Brother O'Neal charges (p. 2) that certain KJVO "Baptist Briders" may correct the Bible but do get around certain
verses by "performing gymnastics in interpretation." The "gymnastic interpretation," to which O'Neal refers,
without benefit of specific details from him, consists merely of scripture, context, dictionary, English grammar,
and plain explanation. No doubt, he is upset with Herb Evans' recent "local church" articles in the "Flaming Torch"
(Editor Don Edwards was sent O'Neal's booklet, hot off the press). Mike O'Neal might try to critique our articles,
which offend him (and be prepared for the ricochet), rather than to give us this one-sided propaganda.
Unfortunately, Mike does not provide any Baptist quotes to support his "blunder" phraseology as he trashes his
Baptist irritants and their local church only doctrines. Since the so-called "blunders" are framed in O'Neal's
"straw man," worse case wording, our approach must be to redefine, qualify, and comment on each of the blunders to
better reflect our Baptist views. We are on record, having "established" our position on these matters (publicly in
print).
Writer O'Neal charitably offers the disclaimer (p. 2) that "Baptist Briders" have their varieties, i.e., Bible
correctors and KJVO's. We can be equally charitable in that invisible churchers have their varieties, i.e, non and
interdenominationalist and Protestant, Baptist Bible correctors and KJVO's. O'Neal charitably says (p. 3) that
there are some good men, who love the Lord, among Baptist Briders (and also some dead Baptist churches - p.
26). We also know of some good men, who love the Lord, among "invisible churchers" (and also some dead "invisible
church" churches). So, the "hype" and "smoke" cleared away, let us examine these straw man Boo- Boos. Since we DO
share many of the so-called blunders and boo-boos, which Brother O'Neal condemns and associates with Baptist
Briders, we will answer his book as a non-Baptist Brider.
- Jesus was a
Baptist
-
John the Baptist
was a Baptist
-
(a) John the
Baptist was a New Testament Christian, (b) John the Baptist administered N.T.
baptism
-
The apostles
were Baptists
-
The New
Testament Church started during the Lord's earthly
ministry
-
A church cannot
exist unless it is an assembly
-
All saints can't
make up the church because all saints have never been
assembled
-
Water baptism
puts a believer into Christ
-
Romans 6 is
about water baptism
-
The baptism of
Gal. 3:27 is water baptism
-
The "one
baptism" of Eph. 4 is water baptism
-
The "one body"
of Eph. 4 is the local Baptist church
-
The only church
is the local, New Testament, scriptural, Baptist
church
-
The churches in
the New Testament were Baptist churches
-
The Baptist
church can be traced back to Christ
-
The early
churches were Baptist churches
-
Any church that
doesn't have the name "Baptist" on it is not a Baptist
church.
-
People who
believe in a "universal" church do not honor the local
church
-
People who
believe in a universal church are ecumenists
-
Only "sound"
Baptist churches are true Baptist churches
It is important for every Christian to be a member of the same organization that Christ founded during His
earthly ministry
Blunder 1 - Jesus was a Baptist (p. 5)
How shall we escape, if we neglect SO GREAT SALVATION; which at the first BEGAN
to be spoken by the Lord, and WAS CONFIRMED UNTO US by them that HEARD HIM; -- Heb.
2:3
Looking unto Jesus the AUTHOR and FINISHER of our faith . . . -- Heb.
12:2
For the law was given by Moses, but GRACE and truth CAME BY Jesus
Christ. -- John 1:17
Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the WORDS OF
ETERNAL LIFE. -- John 6:68
After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judaea . . . and
BAPTIZED . . . -- John 3:22
When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus MADE and
BAPTIZED more DISCIPLES than John, (Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,) -- John
4:1,2
Jesus spoke about the great salvation, in the gospels, later to be confirmed by
those that heard Him. He had the words of eternal life. Grace came by Jesus Christ and not by the Holy Spirit
or by Paul. One must either accept Jesus as the Author and Finisher of our faith OR ELSE the Holy Spirit and
Paul the Apostle. Jesus mission was to call sinners to repentance (Matt 9:13), to visit, redeem, and be a horn
of salvation (Luke 1:68,69), to forgive sins (Mark 2:5), to be a Saviour (Luke 2:11), to prepare salvation
before the face of ALL people and to be a light to the Gentiles (Luke 2:30-32), to seek and save the lost (Luke
19:10), to save people from their sins (Matt. 1:21), to be the Lamb of God (John 1:29) that the world might be
saved (John 3:17), to be the Saviour of Israel and of the world (John 4:42; Acts 13:23). Jesus preached the new
birth (John 3:7), eternal life by believing on Him (John 3:16,17), how to be non-condemned (John 3:17),
conversion (Matt. 18:3), instant salvation (Luke 19:9), being saved by believing the word sown in the heart
(Luke 8:12), confessing Christ before men (Matt. 10:32), deliver-ance, liberty, freedom (Luke 4:18; John 8:36).
Jesus preached the kingdom of God, before and after His death (Acts 1:3), as did John, the apostles, and Paul
(John 33,5; Luke 9:1,2; 16:16; Acts 8:12; 19:8; 20:25; 28:23,31). Jesus preached the local church, its rules,
and its authority (Matt. 16:19; 18:17,18). He preached His suffering, death, resurrection, second coming, and
His millennial Kingdom (Luke 9:22,44; Mark 8:31; 9:12; 10:34; Matt. 24:27; 19:28). Jesus baptized to
pre-picture His impending death, burial, and resurrection (Luke 12:50). After Jesus was baptized, He baptized.
He was a New Testament Baptizer (John 3:11,22; Matt. 1:21)!!!
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