Baptist General Conference
The Baptist General Conference is a national evangelical Baptist group of churches who help people to understand the good news of Jesus Christ. The mission of the Baptist General Conference is to help Conference churches to fulfill their mission in Christ locally, nationally and internationally. The conversion of Christians is their center most endeavor under the guidance and the authority of the Scriptures. They bring the message that any man, woman or child is loved by God in spite of the fact they purposefully choose to do wrong, that can turn to Jesus Christ and find forgiveness and then find the help they need to change. Evangelism and church planning are two of the main goals of The Baptist General Conference.
The Baptist General Conference holds the Bible to be the eternally centered and dependable Word of God. The Bible gives the message of redeeming grace and the deliverance from the guilt and power of sin according to their doctrine. The Baptist General Conference is theological conservative based upon the fundamentals of their faith. They feel it is their responsibility to tell the whole story of Jesus to all nations. They choose to be non-argumentative in any of the lesser matters of religion.
History
The Baptist General Conference holds its roots in the Swedish Pietism and grew out of the great revival of the 19th century. It was Gustof Palmquist who emigrated from Sweden to the United States in 1852. Gustof Palmquist and three others organized a Swedish Baptist church in rock Island, Illinois.
Another pioneer was John Edgren who founded the Swedish Baptist Seminary at Chicago, Illinois in 1871. The General conference was formed in 1879 and incorporated into the American society. The joining with the American society the Swedish Baptist lost its ethnic identity. English was spoken by most of these churches by 1940; by 1945 the Swedish Baptists General Conference became the Baptist General Conference of America.
Some of the Swedish Baptists merged with the Northern Baptist Convention. When the Northern Baptist Convention changed their theological priorities, the more conservative Swedish Baptists rejected the Northern Baptists and went on their own. It was in 1944 when the conservative Swedish Baptists formed their own Board of Foreign Missions. This gave the Swedish Baptists an independent existence. They have remained the Baptist General Conference. The Baptist General Conference works together with the National Association of Evangelicals, the Baptist Joint committee on Public Affairs, and the Baptist World alliance. The Bethel University near St. Paul, Minnesota and the Bethel Theological Seminary is operated by The Baptist General Conference.
Belief
The Baptist General Conference believes God forgives anyone of their sins who comes to Him because of the death of Jesus and His personal suffering for every person. Jesus is called the Savior of the world. His resurrection is the proof that God forgives sins.
The Baptist General Conference believes the Bible is the Word of God. The Bible is inspired and without errors and written by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. The Bible has the supreme authority in all matters of faith and all matters of human conduct.
The Baptist General Conference believes there is one living and true God, who eternally exists in three persons; God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit, these three are equal.
The Baptist General Conference believes God, the Father is an infinite, personal spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom and in love. God, the Father hears and answers prayers. God the Father saves all who come to Him through His Son, Jesus Christ from sin and death.
The Baptist General Conference believes Jesus Christ is the Only Begotten Son of God the Father. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit of the Virgin Mary. Jesus Christ lived a sinless life upon earth. They believe Jesus Christ was the substitute for the atoning death, His bodily resurrection, and His ascension into heaven. Jesus Christ is forever the intercession for those belonging to Him, and will visible return to earth for all to see.
The Baptist General Conference believes the Holy Spirit comes from the Father and the Son to convict the world of sin. The Holy Spirit empowers, regenerates and sanctifies all who believe in Jesus Christ. The Baptist General Conference believes the Holy Spirit is an indwelling in every believer who claims Jesus Christ and is there to aid, help, teach, and guides all believer.
The Baptist General Conference believes all people are sinners by nature and by choice. Those who would repent of their sins and believe in Jesus Christ as their savior are regenerated by the Holy Spirit and are reborn.
The Baptist General Conference believes in the universal church, as being a living spiritual body of Christ as its head. The local churches are believers who believe in Jesus Christ and are baptized on a confession of faith. They work, worship and have fellowship with fellow believers whose primary work is giving the gospel of Jesus Christ to the lost of the world.
The Baptist General Conference believes in two ordinances of the local churches. Baptism is by immersion in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Lord’s Supper was instituted by Jesus Christ to remember His death.
The Baptist General Conference believes every human can have a direct relationship with God. They are responsible for themselves in their relationship with God in all matters of faith and church life. They believe there should be a separation of Church and State.
The Baptist General Conference believes in the personal and visible return of the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus will return to earth to establish His Kingdom. They believe in the resurrection of the body and the Final Judgment.
Cite Article Source
MLA Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne “Baptist General Conference:.” Becker Bible Studies Library Jan 2006.<https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=2556,>.
APA Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne (2006, January) “Baptist General Conference:. ” Becker Bible Studies Library. Retrieved from https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=2556,.
Chicago Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne (2006) “Baptist General Conference:.” Becker Bible Studies Library (January), https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=2556, (accessed).
