god speaks through tradition

G O D S P E A K S T H R O U G H T R A D I T I O N

PA S S I N G F O R W A R D O F VA L U E S , B E L I E F S , A N D C U S T O M S F R O M G E N E R AT I O N T O G E N E R AT I O N

T H E S E C O M M A N D M E N T S T H AT I G I V E Y O U T O D AY A R E T O B E U P O N Y O U R H E A R T S . I M P R E S S T H E M O N Y O U R C H I L D R E N . TA L K A B O U T T H E M W H E N Y O U S I T AT H O M E A N D W H E N Y O U W A L K A L O N G T H E R O A D , W H E N Y O U L I E D O W N A N D W H E N Y O U G E T U P. T I E T H E M A S S Y M B O L S O N Y O U R H A N D S A N D B I N D T H E M O N Y O U R F O R E H E A D S . W R I T E T H E M O N T H E D O O R F R A M E O F Y O U R H O U S E S A N D O N Y O U R G AT E S .

D E U T E R O N O M Y 6 : 4 - 9

I H AV E B E E N R E M I N D E D O F Y O U R S I N C E R E FA I T H , W H I C H F I R S T L I V E D I N Y O U R G R A N D M O T H E R L O I S A N D I N Y O U R M O T H E R E U N I C E A N D , I A M P E R S U A D E D , N O W L I V E S I N Y O U A L S O . F O R T H I S R E A S O N , I R E M I N D Y O U T O FA N I N T O F L A M E T H E G I F T O F G O D , W H I C H I S I N Y O U T H R O U G H T H E L AY I N G O N O F M Y H A N D S .

I I T I M O T H Y 1 : 5 - 6

B E D I L I G E N T I N T H E S E M AT T E R S ; G I V E Y O U R S E L F W H O L LY T O T H E M , S O T H AT E V E R Y O N E M AY S E E Y O U R P R O G R E S S . W AT C H Y O U R L I F E A N D D O C T R I N E C L O S E LY. P E R S E V E R E I N T H E M , B E C A U S E I F Y O U D O , Y O U W I L L S AV E B O T H Y O U R S E L F A N D Y O U R H E A R E R S .

I T I M O T H Y 4 : 1 5 - 1 6

B E D I L I G E N T I N T H E S E M AT T E R S ; G I V E Y O U R S E L F W H O L LY T O T H E M , S O T H AT E V E R Y O N E M AY S E E Y O U R P R O G R E S S . W AT C H Y O U R L I F E A N D D O C T R I N E C L O S E LY. P E R S E V E R E I N T H E M , B E C A U S E I F Y O U D O , Y O U W I L L S AV E B O T H Y O U R S E L F A N D Y O U R H E A R E R S .

I T I M O T H Y 4 : 1 5 - 1 6

• “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”

• Acts 2:36

• unify the church

• encapsulate the Gospel

• fight heresy

Sola fide

A M E R I C A N B A P T I S T D I S T I N C T I V E

Our tradition emphasizes the Lordship and atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ, believers’ baptism, the competency of all believers to be in direct relationship with God and to interpret Scripture, the importance of the local church, the assurance of freedom in

worship and opinion, and the need to be Christ’s witnesses within society.

I N S I G H T S

• Appreciate the durability of the biblical story

• Convey time-tested wisdom to the present

• Challenge and correct temporal thought

• Guide toward a more robust faith in practice

L I M I TAT I O N S

• Previously unknown realities

• New information and knowledge

“ T H E L I V I N G C O R E O F T H E C H R I S T I A N FA I T H

W A S R E V E A L E D I N S C R I P T U R E , I L L U M I N E D B Y

T R A D I T I O N , V I V I F I E D I N P E R S O N A L E X P E R I E N C E ,

A N D C O N F I R M E D B Y R E A S O N . S C R I P T U R E I S

P R I M A R Y, R E V E A L I N G T H E W O R D O F G O D S O FA R A S

I T I S N E C E S S A R Y F O R O U R S A LVAT I O N . ”

– P E T E R M E I D E R L I N , 1 6 2 6

“In essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, and in all

things charity.”

“You are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.”

Ephesians 2:19-21