Avoid Alcohol and Drug Abuse
Proverbs 20 & 31
APRIL 27, 2014
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH
JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI
USA

FBCJ MEMORY VERSE
Galatians 2:20
20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no
longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the
life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in
the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself
for me.

CLASS MEMORY VERSE
1 Corinthians 10:31
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do,
do it all for the glory of God.

What’s the number one thing?
http://ts4.mm.bing.net/th?id=HN.608004121792417659&pid=1.7

Why is alcohol use debated
among Baptists?

Let’s look at the bigger picture!
What do Southern Baptists believe
and why?

REFERENCES/HANDOUTS
• The Baptist Faith & Message, A Statement
Adopted by the Southern Baptist Convention,
June 14, 2000
• Dr. Charles Carter, November 24, 2002, A
Sermon Preached at First Baptist Church,
Jackson, Mississippi

Dr. Charles Carter’s Challenge to Us
1 Peter 3:15
15 But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord.
Always be prepared to give an answer to
everyone who asks you to give the reason for
the hope that you have. But do this with
gentleness and respect,

Evaluating a religion or denomination
1) What do they believe about the Bible?
2) What do they believe about Jesus?
3) What do they believe about how you get to
heaven?

Brief History of Baptists
• Protestant Reformation 16th Century
– What must I do to be saved?
– Where can I find the true church?
• Many opinions about baptism
• Felix Manz in Zurich rejected the state church
and insisted on baptism for believers only
– Limmat River on January 5, 1527 – 1st Martyr

John Smyth – Baptist Founder
1570-1612
• Broke from Church of England and moved to
Amsterdam, Holland
• In 1609, formed a new believers’ group
1. Rejected liturgy in worship service
2. Twofold leadership – Pastor & Deacon
3. Believer’s baptism
- Anabaptists – “baptize again”

1st Church Named “Baptist”
• Founded in 1611 in Spitafields, England
(London) by Thomas Helwys (1575-1616)
• Founded 1st Baptist congregation on British
soil
• Died in prison for public advocacy for religious
liberty for all people regardless of creed (Jews,
Muslims and atheists)

1st Baptist Church in America
• 1639 in Providence, Rhode Island founded by
Roger Williams
– John Clarke in Newport, Rhode Island same year
Who was 1st?
• Believed in separation of church and state
– Interpretation of modern day courts different
• Defended the rights of the Indians against the
English settlers

Roger Williams in America

1st Baptist Church, Providence, RI

1st Baptist Church in South
• 1682 in Charleston, SC (Group from Maine)
• Southern Baptist Convention
– Formed on May 10, 1845 in Augusta, GA
– Issue of slavery and appointment of missionaries
who were slave owners

Mississippi Baptists
• 1st recorded Baptist church was Coles Creek
Baptist Church in 1791
– Now called Salem Baptist Church (Jefferson
County)
• Mississippi became a state in 1817
• Mississippi Baptist Convention founded 1836
• First Baptist Jackson founded 1838

What Do Baptists Believe?
• No single belief that is unique to Baptists
• Nothing we believe that no one else believes
• Uniqueness is our collection of beliefs
• Not all Baptists agree- (agree to disagree)
• No Creeds – Baptist Faith & Message
• Do not sign a statement of beliefs when join
• Bible is our sole rule of faith and practice

STATEMENT OF FAITH & MESSAGE
• SBC – “The Baptist Faith & Message”, Adopted
June 14, 2000
• FBCJ – “What We Believe/Mission Statement/
Core Values”, Adopted May 12, 2012
• Valuable in defending family values

B A P T I S T
B - Baptism by immersion for believers
A - Autonomy of the local church
P - Priesthood of believers and Perseverance
T - Trust in Jesus Christ for salvation
I - Inspiration and authority of scripture
S - Separation of church and state
T - Testimony to the whole world

BAPTISM
1. By Immersion Only
2. For Believers Only - After a profession of faith in Jesus
- No infant baptisms
- Not ‘regeneration’ baptism – conversion at baptism
Matthew 28:19
19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son
and of the Holy Spirit,

BAPTISM – Immersion Only
• Greek word “baptidzo” means ‘to dip’ or ‘to
immerse’
• Does not translate into sprinkling
• Sprinkling evolved because of issues with
water availability – weather, convenience, etc.
• Adapted as a substitute

BAPTISM – By Immersion Only
• Only person who has accepted Christ is a
‘candidate’
• Candidate means – one clothed in white
• Wearing robe for baptism
• Must come to stage of responsibility
(accountability) & make commitment to Christ
– Baptists do not baptize infants
– Salvation first, then baptism

Infant Baptism?
• Children of believers are to be incorporated
into full membership in the church
• Viewed as a sign of God’s promise to bring the
full measure of redemption to those who put
their trust in Christ
• New covenant equivalent of circumcision
based on Paul’s comments in Colossians 2:11-
12

Colossians 2:11-12
11 In him you were also circumcised, in the
putting off of the sinful nature, not with a
circumcision done by the hands of men, but
with the circumcision done by Christ, 12 having
been buried with him in baptism and raised with
him through your faith in the power of God,
who raised him from the dead.

B A P T I S T
B – Baptism
A - Autonomy

AUTONOMY OF THE LOCAL CHURCH
• Self-rule and self-government under the
Lordship of Jesus Christ
– Misunderstood by most outside of denomination
1 Timothy 2:5-6
5 For there is one God and one mediator
between God and mankind, the man Christ
Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all
people.

AUTONOMY: Examples
True or False?
• First Baptist Jackson is largely independent of
other churches.
– True or False?

AUTONOMY: Examples
True or False?
• “First Baptist Church Jackson (FBCJ) is largely
independent of other churches.”
• FALSE
• First Baptist Church Jackson (FBCJ) is TOTALLY
independent of other churches.
• No other local church can dictate to FBCJ
• FBCJ cannot dictate to any other church

AUTONOMY: Examples
True or False?
• “The Southern Baptist Convention has little
control over First Baptist Church Jackson.”
True or False?

AUTONOMY: Examples
True or False?
• “The Southern Baptist Convention (SBC)has
little control over First Baptist Church
Jackson(FBCJ).”
• FALSE
• The SBC has NO control over FBCJ.
• FBCJ can decide name, styles of worship,
music, contributions to SBC, governance,
selection of Pastor, role of women

B A P T I S T
B – Baptism
A – Autonomy
P – Priesthood of Believers and
Perseverance of the Saints

PRIESTHOOD OF BELIEVERS
1 Tim 2:5-6
5 For there is one God and one mediator between
God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave
himself as a ransom for all people.
• Every Christian has direct access to God through
Jesus Christ
• You do not have to go through a priest or other
person to have access
• Both a privilege and a responsibility

PRIESTHOOD OF BELIEVERS
• Every Christian has the right to read and
interpret scripture for himself/herself.
• Concept of “individual responsibility”
• George Truett (1867-1944) quote, “Individual
interpretation is the cardinal, bedrock
principle from which all our Baptists principles
emerge.”

PERSEVERANCE OF SAINTS
• Eternal Security of Believers
• “Once saved, always saved.”
• If truly saved, you cannot lose your salvation.
John 10:27-28
27 My sheep hear my voice; … 28 neither shall
anyone snatch them out of my hand.

B A P T I S T
B – Baptism
A – Autonomy
P – Priesthood of Believers
T – Trust in Jesus Christ only for Salvation

TRUST IN JESUS FOR SALVATION
John 14:6
6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth
and the life. No one comes to the Father except
through me.
- Regenerate Church Membership
- Must accept Christ to become church member
- Salvation is through Christ alone
- Common denominator for Christianity

B A P T I S T
B – Baptism
A – Autonomy
P – Priesthood of Believers
T – Trust in Jesus Christ only for Salvation
I – Inspiration and Authority of Scripture

INSPIRATION & AUTHORITY OF
SCRIPTURE
2 Timothy 3:15
15 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for
teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in
righteousness,
- Division among Southern Baptists over the
discussion of ‘Nature of Inspiration and
Interpretation of Scripture’
- Let’s look at these separately
- 1. Inspiration
- 2. Interpretation

INSPIRATION OF SCRIPTURE
• We believe in the ‘divine inspiration’ of
scripture
• God chose to convey His Word through
humans as instruments.
• Arguments begin when we begin using the
words “infallible” and “inerrancy”

INSPIRATION OF SCRIPTURE
• Infallible vs. Inerrant?
• Infallible = Without error
– Original manuscripts in original language were perfect
or infallible as God directed the writers
– We don’t have these for comparison
– Translation differences do exist
• Inerrant = All that the Bible affirms is true.
– Bible is fully truthful, trustworthy and reliable
– Without any mixture of error

INTERPRETATION OF SCRIPTURE
vs. INSPIRATION
• It is wrong to say, “My interpretation of the
Bible is infallible.”
• We don’t have to be identical twins to be
brothers/sisters in Christ.
• We can disagree with each other over
interpretation and still believe in the
inspiration and authority of scripture.

INTERPRETATION OF SCRIPTURE
• The Holy Spirit guides each believer in
personal interpretation of scripture.
• Priesthood of Believers and personal
accountability to God
• With freedom comes responsibility
• Catholic Church
– Pope has final authority to interpret scripture
– His view considered infallible & final authority

INTERPRETATION OF SCRIPTURE
• What does the scripture say about use of
alcohol?
– The Bible does not call for total abstinence from
the use of alcohol.
– The Bible does give us numerous warnings about
how the use of alcohol may affect our lives, the
people we love, and our witness for Christ.

INTERPRETATION OF SCRIPTURE
Proverbs 20:1
1 Wine is a mocker, beer is a brawler, and whoever
staggers because of them is not wise.
Psalms 104:14-15
14 He makes grass grow for the cattle, and plants for
people to cultivate— bringing forth food from the
earth: 15 wine that gladdens human hearts, oil to
make their faces shine, and bread that sustains
their hearts.

PAUL ADDRESSES OUR FREEDOM IN
CHRIST
1 Corinthians 10:23-24
23 “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but
not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to
do anything”—but not everything is
constructive. 24 No one should seek their own
good, but the good of others.

PAUL ADDRESSES OUR FREEDOM IN
CHRIST
1 Corinthians 10:31-33
31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you
do, do it all for the glory of God. 32 Do not cause
anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the
church of God — 33 even as I try to please
everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my
own good but the good of many, so that they
may be saved.

PAUL ADDRESSES OUR FREEDOM IN
CHRIST
Galatians 5:13-14
13 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be
free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the
flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.
14 For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this
one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.

PAUL ADDRESSES OUR FREEDOM IN
CHRIST
1 Corinthians 10:31-33
31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you
do, do it all for the glory of God. 32 Do not cause
anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the
church of God — 33 even as I try to please
everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my
own good but the good of many, so that they
may be saved.

BOTTOM LINE
• Protestant reformers of 16th Century
– We are to live “Coram Deo”
– Being a Christian means living our entire lives in
the presence of God
– We gratefully live in a manner that is pleasing to
Him.

B A P T I S T
B – Baptism
A – Autonomy
P – Priesthood of Believers
T – Trust in Jesus Christ only for Salvation
I – Inspiration and Authority of Scripture
S – Separation of Church and State

SEPARATION OF CHURCH & STATE
Matthew 22:17-22
17 Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay the
imperial tax to Caesar or not?” 18 But Jesus, knowing their
evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to
trap me? 19 Show me the coin used for paying the tax.”
They brought him a denarius, 20 and he asked them,
“Whose image is this? And whose inscription?”
21 “Caesar’s,” they replied. Then he said to them, “So give
back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is
God’s.” 22 When they heard this, they were amazed. So
they left him and went away.

SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE
• A free church in a free state
• State should allow freedom in church and vice
versa
• State cannot declare one church as the “State
Church or Religion”
• America was founded by people fleeing from
State Church – Freedom of Worship
• Problem when Church and State same - Islam

B A P T I S T
B – Baptism
A – Autonomy
P – Priesthood of Believers
T – Trust in Jesus Christ only for Salvation
I – Inspiration and Authority of Scripture
S – Separation of Church and State
T – Testimony to the whole world

TESTIMONY TO THE WHOLE WORLD
Matthew 28:19-20
19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the
Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to
obey everything I have commanded you.
- It is the duty of every Christian to seek constantly
to win the lost to Christ
- You are my witnesses
- Baptists believe in missions!

B A P T I S T
B – Baptism
A – Autonomy
P – Priesthood of Believers
T – Trust in Jesus Christ only for Salvation
I – Inspiration and Authority of Scripture
S – Separation of Church and State
T – Testimony to the Whole World