.
. . The Bible
The
Bible is the inspired Word of God, giving a true history of the creation of
heaven, earth, and humanity and containing a correct prophecy of the ages to
come regarding heaven, earth, and the destiny of humanity. Moreover, there is no
salvation outside of what is taught in its pages.
.
. . God
There
is only one God (Deuteronomy 6:4). He is the creator of heaven and earth, and of
all living beings. He has revealed Himself to humanity as the Father (Creator),
revealed Himself as the son (Savior), and as the Holy Ghost (indwelling
Spirit).
.
. . Father
God
is a Spirit (John ).
He is the Eternal One, the Creator of all things, and the Father of all humanity
by creation. He is the First and the Last, and beside Him there is no God
(Isaiah 44:6). There was no God formed before Him; neither shall be there any
after Him (Isaiah 43:10).
.
. . Son
Jesus
is the Son of God according to the flesh (Romans 1:3) and the very God Himself
according to the Spirit (Matthew 1:23). Jesus is the Christ (Matthew 16:16); the
creator of all things (Colossians 1:16-17); God with us (Matthew 1:23); God made
flesh (John 1:1-14); God manifested in the flesh (I Timothy 3:16);He which was,
which is, and which is to come, the Almighty (Revelation 1:8);the mighty God,
everlasting Father, and Prince of peace (Isaiah 9:6). Jesus Himself testified of
His identity as God when He said, "He that hath seen me hath seen the Father"
(John 14:7-11) and "I and my Father are one" (John ).
It took shedding of blood for the remission of the sins of the world (Hebrews
),
but God the Father was a Spirit and had no blood to shed. Thus He prepared a
body of flesh and blood (Hebrews 10:5)and came to earth as a man in order to
save us, for in Isaiah 43:11 He said, "Beside me there is no Saviour." When He
came in flesh the angels sang, "For unto you is born this day in the city of
David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord" (Luke ).
.
. . Speaking of Tongues
Speaking
in other tongues as the Spirit of God gives utterance is the manifestation God
has given as the definite, indisputable, supernatural witness or sign of the
baptism of the Holy Ghost (Acts 2:4; 10:46; 19:6). It was prophesied by the
prophet Isaiah as the rest and the refreshing (Isaiah 28:11-12), foretold by
Jesus as a sign that would follow believers of the gospel (Mark ),
and experience by Jews and Gentiles alike. The gift of "divers kinds of
tongues," mentioned by Paul in I Corinthians 12:1-12 and concerning which he
gave regulations in I Corinthians 14:1-40, is given by both for self-edification
(I Corinthians 14:4) and for the edification of the church (I Corinthians
14:27-28). In church meetings the gift of tongues is used to give a public
message, and it is to be interpreted. Since this gift can be misused in public,
it needs proper regulation (I Corinthians -28).
Not all believers exercise the gift of tongues, which is different in function
from tongues given by God as the initial witness of the baptism of the Holy
Ghost. Paul said, "Forbid not to speak with tongues" (I Corinthians )
and "I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all" (I Corinthians
14:18). Who dares to teach or preach to the contrary? Speaking in tongues means
speaking miraculously in a language unknown to the speaker, as the Spirit gives
utterance. Tongues can be classified in two ways, according to function:
(1)speaking in other tongues as the initial evidence of the baptism of the Holy
Ghost and (2)the gift of tongues as mentioned in I
Corinthians. |
.
. . Holy Ghost
The
Holy Ghost is not a third person in the Godhead, but rather the Spirit of God
(the Creator), the Spirit of the resurrected Christ. The Holy Ghost comes to
dwell in the hearts and lives of everyone who believes and obeys the gospel, as
the comforter, Sustainer, and keeper (John -26;
Romans 8:9-11).
.
. . Salvation
Salvation
consists of deliverance from all sin and unrighteousness through the blood of
Jesus Christ. The New Testament experience of salvation consists of repentance
from sin, water baptism in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the remission
of sins, and the baptism of the Holy Ghost, after which the Christian is to live
a godly life (Acts 2:36-41).
.
. . Water Baptism
Water
baptism is an essential part of New Testament salvation and not merely a
symbolic ritual. It is part of entering into the kingdom
of God
(God's church, the bride of Christ), and therefore, it is not merely a part of
local church membership. (See John 3:5; Galatians
3:27).
.
. . Formula for Baptism
The
name in which baptism is administered is vitally important, and this name is
Jesus. Jesus' last command to His disciples was, "Go ye therefore, and teach all
nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the
Holy Ghost" (Matthew 28:19). We should notice that He said name (singular) not
names. As previously explained, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are not names of
separate persons, but titles of positions held by God. An angelic announcement
revealed God's saving name in the New Testament: "She shall bring forth a son,
and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their
sins" (Matthew ).
The apostles understood that Jesus was the name to use at baptism, and from the
day that the church
of God
was established (the Day of Pentecost) until the end of their ministry, they
baptized all nations (Jews--Acts ;
Gentiles--Acts 19:5) in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. In fact, Jesus is the
only name given for our salvation. "Neither is there salvation in any other: for
there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved"
(Acts ).
.
. . Holiness
After
we are saved from sin, we are commanded, "Go, and sin no more" (John
).
We are commanded to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world
(Titus )
and warned that without holiness no one shall see the Lord (Hebrews ).
We must present ourselves as holy unto God (Romans 12:1), cleanse ourselves from
all filthiness of the flesh and spirit (II Corinthians 7:1), and separate
ourselves from all worldliness (James 4:4). If the righteous scarcely be saved,
where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? (I Peter 4:18). No one can live a
holy life by his own power, but only through the Holy Spirit. "Ye shall receive
power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you" (Acts
1:8). |