Baptist beliefs

Baptist beliefs are not completely consistent from one church to another, as Baptists do not have a central governing authority. However, Baptists do hold some common beliefs among almost all Baptist churches.

Since the early days of the Baptist movement, various organizations have adopted common confessions of faith as the basis for cooperative interdependency among local churches. These would include beliefs about one God, the virgin birth, the impeccability, miracles, vicarious atoning death, burial and bodily resurrection of Christ, the need for salvation (although the understanding of means for achieving it may differ at times), divine grace, the Church, the Kingdom of God, last things (Jesus Christ will return personally and visibly in glory to the earth; the dead will be raised; and Christ will judge everyone in righteousness), evangelism and missions.

Baptist beliefs are seen as belonging to the two historical strands: General Baptists (Freewill Baptists), who uphold an Arminian soteriology, and Particular Baptists (Reformed Baptists), who uphold Calvinist soteriology. The 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith is subscribed to by a consensus of Particular Baptists, whereas the Orthodox Creed is widely accepted by General Baptists. A third, recent strand called Independent Baptists, might embrace a strict version of either Arminianism or Calvinism, but are most notable for their fundamental positions on Biblical hermeneutics, family and the social order, and advocacy of "King James Onlyism." In addition to the distinctive doctrines of Protestantism, Baptists reject the theological validity and covenantal value of paedobaptism. While certain Independent Baptists adhere to memorialism, the General Baptists and Reformed Baptists teach the real spiritual presence of Christ in the Eucharist.

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