of Christ--a memorial with no saving value.
Episcopals, Catholics--a sacrament, a means of grace.
Many evangelical churches also consider it a memorial
only.
We're pretty close to Presbyterians and Cumberland Presbyterians in soteriology, but they they both sprinkle. Most Baptist churches have a pastor and deacons as officers (also that's changing somewhat) with a robust congregatonal government; they have ruling elders.
Baptist share common doctrines with many evangelical churches and even with Catholics and Episcopalians. In addition, there are many evangelical groups which do not go by the name Baptist, but are baptistic in doctrine. There may be some differences in eccleisology and practices What it boils down to is, if you tell someone, "I believe this and this and this and this" (those things outlined in a previous post), they will like say to you, "well, you're Baptist." That's what I meant by Baptist Distinctives.
