The Apostolic Doctrine
"Christian in concept. Pentecostal in living."
What We Believe.
The gospel of Jesus Christ through the death, burial, and resurrection. (I Corinthians 15:1-4)
Repentance.
Pardon and forgiveness of sins is obtained by genuine repentance, a confessing and forsaking of sins. We are justified by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1). John the Baptist preached repentance, Jesus proclaimed it, and the Apostles emphasized it to both Jews and Gentiles. (Acts 2:38, 11:18, 17:30).
The word “repentance” comes from several Greek words which mean, change of views and purpose, change of heart, change of mind, change of life, to transform, etc. Jesus said,“Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” (Luke 13:3). “And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” (Luke 24:47) Pardon and forgiveness of sins is obtained by genuine repentance, a confessing and forsaking of sins. We are justified by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1). John the Baptist preached repentance, Jesus proclaimed it, and the Apostles emphasized it to both Jews and Gentiles. (Acts 2:38, 11:18, 17:30).
The word “repentance” comes from several Greek words which mean, change of views and purpose, change of heart, change of mind, change of life, to transform, etc. Jesus said,“Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” (Luke 13:3). “And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” (Luke 24:47)
The word “repentance” comes from several Greek words which mean, change of views and purpose, change of heart, change of mind, change of life, to transform, etc. Jesus said,“Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” (Luke 13:3). “And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” (Luke 24:47) Pardon and forgiveness of sins is obtained by genuine repentance, a confessing and forsaking of sins. We are justified by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1). John the Baptist preached repentance, Jesus proclaimed it, and the Apostles emphasized it to both Jews and Gentiles. (Acts 2:38, 11:18, 17:30).
The word “repentance” comes from several Greek words which mean, change of views and purpose, change of heart, change of mind, change of life, to transform, etc. Jesus said,“Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” (Luke 13:3). “And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” (Luke 24:47)
One God.
“Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe and tremble.” (James 2:19)
We believe in the one ever-living, eternal God (Deut. 6:4): infinite in power, Holy in nature, attributes and purpose; possessing absolute, indivisible deity. This one true God has revealed Himself as Father, through His Son, in redemption; and as the Holy Spirit, by emanation. (1 Cor. 8:6; Eph. 4:6; 2 Cor. 5:19; Joel 2:28).
We believe in the one ever-living, eternal God (Deut. 6:4): infinite in power, Holy in nature, attributes and purpose; possessing absolute, indivisible deity. This one true God has revealed Himself as Father, through His Son, in redemption; and as the Holy Spirit, by emanation. (1 Cor. 8:6; Eph. 4:6; 2 Cor. 5:19; Joel 2:28).
Son of God.
The one true God, the Jehovah of the Old Testament, took upon Himself the form of man, and as the Son of man, was born of the virgin Mary. As Paul says, “and without controversy great is the mystery of Godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory” (1 Timothy 3:16).
The Name of Jesus.
God used different titles, such as “God Elohim,” “El Shaddai,” “Jehovah,” and especially “Jehovah Lord,” the redemptive name in the Old Testament. “Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: … and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6)
This prophecy of Isaiah was fulfilled when the Son of God was named, “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call His name Jesus: for He shall save His People from their sins.” (Matt. 1:21)
“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:12)
This prophecy of Isaiah was fulfilled when the Son of God was named, “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call His name Jesus: for He shall save His People from their sins.” (Matt. 1:21)
“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:12)
The Creation and Fall of Man.
In the beginning God created man innocent, pure and holy; but through the sin of disobedience, Adam and Eve, the first of the human race, fell from their holy state, and God banished them from Eden. Hence by one man’s disobedience, sin entered into the world. (Gen. 1:27; Rom. 3:23, 5:12).
Water Baptism.
The scriptural mode of baptism is immersion, and is only for those who have fully repented, having turned from their sins and a love of the world. It should be administered in obedience to the Word of God, and in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, according to the Acts of the Apostles 2:38, 8:16, 10:48, 19:5; thus obeying and fulfilling Matthew 28:19.
The Baptism of the Holy Spirit.
John the Baptist, in Matthew 3:11, said, “…He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire.”
Jesus, in Acts 1:5, said, “…ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.”
Luke tells us in Acts 2:4, “they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues (languages), as the Spirit gave them utterance.”
The terms “baptize with the Holy Ghost and fire,” “filled with the Holy Spirit,” and the “gift of the Holy Ghost” are synonymous terms used interchangeably in the Bible. It is scriptural to expect all who receive the gift, filling, or baptism of the Holy Spirit to receive the same physical, initial sign of speaking with other tongues.
The speaking with other tongues, as recorded in Acts 2:4, 10:46, and 19:6, and the gift of tongues, as explained in 1 Corinthians, chapters 12 and 14, are the same in essence, but different in use and purpose.
The Lord, through the Prophet Joel, said, “I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh; …” (Joel 2:28)
Peter, in explaining this phenomenal experience, said, “having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, He (Jesus) hath shed forth this which ye now see and hear.” (Acts 2:33)
Further, “The promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.” (Acts 2:39)
Jesus, in Acts 1:5, said, “…ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.”
Luke tells us in Acts 2:4, “they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues (languages), as the Spirit gave them utterance.”
The terms “baptize with the Holy Ghost and fire,” “filled with the Holy Spirit,” and the “gift of the Holy Ghost” are synonymous terms used interchangeably in the Bible. It is scriptural to expect all who receive the gift, filling, or baptism of the Holy Spirit to receive the same physical, initial sign of speaking with other tongues.
The speaking with other tongues, as recorded in Acts 2:4, 10:46, and 19:6, and the gift of tongues, as explained in 1 Corinthians, chapters 12 and 14, are the same in essence, but different in use and purpose.
The Lord, through the Prophet Joel, said, “I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh; …” (Joel 2:28)
Peter, in explaining this phenomenal experience, said, “having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, He (Jesus) hath shed forth this which ye now see and hear.” (Acts 2:33)
Further, “The promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.” (Acts 2:39)
Holiness.
Godly living should characterize the life of every child of the Lord, and we should live according to the pattern and example given in the Word of God.
“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and Godly, in this present world.” (Titus 2:11,12)
“For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps: who did no sin, neither was ‘guile found in His mouth: who, when He was reviled, reviled not again; when He suffered, He threatened not; but committed himself to Him that judgeth righteously.” (1 Peter 2:21-23)
“Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.” (Heb. 12:14)
“But as He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written, be ye holy; for I am holy. And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear: forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.”
“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and Godly, in this present world.” (Titus 2:11,12)
“For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps: who did no sin, neither was ‘guile found in His mouth: who, when He was reviled, reviled not again; when He suffered, He threatened not; but committed himself to Him that judgeth righteously.” (1 Peter 2:21-23)
“Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.” (Heb. 12:14)
“But as He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written, be ye holy; for I am holy. And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear: forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.”