When we read our English Bibles, we must remember that the word hell is one English word used to translate various Hebrew and Greek words. The next few posts will focus on the Greek words hades and gehenna, both of which have often been translated in the New Testament as hell.
Due to the Roman Catholic leaders’ equivocation regarding hell being populated by the lost, Reformed Baptists cannot affirm, partner, nor worship in or with members of the Roman Catholic Church. We may both profess the Nicene Creed, but we do not hold to the same meaning.
The Catholic Church teaches baptismal regeneration, but Reformed Baptists reject that doctrine. Instead, the Holy Spirit regenerates by the Word and not by the water.
I am with John Knox who declared the Mass to be idolatry. Catholics worship the bread and wine rather than Jesus Christ whom the bread and wine represent.
For the honor of our Lord and Savior, we must condemn the Papacy and put our hope in Jesus. He alone is the head and sustainer of His bride—the church.
Roman Catholics confess the Nicene Creed too, but they mean something different than we Reformed Baptists. While confessing Jesus’ deity, they simultaneously treat Mary as if she is a god whom we should worship.
Having a biblically oriented understanding of the birth of our Lord makes for better Scripture reading, learning, and preaching. Truth will always uplift over tradition, especially when those legends of tradition are in error.
“We disagree with our Baptist brothers who say baptism is only a believer speaking or making a profession. But at the same time, we disagree with our Reformed brothers who say only God is speaking in baptism.”
Baptism is a visible gospel sermon that displays many facets of our salvation.
It is not irresponsible to ask those adherents of the Textus Receptus or the Received Text, “Which TR?”