Deacon Johnny Angala Jr.

– Morning Worship Service January 8, 2023

The LANDMARKS OF BAPTISTS FAITH

Jud_1:3  Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for
me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once
delivered unto the saints.
Jud 1:4  For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this
condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only
Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. 
(Prov 22:28) "Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set."
In many of the Oriental countries, including early Israel, property boundaries were not marked by
fences. Such lines were indicated by heaps of small stones, or by a certain ridge, or even posts. It was
easy for a dishonest man to remove these landmarks; thus, little by little each year, and gradually
encroach upon this neighbor. A curse was pronounced upon those who removed the landmarks. The
Jews, as well as other countries, had stringent laws against the removal of landmarks.

We see the proverbial warning (Prov 22:28) "Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have
set."
This warning still has with it the enforcement of the curse.
(Deu 27:17) "Cursed be he that removeth his neighbour's landmark. And all the people shall say, Amen."
To remove the landmarks was considered theft, and four different times in the Bible we see warnings
about this crime.

To make this a spiritual application I want to dwell on certain areas in which men have removed the
ancient landmark that was practiced by our fathers in the faith.

Mankind has been removing the landmarks of biblical doctrine for centuries. Each time a landmark is
removed or destroyed, the doctrine of Jesus Christ is damaged. The N.T. Baptist Church of today
typically does not resemble the church during the time of Christ, or even Paul.

I do have good news for you though. The doctrines may be damaged; there may be even some of them
destroyed, but the truth rolls on and on that Jesus Christ will rule and reign forever and forever. That
cannot be changed. It cannot be moved. It can’t even be challenged. (Rev 1:18) "I am he that liveth, and
was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death."

I. THE LANDMARK OF SALVATION BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH Ephesians 2:8-9

(Eph 2:8) "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:"
(Eph 2:9) "Not of works, lest any man should boast."

A. Salvation Can Be Only By Grace Through Faith.

1. Any other kind of salvation is by or of works. If works salvation were possible it would
be good only as long as the works lasted. When the works ended, so would salvation.

B. Too Many New Gospels Are Being Presented That Omit Grace And Faith.

Paul warned of “another gospel”. (Gal 1:6) "I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called
you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:"
(Gal 1:7) "Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of
Christ."
(Gal 1:8) "But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which
we have preached unto you, let him be accursed."
(Gal 1:9) "As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that
ye have received, let him be accursed."

1. The Gospel of wealth. If you have a certain amount of money, you can enter into
heaven. Jesus told Nicodemus that no one could enter without being born again. (John 3:3) "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.”
2. The Gospel of man. This is when man determines what is required to bring salvation.

If it is another gospel, it is the gospel according to man.

C. Nearly Every Religious Group Has Removed Salvation By Grace Except the Baptists.
1. Baptists have always taught and believed that salvation comes only by grace through
faith in the finished works of Christ.
2. Any other message is false and will damn a person’s soul to hell.

The Grace part is: There is nothing within you that would warrant any recognition from God. You are
wicked and sinful. Sin reigns and controls your every thought and motivation, yet grace provides a way
out of that sinful condition.

The Faith part is: Christ died on the cross for sin and was buried and rose again on the third day. Because
of grace you and I can place our faith in Christ and receive forgiveness of our sin. That is salvation by
grace through faith.

D. Our Founding Fathers Established This Country On Salvation By Grace. May we not remove
it. To remove this “old landmark” is to doom our soul to hell.

Let’s keep the “old landmark” of Salvation By Grace a hot item of topic in any and all preaching today.

II. THE LANDMARK OF BAPTISM

To have biblical baptism, it must be administered in a certain way. As kids in the swimming hole we
would baptize each other. We went through the motions, but it wasn’t Bible baptism.

There must be:

A. The Proper Authority - There can be only one authority. A Local N.T. Baptist Church.

Baptism is a N.T. Ordinance. It can only be carried out by a true N.T. Baptist Local Church. To remove
that is to remove the doctrine of N.T. baptism. Baptism must be performed by the proper authority.

A local N.T. Baptist Church is the only church with the authority to baptize converts. No other church has
that authority. Most people do not understand the doctrine of church authority.

Every command of evangelization;

 Every command of discipleship was given to the local church. There are no separate, individual
ministries that can qualify scripturally and not be under a local church authority. That’s the way the
Book reads.
Every college or Bible School must be under a local church.
Every ministry must be under a local church.
Every religious organizationmust be under a local church.
Every evangelistic enterprise must be under a local church.
Every personal or private ministry must be under a local church.
Every missionary, or mission work must be under a local church.

Any other approach than through a local church disqualifies it as being scriptural.

(Mat 28:19) "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of
the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:"

We know from Scripture that this command in Matt. 28 was given to the Local N.T. Church. That settles
it. There can be no other issue concerning the matter.

Many have removed the landmark of scriptural baptism. The proper authority is the local N.B. Baptist
Church.

B. The Proper Mode.

1. The only mode given in the Bible is by “emersion.”
2. John’s baptism was emersion.
(Mat 3:5) "Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan,"
(Mat 3:6) "And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins."

Notice that phrase “in Jordan”. That means “emersed in the Jordan River;” not “of Jordan” or, “by
Jordan”, but “in Jordan”.
3. Jesus was emersed in baptism. (Mat 3:13) "Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan
unto John, to be baptized of him."
4. The N.T. saints all baptized in water. (Acts 8:38) "And he commanded the chariot to
stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him."

May we not allow that “Old Landmark of Scriptural Baptism to be removed.

The Proper Authority: The Local Church

The Proper Mode: Emersion.

C. A Proper Candidate.
1. A born again person.
2. A person that has made a profession of faith in the finished works of the Lord Jesus
Christ.

Any baptism other than this is not a scriptural baptism. If you were not baptized by the proper authority,
the proper mode, and if you were not a proper candidate, then you need to be baptized again. You do
not have Scriptural Baptism. Without Scriptural Baptism you are not qualified to partake in the Lord’s
Supper.
That’s why Baptist churches do not accept baptisms of other churches that are not of like faith and
practice.

III. THE LANDMARK OF CHURCH MEMBERSHIP

(Mat 5:15) "Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth
light unto all that are in the house."

The lighting of the candle is symbolic of salvation.

The Candlestick is symbolic of the Local Church.

(Rev 2:5) "Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else
I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent."

The Lord is speaking to the Church at Ephesus, and refers to it as what? A candlestick.

A. To Refuse To Join A N.T. Baptist Church Is To Refuse To Identify With Christ.

We live in an age when the importance of church membership has been reduced to the level of personal
choice as to where and when.

B. To Refuse To Join A N. T. Baptist Church Is To Refuse To Obey The Bible. (Heb 10:25) "Not
forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another:
and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching."

This is not talking about going from church to church. Attending one this Sunday and then another next
time. That requires no commitment from the attender. It is talking about attending the church where
your membership has been placed as a testimony of your commitment and service to God.

C. Every Saved Baptized Christian Is To Be Actively Serving Through A Local N.T. Baptist
Church.
1. God accepts no excuses for not being an active member of a local Baptist Church.
2. Every candle is to be placed in a candlestick so that the light can be seen by all. The
only way you can live a clean, holy, visible Christian life is through the work and ministry of a local
Baptist church.

There is no other way. God organized no other organization or institution by which we could serve
through and under.

Every Christian is to be an active member somewhere. If you can no longer attend the church where you
are a member of, then you must find one that you can join and become an active, serving member.

Don’t remove that “old landmark” of church membership.

IV. THE LANDMARK OF THE DEITY OF CHRIST

(Isa 7:14) "Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a
son, and shall call his name Immanuel."
 A. Born Of A Virgin. The only people who have a problem with the deity of Christ are those who
will not submit to the teaching of the Scripture.
1. The Scripture plainly teaches that Christ is the Son of God. He was born of God.
2. The Holy Ghost came over her. (Luke 1:34) "Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall
this be, seeing I know not a man?"
(Luke 1:35) "And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the
power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee
shall be called the Son of God."

Parents, make sure that your children have been taught this matter of the deity of Christ. I have always
believed this doctrine. I do not remember when I first heard it, so that means that it was presented to
me as a very small child.
3. Teach this to the nursery children. As you workers hold that child and feed them, tell
them that Jesus Christ is the Virgin born Son of God, that He is God the Son. Tell those little ones that,
and we will not have any problem when they get to be teenagers of accepting that Jesus is God.

B. God Incarnate. (1 John 4:2) "Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth
that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:"
(1 John 4:3) "And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and
this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in
the world."

The Bible makes no issue over this matter, only atheistic men call it to question.

V. THE LANDMARK OF THE SHED BLOOD FOR SALVATION (Substitutionary Death)

THE BLOOD IS STILL THERE (song)

A. The Old Testament Atonement Required A Lamb To Be Sacrificed And The Blood To Be
Applied To The Mercy Seat In The Tabernacle.

B. The New Testament Lamb. Jesus Christ is that N.T. Lamb. (John 1:29) "The next day John
seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the
world."
(Heb 10:9) "Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may
establish the second."
(Heb 10:10) "By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once
for all."

I thank God for that “Old Landmark” of the Blood of Christ.

It is the blood that cleanses.

It is the blood that washes away sin.
It is the blood that atones.
It is the blood that redeems.
It is the blood that gives life.
It is the blood that brings forgiveness.
It is the blood that saves.
If you have not been washed in the blood of the Lamb, you are not ready to go to heaven.
If you have not been washed in the blood of the Lamb, you are not saved.
If you have not been washed in the blood of the Lamb, you will go to hell.

Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing power?

Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Are you fully trusting in His grace this hour?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

Lay aside the garments that are stained with sin,

And be washed in the blood of the Lamb;
There’s a fountain flowing for the soul unclean,
O be washed in the blood of the Lamb.

It’s the Old Landmark of the shed blood of the Lamb of God that atones for your sins.

There Is Power In The Blood.

There Is A Fountain Filled With Blood.

Don’t allow anyone to remove that Old Landmark of the Substitutionary blood of Christ.

VI. THE LANDMARK OF THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST.

All throughout His N.T. ministry Jesus Christ taught of His resurrection from the dead. (John 11:25)
"Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead,
yet shall he live:"

A. Christ Had To Be Resurrected From The Dead.

1. A dead saviour cannot save.
2. Buddha lies in his grave yet.

(1 Pet 1:3) "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant
mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,"

1Co 15:12  Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is
no resurrection of the dead? 
1Co 15:13  But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: 
1Co 15:14  And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. 
1Co 15:15  Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he
raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. 
1Co 15:16  For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: 
1Co 15:17  And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. 
1Co 15:18  Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. 
1Co 15:19  If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. 
1Co 15:20  But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. 
1Co 15:21  For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 
1Co 15:22  For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 
1Co 15:23  But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his
coming. 

VII. THE LANDMARK OF HIS SOON TO BE RETURN (THE SECOND COMING)

A. Whether You Believe It Or Not, We Are Living In The Last Days.

1. The Lord could come at any time.
2. The trump could blow this very minute.
3. The heavens could split within 10 seconds and the Lord would appear in the air. Then
we which are born again believers would rise to meet Him in the air to dwell with Him forevermore.

B. The “Old Landmark” Of The 2nd Coming Of Christ Cannot Be Removed.

1. Men may refuse to believe it, but it still stands.
2. Men may try to remove it, but it will still stands.
3. Men may ignore it, but it will still remain a truth that cannot be changed.

The “old landmark” of the 2nd Coming Of Christ is healthy and strong. He will come again.

VIII. THE LANDMARK OF THE REALITY OF HELL

(Rev 20:14) "And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death."
(Rev 20:15) "And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire."

Satan has tried to remove that landmark by saying there is no hell, or that hell is just a ghetto side of
heaven. Billy Graham even says that hell is to just be separated from God. That is not true.

The Bible says that hell is a lake of fire. Jesus said that hell is a burning fire and brimstone.

I’ll believe the Bible. I’ll believe The Lord Jesus Christ.

My friend, you can’t remove any of these “Ancient Landmarks” and still have the truth.

I have spoken the truth to you today. The only thing that you can do now is to accept it or reject it.

What will you do today?