The Truth in Print Vol. 24 Issue 10, Nov. 2018
A Publication of the Valley church of Christ,
2375 W. 8th Street, Yuma, AZ 85364 (928-782-5058)
Website
Address ~ http://yumavalleychurchofchrist.com
Apostolic Churches (Pentecostal)
“Apostolic Churches” (Pentecostal)
The Apostolic Christian Churches believe in
the Trinity, while Jesus Name churches are one God holiness and deny the
Trinity. Apostolic Christian Churches baptize in the name of the Father, Son
and Holy Ghost. The “Jesus Name” churches are also referred to at times as the
Apostolic Jesus Name Church and they baptize only in the name of Jesus Christ.
Some do say they teach baptism for the remission of sins. Some say they also
teach receiving the Baptism of the Holy Spirit as a necessary part of
salvation.
Mike Cornwell made this statement in an on
line discussion in 2001. Consider what he says from the standpoint that he has
been there as he says and done that:
Mike
Cornwell (2001):
I was a Jesus Only Pentecostal Preacher for
18 years prior to my obeying the gospel in October 1984. I not only speak from
experience but I also speak as one who was baptized for the remissions of my
sins in July 1960 in a Jesus Only Pentecostal church by a Jesus Only
Pentecostal preacher. I can say
truthfully that I was not baptized properly and was not baptized for the right
reason in 1960. I was 18 years of age in
1960 and began preaching shortly thereafter.
All Pentecostals of the Jesus Only persuasion baptized only after one
has come to the altar, prayed through ... and received forgiveness. Then they
are baptized to wash away the stain of sin. Therefore they cannot be baptized
for the remission of sins. They use Acts 2.38 as authority but in reality they
do not baptize until you have repented and Jesus has saved you. They teach and
practice that one must seek for the Holy Ghost and speaking in tongues.... This is error brethren in their teaching.
Mike continues: “I was 42 in October 1984
when I realized that I had been taught error.. practiced error.. baptized in
error and if I wanted to be a Christian I had to be obey the gospel. I then heard.. believed.. repented..
confessed.. and was buried in baptism but this time for the right reason.
In my humble opinion if one has any inkling
that he was baptized under the wrong pretenses.. by all means settle the
question once and for all. I have been
very fortunate to preach gospel meetings over the last seven years and have
seen and baptized several Pentecostals for the remission of there (sic) sins..
this time for the right reasons. They
became disciples as followers of Jesus Christ for the first time in their
lives.
I have been there and done that....”.
What one
does when they hear the gospel, understand and obey correctly in baptism:
1. One must hear the Gospel (Mk. 16:15; Jo.
6:44-45).
2. Must believe in the deity of Christ (Mk.
16:15-16).
3. Repent as Peter commanded (Acts 2:38;
17:30-31).
4. Confess Jesus is the Son of God (Rom.
10:9-10; Acts 8:37).
5. Obey the command to be baptized for the
remission of sins (Acts 2:38, 8:38-39, 22:16).
The Apostolic Christian Church Doctrine Is
Saved By Grace Through Faith In Jesus Christ:
#1
Faith which results in repentance is the beginning of a true Christian life.
#2
Following conversion a testimony of his or her faith and conversion experience
is given to the congregation.
#3
This is followed by water baptism by immersion in the name of the Father, Son
and Holy Ghost. Baptism symbolizes the burial of the old sinful nature into the
death of Christ, and the subsequent rising of a soul out of the baptismal
waters as a new creature in Christ Jesus.
#4
This is followed by the laying on of hands, whereby a church elder prays over
the new member. This prayer acknowledges and entreats the presence of the Holy
Spirit in the believer's heart, and consecrates the new child of God into a
life of service for him. The new member is thus formally united with the
church, which is Christ's body.
What One Does In Obeying “Apostolic Christian
Church Doctrine”
#1.
Hear *Error But Do Not Recognize It.
#2.
Faith.
#3.
Repent. *Told that here at this point
God gives forgiveness; thus they have them “in Christ” at this point.
#4.
Testimony of having been converted.
#5.
Baptism only symbolizes the prior conversion and union to Christ.
#6.
Laying on of hands – elder’s prayer acknowledges and entreats the presence of
the Holy Spirit in the believer's heart, and consecrates the new child of God
into a life of service for him. The new member is thus formally united with the
church, which is Christ's body.
Their statement: “Baptism is an outward
testimony of an inward transformation and a symbol of the burial of the old
nature.”
The New Testament Pattern for Salvation
When it comes to salvation Jesus is the
“means” (Acts 2:36, 38) and the “conditions” of repent and be baptized (Acts
2:38) are what man must do, i.e. man’s acceptance of Christ’s authority (Matt.
28:18-20). The “consequence” of having done that is the “remission of sins”
(Acts 2:38).
Again when it comes to salvation provided by
Christ, His gospel is the “means” (Mk. 16:15-16; Rom. 1:16-17), the
“conditions” stated to “believe and be baptized” are what man must do, and the
consequence of having obeyed is “will be saved” like Jesus said in Mk. 16:16.
Putting the Pattern Together
Take Peter’s commands in Acts 2:38 and put
them with Gal 3:26 “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.”
Gal 3:27 “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”
Note that one is baptized into Christ in order to put on Christ. Faith and
Repentance alone do NOT put one into Christ the head of the one body which is
His church (Cf. Eph. 4:4; 5:23-24, 32; 1:22-23). Moreover scriptural baptism is
for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38).
Put Peter’s commands in Acts 2:38 with 1Co
12:13 “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or
Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one
Spirit.” By one Spirit all are baptized into “one body” the church (Eph. 4:4).
The Holy Spirit revealed the Word that is obeyed in scriptural baptism. Faith
and Repentance alone do NOT put one into the “one body” the church of Christ
with Jesus as its head. (Eph. 4:4, 5:23-24, 32).
Take now the Samaritans’ conversions (Acts
8:12-16) considered with Acts 2:38 and I Cor. 12:13. They heard Philip preach,
saw the miracles that confirmed the word preached was from God, and were
baptized likewise into the “one body” the church of Christ. When baptized they
were “in Christ” and in the “one body” the church of Christ (Matt. 16:18; Eph.
4:4, 1:22-23).
And notice that “after” they were baptized
they had not received the Holy Spirit, none of them (Acts 8:16):
Act 8:14 Now when the apostles who were at
Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and
John to them,
Act 8:15 who, when they had come down,
prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit.
Act 8:16 For as yet He had fallen upon none
of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Are they Christians? Yes. Are they in
Christ? Yes. Have they put on Christ having the forgiveness of sins? Yes. Are
they in the church of Christ He promised to build like Philip was? Yes.
Now consider again the Galatians’
conversions (Gal. 3:26-27) with Acts 2:38 and I Cor. 12:13:
Gal
3:26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
Gal 3:27 For as many of you as were baptized
into Christ have put on Christ.
Gal 3:28
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there
is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Here as many of them who had been baptized
into Christ had put on Christ. Faith and Repentance alone do NOT put one into
Christ to put on Christ, nor do these alone put you into the “one body” the
church of Christ.
There is “one baptism” (Eph. 4:5)
Listing the “ones” Paul said there is “one
baptism” in Eph. 4:5. The “one baptism” is for the remission of your sins (Acts
2:38). All are baptized into “one body” the church which Christ promised to build
(I Cor. 12:13). And they are baptized into Christ to put on Christ (Gal.
3:26-27).
The Samaritans (above) were “only baptized”
and had not received the Holy Spirit in Acts 8:15-16, but thus saved and “in
Christ” and “in the church” He is the head of (Eph. 5:23).
What’s wrong with “Apostolic” doctrine?
Faith and Repentance alone do NOT put one into the “one body” the church of
Christ! And to teach a necessary part of one’s salvation is to receive the
Baptism of the Holy Spirit cannot be right. The Samaritans were saved being “in
Christ” and had not even received the Holy Spirit! (Acts 8:14-16).
Having been baptized what did Simon see in Acts
8:14-19?
Simon himself believed, was baptized and
continued with Philip observing the miracles and signs (Acts 8:13). The
Apostles in Jerusalem heard about the conversions and sent Peter and John to
Samaria (8:14). Peter and John prayed that they might receive the Holy Spirit –
For He had not fallen upon any of them…they had only been baptized (8:15-16).
Peter and John (apostles only) began laying their hands on them and they were
receiving the Holy Spirit (8:17). Simon saw that the Spirit was bestowed
through the laying on of the apostles’ hands (8:18). Simon offered the apostles
money saying, "Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands
may receive the Holy Spirit." Simon did not just want a spiritual gift but
the apostles’ power to bestow spiritual gifts through the laying on of their
own hands. The only ones who had this power are said to be apostles.
After the apostles died and those whom they had
laid their hands on passed away spiritual gifts ceased (I Cor. 13:8-10)
There were 9 spiritual gifts listed in I
Cor. 12: 7-11. Paul spoke of the temporary nature of spiritual gifts for the
infant church and said:
1Co 13:8 Love never fails. But whether there
are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease;
whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.
1Co 13:9 For we know in part and we prophesy
in part.
1Co 13:10 But when that which is perfect has
come, then that which is in part will be done away. — “part” [G3313 meros] is
defined by Thayer: in part, partially, i.e. imperfectly, I Cor. 13:9, 12 (opp.
to “perfect” *completeness), ibid 10.
By close of the First Century the New
Testament, Christ’s law, had been fully revealed (Cf. Jude 3). It was first
spoken orally by inspiration of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:33), and then began to
be written by inspiration as well by some of the apostles and also some New
Testament prophets. It was complete by the close of the First Century.
2Ti 3:16 All Scripture is given by
inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for
correction, for instruction in righteousness,
2Ti 3:17 that the man of God may be
complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
People are always asking if Pentecostals’
tongue speaking and prophecy are real. What negates claims to tongues and
prophecy today is the spiritual gifts for the infant church were temporary in
duration, and lasted until the revealed inspired Word was complete in the
scriptures (2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pet. 3:1-2; Jude 3). With the “perfect law” (Ja.
1:25) written down the gift of tongues as well as prophecy ceased just as
foretold in I Cor. 13:8-9.
Valley Church of Christ
2375 W. 8th Street, Yuma, AZ 85364
(928) 782-5058 ~
http://yumavalleychurchofchrist.com
Sunday Services – Classes ~10:00;
Assembly 10:50 am; Evening: 6:00 pm.
Wednesday evening – 7:00 pm
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