Why I Am A Baptist

John R. Gilpin

(1905-1974)

There is hardly a week that goes by that somebody doesn’t write me, call me, or talk to me personally to remind me of the “fact” that “There is virtually no difference between Baptists and everybody else in the world, and therefore you should not (so these individuals tell us) make any difference, nor in any wise at all emphasize the fact that we are Baptists.” I don’t agree with that in any sense of the word.

I have a very definite conviction concerning church truth, and those convictions beloved are very dearly bought. I wasn’t a Baptist in the years gone by as a boy. In fact I am not a Baptist because my mother and father were Baptists before me. I am not a Baptist because of a Baptist upbringing. The fact of the matter is I spent most of my life as a young boy attending a Campbellite church. That’s one reason why that I have no use for Campbellism today; I know it from top to bottom, inside and outside. I have no use in this world for Campbellism, and I like to emphasize the truths that Baptists hold dear. I read in God’s Word that it says, “Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear” (1 Peter 3:15) and tonight I want to give you some reasons why I am a Baptist, and I give them to you with “meekness and fear.”

I

First of all, I am a Baptist because the first Baptist that this world ever knew anything about came from God. We read, “There was a man sent from God, whose name was John” (John 1:6). John came in obedience to God; God sent him. He then, was a missionary, that is, one who has been sent. Thus the Scriptures tell us that John the Baptist came as a missionary from God. As you turn through the Word of God, you’ll find that the first Baptist was named John, that is, John the Baptist.

His birth, I might say, was God appointed: he came from God, he originated not with man, not of himself. As I realize that this first Baptist came from God, I ask the question: Why should I then not be a Baptist? What other religious leader and founder on this side of the birth of Christ could show such a commanding record as that of John the Baptist? I say that the first Baptist the world ever saw came from God.

Where did the first Greek Catholic come from, and what was his name?

Where did the first Roman Catholic come from, and what was his name?

Where did the first Lutheran come from, and what was his name?

Where did the first Episcopalian come from, and what was his name?

Where did the first Presbyterian come from and what was his name?

Where did the first Methodist come from, and what was his name?

Where did the first Campbellite come from, and what was his name?

Now I ask you these seven questions, and not one of those seven questions can be answered with the Bible. You can turn through the Bible from one end to another and you’ll never find a Greek Catholic, Roman Catholic, Lutheran, Episcopalian, Presbyterian, Methodist nor Campbellite in all the pages of the Word of God. Where did the first missionary Baptist come from? Beloved, that answer is found in the Word of God, the New Testament, and no place else.

We read,

“In those days came John the Baptist” (Matthew 3:1).

“There hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist” (Matthew 11:11).

“And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence” (Matthew 11:12).

“This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead” (Matthew 14:2).

“Give me here John Baptist’s head in a charger” (Matthew 14:8).

“And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist” (Matthew 16:14).

“Then the disciples understood that He spake unto them of John the Baptist” (Matthew 17:13).

“The head of John the Baptist” (Mark 6:24).

“I will that thou give me by and by in a charger the head of John the Baptist” (Mark 6:25).

“And they answered, John the Baptist” (Mark 8:28).

“John Baptist hath sent us unto thee” (Luke 7:20).

“John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine” (Luke 7:33).

“They answering said, John the Baptist” (Luke 9:19).

Now beloved, here are thirteen times that you find the name Baptist in the New Testament. I say to you, the only name of any religious view today that is to be found in the New Testament is the name Baptist, and it occurs thirteen times in the New Testament. I might go further and say this, that the word “John” (referring to John the Baptist) occurs ninety-two times and the New Testament. In view of the fact that you cannot find the first Greek Catholic, Roman Catholic, Lutheran, Methodist Episcopalian, Presbyterian or Campbellite in the Bible, yet you do find the first Baptist in the Bible. And in view of the fact that you find him called a Baptist thirteen times, and in view the fact that you find him mentioned ninety two times in the New Testament in the name of John; in view of these facts I say to you I am a Baptist beloved, because the first Baptist came from God.

II

In the second place, I am a Baptist because the immersion of the first church was likewise from heaven. We read, “And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. {33} And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water …” (John 1:32-33) Not only did the first Baptist come from God, but the immersion of the first Baptist likewise was from heaven. John the Baptist had authority to baptize given him directly from God the Father in heaven. Listen, “And when He was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto Him as He was teaching, and said, By what authority doest Thou these things? and who gave Thee this authority? {24} And Jesus answered and said unto them, I also will ask you one thing, which if ye tell Me, I in like wise will tell you by what authority I do these things. {25} The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; He will say unto us, Why did ye not then believe him? {26} But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet. {27} And they answered Jesus, and said, We cannot tell. And He said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things” (Matthew 21:23-27).

Now brothers, here is a passage of Scripture that is worthy of our deepest consideration. The question of religious authority was raised; the question came up as to John’s authority. Where did he get it? Did he get his authority from God, or did he get it from man? The crowd to whom Jesus was speaking refused to answer the question. They said, “If we say John got his authority from man, we are going to endanger our lives. If we say he got his authority from heaven then Jesus is going to say to us, Why then didn’t you believe him?”

Beloved, the man who is called with authority from God to immerse had authority, I say, from God himself to immerse suitable subjects. That man, John the Baptist, had the authority to immerse directly from heaven itself. A lot of people today say that John’s baptism wasn’t Christian baptism. All I can say is this: If Jesus Christ went to John and was baptized, if it was good enough for the Lord Jesus Christ, it’s certainly good enough for me.

The twelve original apostles were all baptized by John the Baptist. If it was good enough for the apostles, then it’s good enough for me.

The church, that I shall show you presently, that was organized by the Lord Jesus Christ, was organized out of the material that was prepared by John the Baptist (John 1:35-37). If Jesus used the material that John the Baptist had prepared by way of baptism, then I say that the baptism of John the Baptist ought to be good enough for us. In light of this I say to you beloved, John’s baptism is just as good as gold and diamonds. Any place you go in this world, gold and diamonds are accepted standards. The Lord Jesus Christ accepted the baptism of John the Baptist (John 4:1-2). Whatever God himself authorized from heaven is surely good enough for us today. I say to you, I am a Baptist, first of all, because the first Baptist that came into this world came from God. And in the second place, I am a Baptist because the immersion of the first Baptist was likewise from heaven. If God sent him down to baptize then I am not one bit ashamed of the fact that I am a Baptist.

III

And the third place, I am a Baptist because a Baptist baptized the Lord Jesus Christ. We read, “Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. {14} But John forbad Him, saying, I have need to be baptized of Thee, and comest Thou to me? {15} And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered Him” (Matthew 3:13-15).

Jesus, I say, was immersed. He was baptized by John the Baptist, the first Baptist preacher, the first Baptist the world ever saw, a man who had authority from heaven to baptize. If the Lord Jesus Christ took baptism at the hands of a Baptist, then I certainly thank my God that back there, as a lad of sixteen, I likewise was baptized at the hands of a Baptist preacher who had authority from the local Baptist church to baptize me into the fellowship of that church. I come to the Word of God and I find that it says we are to follow the example of the Lord Jesus Christ. We read, “Because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps” (1 Peter 2:21). Now if all men would follow His steps there would be one Lord, one faith, and one baptism. If all men, I say, would follow in His steps we would never have had but one church in this world because Jesus went to a Baptist for His baptism. I say to you I am a Baptist because a Baptist baptized the Lord Jesus Christ and He set us an example. If He set us an example, then every one of us ought to go to a Baptist preacher with authority from the local Baptist church for baptism today.

IV

In the fourth place, I am a Baptist because Baptist immersion is the only kind of baptism where the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit ever manifested themselves at one time. The subject (for baptism) was the Son. The Father spoke audibly from heaven, and the Holy Spirit came down in the form of a dove and lighted upon Him. All three persons of the Trinity were present at this Baptist baptism. Listen: “And Jesus, when He was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon Him: {17} And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:16-17). Beloved, that’s Baptist baptism, that’s Baptist immersion. It is the only time where the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit ever manifested themselves at the same time. Now I am a strong believer in the Triune God, and that Triune God was all there the day that a Baptist preformed baptism relative to Jesus Christ. I say Jesus was there in person to be baptized. He traveled some 60 miles across the sandy soils of Palestine to come where John the Baptist was by the river Jordan to ask for baptism of this first Baptist preacher that the world ever saw. When Jesus was baptized, God the Father looked down from heaven and said, “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17). Now, why was He pleased? Among other things He was pleased with the fact that Jesus Christ had been immersed just then by the first Baptist preacher the world ever saw. He was pleased that Jesus Christ had been immersed by the first Baptist that had been sent into this world with authority to baptize. The Father said, I am well pleased; then after the Father had spoken, the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove came down and lighted upon the Lord Jesus Christ and put His stamp of approval upon both what the Father had said and also the baptism of Jesus Himself in the water. I ask then, why should not I honor the kind of baptism that the Three in One does honor?

On that day as a lad when I went down into the water and was baptized by a Baptist preacher, I honored that baptism that day; I honored it by my example. And since that time, as I have preached, I’ve honored that baptism that was honored with the presence of the Savior. Since that time, as I have written with my pen, I have always honored that same baptism. I say to you beloved, Baptist baptism is the only kind of baptism where the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit were ever present. I am a missionary Baptist because of it.

V

In the fifth place, I am a Baptist because the first Baptist church was organized by the Lord Jesus Christ himself. Jesus had had baptism at the hands of John the Baptist who was the first Baptist that this world had ever seen, having been sent from heaven and who had authority from heaven to baptize. Now, the Lord Jesus Christ took the material that John the Baptist had prepared and provided, and organized the church Himself (John 1:35-51, 4:1-2).

Beloved, listen: either Jesus Christ chose His bride or somebody else chose it. What’s more rational to you? Did Jesus Christ choose His bride or did He leave it up to somebody else? I ask you, would it be more rational and more reasonable for you to choose your bride or for somebody else to choose that bride for you? I think you know the answer. The Lord Jesus Christ, I say, chose His blessed bride. Listen; He said, “Have not I chosen you twelve?” (John 6:70). Again, “Ye have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you” (John 15:16). And again, “But I have chosen you out of the world” (John 15:19). And again, “I know whom I have chosen” (John 13:18). Beloved, I say to you the Lord Jesus Christ chose His own bride, and the bride that Jesus Christ chose were the twelve men, the twelve apostles that had received Baptist baptism at the hands of John the Baptist the first Baptist the world ever saw; the only man that had authority direct from heaven to baptize. In view of that fact I say that the first Baptist church was organized by the Lord Jesus Christ.

VI

In the sixth place, I am a Baptist because Baptist preachers are the only kind that were ever ordained of Jesus Christ. Whenever you hear some of these modern heretics say that they have authority, or when some of the modern heretics preach and it sounds good as to what they have to say, just remember this: Baptist preachers are the only ones that were ever ordained of the Lord Jesus Christ. Listen, “Ye have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in My name, He may give it you” (John 15:16). Notice He said, “I chose you and I ordained you.” I contend beloved that the only preachers that could ever say they were ordained of God were Baptists, for Baptist preachers were the only ones who were ever ordained of the Lord Jesus Christ. If that be true (and certainly it is) the only other one thing that remains is that Baptist preachers were the only ones set apart and ordained by the Lord Jesus Christ, then we certainly ought to keep in line with that crowd that were started back there a long time ago.

When I was ordained nearly fifty years ago I remember very distinctly that there was a Methodist preacher there during the ordination. I suppose he lived and died a Methodist preacher, but he had been a friend of mine for a number of years and he attended the ordination services. Due to the fact that he had been a friend, the church that ordained me actually invited the man to sit in, not as a part of the council, but to sit in the council chamber when I was being questioned. He was invited to sit there. I have often thought, as I look back upon it, when the Lord Jesus Christ ordained preachers He ordained only Baptist preachers; those that had been baptized by John the Baptist. And when I think about this Methodist man who sat (listening) on the council of my ordination, I’m wondering if he ever caught the truth of the church that Jesus built? Many times I have thought of that experience and I said, how blind can a man be? To think that he sat in on my ordination, and listened to the questions and my answers, and heard me say specifically that Jesus Christ established only a Baptist church and none other, and that all preachers that we’re God sent were Baptist preachers, and yet he died a Methodist preacher. I am a Baptist beloved because the Lord Jesus Christ only ordained Baptist preachers.

VII

In the seventh place, I am a Baptist beloved, because the Baptists were the only ones - and I repeat beloved - they were the only ones to whom the Lord Jesus Christ gave a commission. We read, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world (age). Amen” (Matthew 28:19-20). Now when was this commission given? Now you say, “It was given to the twelve as individuals.” If it was, then it died when they died. I contend beloved it was given to the twelve as a corporate body, that is, as the church that Jesus built. In other words, the commission was given to those preachers comprising the church of the Lord Jesus Christ. Baptist preachers are the only ones that the Lord Jesus Christ ever commissioned, and He commissioned them through His church.

How about these other folks (that are not Baptists) who go out and preach? I say beloved they are running without being sent. They are going without any command. They’re traveling on their own. They have no authority and no commission back of them. I contend that there has never been a man - other than those who have gone out from Baptist churches that have a linkage, a succession back to the Lord Jesus Christ, - there has never been a man except that group that can say he has a commission from God.

Beloved, I am a Baptist and I want you to be a Baptist. I am so concerned about the future. When I think about our brethren over this country how they are so divided, and about the many problems as far as Baptists are concerned, it is a grief to me. I want, to the best of my ability, to help men and women all over the country see that Jesus was a Baptist who was baptized by the first Baptist the world ever saw. He started a Baptist church and He gave the Baptists the commission to evangelize the world.

VIII

In the eighth place, I am a Baptist because Baptists are the only ones that preach the truth concerning salvation. I’m not talking about baptism. None of the religious groups or Protestants are right on baptism. I’m not talking about the Lord’s Supper; none of them are right on the Lord’s Supper. The only people in the world that preach the truth as to salvation are Baptists. How about the Campbellites? They tell you to be baptized and you meet the blood of Jesus Christ in the water; that’s just all foolishness. How about the Methodists? They tell you to come to an altar of prayer and pray through, and yet beloved you’ll never find an altar of prayer in all of the Word of God. How about the Romanists? They tell you to confess to the priests, and yet there’s not one thing said in the Word of God that would back this up. How about the many holiness groups? They say if you sin again you will be lost and have to be saved again; that’s just plumb foolishness. How about the Jews? They say to live a good life and be circumcised. Now beloved that doesn’t make sense that a man would be saved by being circumcised. These questions can all be answered by saying that not one of these so-called churches believe in salvation by grace alone; plus nothing, minus nothing. Baptists and Baptists alone believe and preach salvation by grace alone. I say to you again, study every denomination and you’ll find there’s only one that preaches salvation by grace and by grace alone, and that’s the missionary Baptists. Beloved, I am a Baptist because of it.

As I think about those of you listening this morning, I have a burning desire in my heart to see some of you saved, I have more than a burning desire to see you become a child of God. In addition to that, I have an exceeding desire to see you become a Baptist. I want to see you become a Baptist, the kind that Jesus started a few thousand years ago. Might it please God this morning to reach down and bless your soul, and may He take the few stammering words that I have spoken and use these words to be a blessing to you spiritually and to cause you to desire to be a member of the church that Jesus built. May God bless you.

August 9, 1970