Christian Doctrines

Some excerpts from a refreshing old book called Christian Doctrines by Baptist scholar James Madison Pendleton.

On church:

“In answer to the question, What is a church? It may be said, A church is a congregation of Christ’s baptized disciples, acknowledging him as their Head, relying on his atoning sacrifice for justification before God, depending on the Holy Spirit for sanctification, united in the belief of the gospel, agreeing to maintain its ordinances and obey its precepts, meeting together for worship, and co-operating for the extension of Christ’s kingdom in the world. If any prefer an abridgment of this definition, it may be given thus: A church is a congregation of Christ’s baptized disciples, united in the belief of what he has said, and covenanting to do what he has commanded.”

On the resurrection:

“As to the period of the resurrection, the whole tenor of Scripture indicates that it will take place at the end of the world, at the second coming of Christ, and as preparatory to the general judgment.”

On baptism:

"The commission of Christ, as understood and exemplified in the apostolic age, requires the baptism of believers, disciples; and the baptism of all others, whether unbelievers or unconscious infants, is utterly unwarranted. There is, as Paul has written in the Epistle to the Ephesians, 'one Lord, one faith, one baptism.' The one Lord is the object of the one faith, the one faith embraces the one Lord, and the one baptism is a profession of the one faith in the one Lord."

On Abraham’s seed:

“As to the seed of Abraham we may learn much from Paul, who says, ‘Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.’ The apostle under inspiration seized hold of the important fact that the seed of Abraham is Christ, in whom all nations are blessed. Thus the promised Saviour was known to Abraham, of whom Jesus said to the Jews, ‘Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day; and he saw it, and was glad.’"