Baptist vs. Presbyterian Beliefs
Baptists and Presbyterians are two denominations which have historically had similar doctrines, yet which may feel slightly alien to each other. Both believe in salvation by faith alone, total depravity, and generally eternal security. However, Presbyterians typically are Reformed in doctrine, if a bit different in practice. Baptists on the other hand, tend to differ from Reformed theology regarding predestination while being similar in other ways.
This sort of differing divergence from Calvinism creates an almost unfamiliar similarity. Messages are likely to be similar, but Presbyterians are often much more "high church" in their practices. Furthermore, while both practice believer's baptism, Baptists practice immersion, while Presbyterians baptize by sprinkling and baptize infants as well. Some Presbyterian churches have also diverged on issues regarding sex and marriage to become more progressive and mainline.
The final obvious difference is that Presbyterian churches use a presbyterian form of church governance. This sort of global organization of elders is quite foreign to Baptists, where each church is governed solely by its own elders and members.
Belief Table
| Baptist | Presbyterian | |
|---|---|---|
| Number of Members | 100,000,000 | 39,000,000 |
| How does one get saved? | Sola fide: Repent of your sins and believe in Jesus Christ's death and resurrection alone to save you.[1][2] | Sola fide: Repent of your sins and believe in Jesus Christ's death and resurrection alone to save you. |
| Who gets saved? | Most believe anyone who chooses by his own free will to believe and accept God's gift of grace will be saved.[3] | Those who God chooses to call will be saved and no one else. |
| Can one lose his salvation? | Most believe eternal security: No, once a Christian is saved, he is always saved.[2][4][5] | Eternal security: No, once a Christian is saved, he is always saved. |
| Who gets baptized and why? | Saved people get baptized as a public demonstration of their new lives.[6] | Saved people and their infant children get baptized as a sign of God's grace.[7] |
| How should baptism be done? | Baptism should be by immersion.[6] | Baptism should be by sprinkling water on the head. |
| When does one receive the Holy Spirit? | The Holy Spirit is received at the moment of salvation.[8] | The Holy Spirit is received at the moment of salvation.[9] |
| What is the trinity? | The Trinity is God existing as one god in three equal, eternal, cosubstantial persons: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Spirit.[4][8][10] | The Trinity is God existing as one god in three equal, eternal, cosubstantial persons: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Spirit. |
| What is the human nature? | Total depravity: Human nature is corrupt, naturally inclined to evil, and incapable of choosing God on his own.[2][10] | Total depravity: Human nature is corrupt, naturally inclined to evil, and incapable of choosing God on his own. |
| Are we guilty of Adam's original sin? | No, we are not guilty of Adam's sin, but we did inherit the consequences and a corrupt human nature from him, causing us all to sin. | Federalism: Yes, Adam represented all of the human race, and all are guilty of his sin. |
| Are Christians required to keep the Old Testament ceremonial laws? | No, the ceremonial laws of Judaism were fulfilled and done away with by Jesus. | No, the ceremonial laws of Judaism were fulfilled and done away with by Jesus. |
| Can Christians become sinless in this earthly life? | No, although Christians can and should sin less, they can never become sinless in this life. | No, although Christians can and should sin less, they can never become sinless in this life. |
| Do the elements of communion become the body and blood of Christ? | No, the elements merely symbolically represent the body and blood of Christ. | No, the elements do not become the body and blood of Christ, but Christ is present in an unknown way. |
| Can one be baptized of behalf of someone who has died? | No, the dead cannot be baptized. | No, the dead cannot be baptized. |
| What happens if a saved person dies without being perfect? | Once Christians leave their sinful bodies, nothing else is needed to receive glorified, sinless bodies.[11][12] | Once Christians leave their sinful bodies, nothing else is needed to receive glorified, sinless bodies.[13][14] |
| Did Mary ever sin? | Yes, Mary sinned like all other humans except Jesus. | Yes, Mary sinned like all other humans except Jesus. |
| What spiritual gifts are available today? | Cessationism: Spiritual gifts used for serving are available today, while gifts used as signs have ceased.[15][16] | Cessationism: Spiritual gifts used for serving are available today, while gifts used as signs have ceased.[9] |
| What framework has God used in dealing with man? | Dispensationalism: God acts differently with humanity in seven different periods of history. | Covenant theology: God acts either within the covenant of works or the covenant of grace.[17] |
| What is the gift of tongues? | The gift of tongues is the ability to speak foreign human languages without knowing how. | |
| What are the requirements for clergy? | Experienced men above reproach, faithful to their wives and with with obedient children if applicable, and able to teach are to be appointed as pastors. | |
| How many church ordinances/sacraments are there? | The church has two ordinances: Baptism and Holy Communion. | The church has two sacraments: Baptism and Holy Communion.[18] |
| To whom do Christians need to confess their sins? | Confession should be made directly to God, but confession to another believer is beneficial for some sins. | Confession should be made directly to God, but confession to another believer is beneficial for some sins. |
| How should a church be structured? | Congregationalist: Every church congregation should be independent and governed by its members. | Presbyterian: Churches should be governed by its own elders, who in turn are governed by a presbytery comprising the elders from the region, which is governed by a general assembly of commissioners from each presbytery. |
| What day of the week should Christians worship? | Christians worship on Sunday. | Christians worship on Sunday. |
| How does God's revelation come to us today? | Sola scriptura: The Bible is the only infallible source of God's revelation, sufficient for all faith and practice. | Prima scriptura: There are many sources of God's revelation, although none can contradict the Bible. |
| How was the Bible written? | Verbal plenary inspiration: The Bible was written by men who had every word supernaturaly inspired by God.[2][19] | |
| How many books are in the Bible? | There are 66 canonical books of the Bible: 39 Old Testament books and 27 New Testament books. | There are 66 canonical books of the Bible: 39 Old Testament books and 27 New Testament books. |
| Was the Bible written inerrantly? | Yes, the Bible was written without any error.[2][19] | Varies widely[20] |
| Who can speak with God's authority today? | Nobody today can speak for God. | Nobody today can speak for God. |
| How was the earth created? | Creationism: The earth was spoken into existence by God. | Varies widely[21][22] |
| What is marriage? | Marriage is a covenant before God between one man and one woman.[4][23] | Varies widely[24][25][26] |
| Is sex permissible outside marriage? | No, sex outside of marriage is not permissible.[4] | Varies widely[27][26] |
| When is divorce permissible? | Divorce is only permissible for adultery. | Divorce is permissible for adultery or desertion.[28] |
| May a Christian remarry while his former spouse is still alive? | No, a Christian should not remarry while his former spouse lives. | The innocent party to the adultery may remarry.[29] |
| When does a fetus become human? | Humanity begins at conception.[23][30] | Most believe humanity begins at conception. Some say it is unknown when humanity begins.[31][32][33] |
| Is contraception permissible? | Yes, contraceptives are permissible. | Yes, contraceptives are permissible. |
| Are blood transfusions permissible? | Yes, blood transfusions are permissible. | Yes, blood transfusions are permissible. |
| Should women cover their heads? | No, women's long hair is enough of a covering.[34][35] | |
| Should Christians drink alcohol? | Most believe no, alcohol should be totally avoided. | Yes, drinking alcohol is fine as long as one does not get drunk.[36] |
| Should Christians fight in wars? | Yes, Christians should fight in just wars. | Yes, Christians should fight in just wars.[37] |
| How should Christians musically worship God? | Varies widely | Any style of worship music is acceptable.[38] |
| Whom does the Holy Spirit come from? | No established doctrine | The Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son.[39][40] |
| Who can be demon-possessed? | Demons can possess unbelievers but not Christians. | |
| Do icons glorify God? | No, icons violate the Second Commandment against graven images. | Varies widely[41][42][43][44] |
| Where does a Christian's soul go after death? | Christians immediately go to heaven when they die.[11][45] | Christians immediately go to heaven when they die.[14] |
| When does the Tribulation happen? | Futurism: The Tribulation will happen at a time in the future which no man knows the time of. | |
| When will the church be raptured? | Pretribulationism rapture: The church will be raptured sometime before the Tribulation. | |
| When is the millennial reign of Christ happen? | Premillennialism: The millennial reign of Christ will be the 1,000 years immediately after the Tribulation. |