Midway through the nineteenth century, a shift began to take place among Protestant churches. Their biblical, reformed, God-centered doctrine was replaced with a man-centered focus.
In many denominations, this resulted in becoming unmoored from Scripture and descending into theological liberalism. In other groups such as Southern Baptists, the focus moved from the glory of God to attracting man, from biblical practice to pragmatism, from discipleship to an emphasis upon decision-making and numbers, and the Gospel was cheapened so that more people could easily "accept" Christ and church rolls could be padded.
The result has been the formation of churches with full rolls and empty pews, many decisions but few disciples, and the substitution of stunts and personalities for the Word of God. In the mid-twentieth century, seeing the condition of the Church and the damage the modern Gospel was doing to lost souls, some Baptist groups and churches in the other denominations began to reemphasize the biblical doctrines and practices reflected in the reformation-era Church.
They put the adjective "reformed" to their names as a reaction against the man-centered doctrine of the day and a signal that they were returning to the God-centered doctrine and the Five Solas of the early Baptists. Christ Reformed Baptist Fellowship stands in this restorative movement. Reformed Baptists have certain Doctrines and Practices. These are not mere slogans for us, but these are the very heart and foundation stones of all of our doctrine and practice.
The Centrality of Scripture. Reformed churches hold to both the inerrancy of Scripture and the sufficiency Scripture. That means not only do we hold that the Scripture is God's Word, but that it is sufficient to accomplish all that God wants to do in His Church without any other human means. Regeneration and Conversion.
Primitive Baptists make a strong distinction between regeneration and conversion, holding that God gives spiritual life without using the gospel as a medium. The gospel would then be the instrument of conversion, to give the benefits of salvation to those given spiritual life. Reformed Baptists typically hold that the gospel is the instrument or means of regeneration. Primitive Baptists believe that we are justified before God by Christ on the cross. Reformed Baptists hold to sola fide, which says that we are justified by God when we believe.
Primitive Baptists do believe that we are justified by faith, but this justification is in the courtroom of our own mind as it apprehends the truth of Christ. The points listed are those that Reformed Baptists hold, compared on some bullets with what is more likely to be accepted or common amongst non-RB churches — warren. JRystedt JRystedt 1 1 silver badge 7 7 bronze badges. So far as I know, having been one for my whole life, the only aspect outright rejected is paedobaptism — warren.
I also think you are confusing "sacramentalism" with "sacramentology" - RBs affirm that the sacraments are means of grace, but, with Calvin, reject their salviffic value. RBs also hold to Federalism also known as Covenentalism. I am pleased to see that many Reformed Baptists are closer to traditional Protestantism than I realized.
I apparently have been around the wrong "Reformed Baptists". I will edit my answer to reflect this. Sign up or log in Sign up using Google. Sign up using Facebook. Sign up using Email and Password. Post as a guest Name. Email Required, but never shown. Like any library, Christianity Stack Exchange offers great information, but does not offer personalized advice , and does not take the place of seeking such advice from your pastor, priest, or other trustworthy counselor. Featured on Meta.
Firstly, Reformed Baptists hold to Covenant Theology. This means that they understand that God has communicated and dealt with mankind through three overarching theological covenants: of redemption, works, and grace. On the other hand, General, or even Calvinistic, Baptists can hold to a form of Dispensationalism, a hyper-prioritisation on the New Testament alone, or just an unrealised or vacuous position on the matter.
Secondly, Reformed Baptists hold to an Eldership polity. Generally, Reformed Baptists believe that a plurality of Elders are called to lead the church. Whilst the congregation does have a say, they are under the spiritual oversight of those who have been appointed Elders by them. This is opposed to a form of congregationalism, found in many other Baptist churches, where the congregation generally rules itself, and the Elders, if there are any, are subordinate.
Thirdly, Reformed Baptists, as the name implies, identify with the Reformed tradition.
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