Our Principles & Purposes

The Baptist Standard Bearer, Incorporated:

  • is committed to the Holy Scriptures as the inspired, inerrant and authoritative Word of God (Matthew 5:17-18; John 10:35) the final rule for all Christian faith and practice (Isaiah 8:20). It is also committed to the LORD Jesus Christ, as God’s only provision (John 14:6) for man’s salvation, who as King of the Saints (Rev. 15:3), is the sum, substance and central focus of that exclusive Gospel of Grace (Galatians 1:6-9) which the Holy Scriptures proclaim. Salvation is manifested by a genuine recognition of and submission to Christ’s Divine Nature, Messianic Offices, solely Sufficient Sacrifice for Sin and Kingly Authority (Luke 6:46; Romans 10:9-10; Hebrews 3:1ff.).
  • considers the First (1644) and Second (1677) London and Philadelphia (1742) Confessions of Faith to be the best presentations and understandings of that perfect system of interconnected doctrines and practices set forth in the Holy Scriptures.
  • understands all the teachings of Holy Scripture (i.e., history, narrative, prophecy, poetry, doctrine, practice, and experience) to be part of one consistent, harmonious system. God is one and His truth is one. Hence, the Scriptures speak of “One Gospel” (Galatians 1:6-9) and “One Lord, One Faith and One Baptism” (Ephesians 4:4-5) and so they speak of “the Faith” once delivered unto the saints (Jude 3). God’s glory is the one supreme end of all things (Romans 11:36; Proverbs 16:4) and He has especially determined to declare and exhibit “the glory of His grace” (Ephesians 1:1-6; 2:7;). This grace is preeminently set forth “in Christ Jesus” (John 1:16-17; 2 Timothy 1:9). Christ is Himself the primary means of bringing honor and glory to God (John 8:49-50; 17:1-4; Philippians 2:11; 1 Peter 4:11). If we would honor God, we must honor and glorify Christ (John 5:23). Christ’s glory is supremely revealed in the plan of salvation, for “His glory is great in thy Salvation” (Psalms 21:5) and thereby “God is glorified in Him” (John 13:31-32). Hence, in declaring and exalting Salvation by Grace, in lifting up the Doctrines of Grace, we honor Christ and this honors and glorifies God. To demean, or object to or oppose the Doctrines of Grace is to rob Christ and God of their glory.
  • perceives in Scripture that God cannot and does not contradict Himself (2 Timothy 2:13). Hence, there can be no contradiction between God’s doctrines and His precepts. All of His positive commands are and must be in absolute harmony with His doctrinal truths. As Dr. Howard Osgood said 1880, “There can be no contradiction between His doctrines of salvation and His precepts concerning His churches. . .the churches must be, in their origin and continuance, in exact accordance with the Doctrines of God’s Grace to man”. This must be so because the churches are themselves visible manifestations of God’s saving grace at work in men. Furthermore, the Apostle Paul teaches that each church, each assembly of saints (being composed of those called and gathered by God’s Grace) is a vehicle or means of bringing “glory to God by Christ Jesus throughout all ages” (Ephesians 3:20-21). Therefore, if we would honor and glorify God, we must honor Christ and Salvation by Grace and His churches wherein this salvation is exhibited and proclaimed. We must honor that which honors God. We cannot, we do not honor “Christ or Salvation by Grace” if we separate that salvation from its outward manifestation exhibited in calling, conversion, profession of faith, discipleship, church-membership, etc..
  • is convinced that the Baptists or Believers'-Church people have affirmed and practiced a doctrine of the Church more consistent with Salvation by Grace than any other group. Therefore, Baptist theology, ecclesiology, history, etc., reflect those things that most consistently honor God and Christ, and which are, consequently, most beneficial to the people of God.
  • In light of the above convictions, The Baptist Standard Bearer, Inc., was organized for the primary purpose of the Republication and Preservation of materials reflecting the Baptist or Believers'-Church Heritage. This purpose was and is multifaceted, containing several interconnected objectives relative to the Historic, Bible-Believing, Evangelical Baptist Faith. These points are elaborated upon at length in the “Publisher's Foreword” of our society’s edition of Dr. John Gill’s, A Complete Body of Doctrinal and Practical Divinity, pages vi-xiv. In summary, our interconnected primary objectives relative to historic Baptist materials are as follows:
    • ~ REPUBLICATION
    • ~ PRESERVATION
    • ~ DISSEMINATION
    • ~ CLARIFICATION
    • ~ EVANGELIZATION
    • ~ EDUCATION
    • ~ EDIFICATION

Our Motto:

sermo tuus veritas est — Thy Word is Truth

Our Objective and Purpose

Holding aloft the Standard of Unlimited Submission to Christ’s Kingly Office, Mediatorial Lordship and Authoritative Word thereby helping preserve the Distinctive Heritage and Evidence of Christ’s Chosen and Gathered People.