What is the difference between the Church of Christ and the Baptist church?

Question

What are the differences in beliefs and rituals?

Answer 1

The two are very simular, but as the question asked, let me focus on some differences.

Many Baptists churches teach one is saved before baptism.

The church of Christ recognizes that Jesus said, "He that believes and is baptized SHALL BE saved". (Mark 16:16) The church of Christ teaches that baptism is "for the remission of sins" (Acts 2:38) and to come into Christ and come into contact with his death, where the saving blood was shed (Romans 6:3-4, Gal. 3:27, Col. 2:12). (There are some "Baptists" that also teach this.)

Many Baptists teach we are saved by "faith only".

The Church of Christ recognizes that the ONLY VERSE in the Bible that uses the phrase "faith only" says that we are "justified... NOT by faith only". (James 2:24) We are not justified by works that are of ourselves (Eph 2:8-9); works we can boast of, but obediance does have a part in our salvation (Hebrews 5:9). Jesus said, "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven." (Matt 7:21) You see, faith without works is dead being alone (James 2). (Some "Baptists" also teach this.)

Many Baptists teach that once you are saved, you cannot return to a state of being lost.

The Church of Christ teaches that God calls each of us to choose whom we will serve. (Josh 24:15) We each have free will, but there are rewards/consequences for the path we choose. (Some "Baptists" teach this also.)

Many Baptists have national headquarters or conferences that meet to decide the doctrinal position of the church.

Congregations of the church of Christ are independant. We recognize that Christ is the head and the church is his body (Eph 1:22-23). This being the case, we have no "headquarters" on earth. Rather, each congregation goes directly to the Bible to learn what we should teach and practice. The scriptures are sufficent for this purpose and we need no other authority. (2 Timothy 3:16-16, 2 Peter 1:3, Matt 28:18-20).

The question is a good one. It is tough to answer though because not all Baptist churches (Free Will, Primitive, Southern, etc.) teach the same. (The same may be said for members of the Church of Christ.)

The important thing though is, "What does the Bible say?"!!!!

In Acts 17:11, some were called "noble" because they eagerly received the word Paul preached and then searched the scripture to see if it was true! We should do this also!

Answer 2

As a former member of the Church of Christ and is now a member of a Baptist fellowship I believe there are 3 doctrines that distinguishes between the Churches of Christ and Baptist fellowships:

1. The doctrine of the fall. Churches of Christ believe or assume man is basically "good" or morally neutral, has no fallen or sinful nature- only the need of the forgivnss of sin. Thus Churches of Christ believe man can save himself by his own cooperation and obedience to the 'necessary moral and religious requirements of the New Testament'.

The Bible doesn't teach this, but rather that man is fallen, a sinner by nature, can't save himself, and therefore is in great need of a Savior. Romans 3:9-20, 23; Romans 5:12-21; Romans 7:14-25; Eph. 2:1-5

2. Their doctrine of 'salvation by faith in Jesus Christ'. Churches of Christ believe a person is 'saved by faith' when their belief causes them to cooperate and be obedient to all of the necessary moral and religious requirements of the New Testament.

Again, the Bible doesn't teach we are saved by what we do (and cannot be because of our sinful or fallen nature) but because of what Jesus did FOR us.

That is, Jesus Christ came, died on the cross, paid the FULL penality for OUR sin (i.e. God punished Jesus OUR SUBSTITUE so He wouldn't have to punish us), Jesus was burried, and God raised Him from the dead. 1 Cor. 15:1-4

How we respond to the Gospel is to BELIEVE in Him.

God's promise is that whoever trusts in Jesus Christ as Savior, will NOT perish, but HAS everlasting life. John 3:16; John 5:24; John 20:31; Romans 1:16; 1 Cor. 15:11; Gal. 2:15-16; Eph. 2:8-10

3. Their doctrine of "water" baptism for salvation or 'water baptismal remission of sins'. Churches Christ believe that a person cannot be saved until they are baptized or immersed in water.

Again the Bible doesn't teach this; There are biblically and contextually valid interpretations of the pretext verses that are often used by the Churches of Christ which show that water baptism is not necessary for salvation.

One short explanation is that when those in the Churches of Christ find 'baptism' in the Bible, they assume it is talking about "water" baptism. Yet in all four gospels and twice in the book of Acts the Word says that while 'John baptized in water, that Jesus would baptize with the Holy Spirit.' Matt. 3:11, Mark 1:8, Luke 3:16, John 1:33, Acts 1:4-5 and Acts 10:34-48; Acts 11:15-17

Thus water baptism, which is what the Churches of Christ are usually trusting in for salvation, is simply a sign or symbol of the believer's true, acutal, or Holy Spirit baptism which occures at conversion.

1 Cor. 12:13 says that "For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit."

Titus 3:5 "He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,"

Answer 3

The law As a former deacon in the church of Christ; let me pose the following concept/assertion.
The term 'church of Christ' gets used for several 'religious' groups; so be careful. The group I came from; allowed no instrumental music; baptism by water immersion only; independent congregations a 'scriptural' must; etc.
The law of Moses is reffered to as the old testament (KJV) in 2 Cor. 3:13-14).

I am literally (including this week' in the process of trying to change that 'approach' (scripturally).
It stems from the belief the 'old testament' is Genesis-Malachi and the old testament was done away (Hebrews). I currently believe the 'old testament' was done away; but it is the 'law of Moses'. (Combine 2 Tim. 3:16-17, and Matt. 18:16, 2 Cor. 13:1).

Answer 4

The Church of Christ is not really a mainline denomination. They interpret from a very narrow fundamentalist view. I tried going there and they quote from the church letters of Paul and don't really want to know anything about how the Lord is the only God of heaven and how the Lord is a marriage of divine Good and divine Truth and this is where this saying came from:

Charity, faith and good works - a trinity that each person can have if they love God.

Answer 5

There is no room for rituals in the worship of God, only his comandments.


The first thing I can think of is the Baptist
believe in Baptizem after being saved.
The Church of Christ, which is the Church Christ built goes just by the scripture.
Acts 2:38
Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
John 3:5
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man BE BORN AGAIN, he CANNOT see the kingdom of God.
John 2:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he CANNOT enter into the kingdom of God.
6- That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7-Marvel not that I said unto thee, YE MUST BE BORN AGAIN.

Baptist believe in the rapture.

They do not take the Lords Supper EVERY first day of the week.
Acts 20:7
And upon THE first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow:

The Baptist use music in there worship service, which is not comanded in the new testament.
Revelation22:19
And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

Some of the Baptist in our area will cancel a worship service if it is on a holiday.

Baptist think Christmas is Christ birthday and celebrate it in their services. No where are we told to celebrate Christ birthday. We are told to celebrate his resurection. Rev. 22:19

The Church belongs to Christ. What should the name of the church be. Who is Baptist?

Acts 8:12 preach in his name
Acts 4:12 saved in his name
Acts 2:38 Baptise in his name
Matthew 18:20 gather in his name
John 14:13 ask in his name
Col 3:17 do all in his name
1 Cor 1:10 unity in Christ

The Church of Christ worship God.
We sing, pray, take the Lords Supper, study, give of our means.

Answer 6

Jesus plus anything = works salvation... baptismal regeneration = works salvation. Not by the works of the Law can anyone be justified.... Jim

Answer 7

The man made doctrines they teach and the theory of their belief.