Subject: Jesus name of the Father, Son and H/Ghos |
Bible Note: cajam - Thank you for the information that you are a member of the Apostolic Pentecostal denomination. It helps me, knowing the beliefs of that denomination, the better to understand where you are "coming from" so to speak. ....... Three of the more important doctrines of the Apostolic Pentecostals that I have a problem with are their views on the [1] Trinity, [2] Water Baptism, and [3] Baptism of the Holy Spirit. ...... [1] Trinity. What Apostolic Pentecostals teach is nothing more nor less than modalism. I embrace the "Baptist Faith and Message" of the Southern Baptist Convention. We teach that there is one God in three Persons. The Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God. There is a distinction between the Persons so that the Father is not the Son, the Father is not the Spirit, and the Son is not the Spirit. Each is a Person. The Holy Spirit is not to be envisioned as a mere force or influence. .......[2] Water Baptism. Apostolic Pentecostals teach baptismal regeneration. We teach salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. We teach baptism by immersion in water of the regenerate believer as testimony of the believer's obedience to the command of Christ and a witness to salvation. Water baptism by immersion fulfills the symbolism: pointing back in history to the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. We teach that water baptism neither saves nor contributes to salvation in any way. ....... [3] Baptism of the Holy Spirit -- or Holy Ghost, as Apostolic Pentencostals seem to prefer to call it -- as they define it involves the ecstatic experience of "speaking in tongues" and is a sign of holiness or sanctification. We teach that the baptism of the Holy Spirit is a term used in reference to the coming of the Holy Spirit into the life of every truly regenerate believer at the point of regeneration (1 Cor. 12:13) and is not evidenced by outward signs or ecstatic speech. ..... I cite these three points, or articles, of faith and juxtapose the Apostolic Pentecostal positions on them alongside those of my own communion, not to invite division or debate, but for reference so that readers may know, and knowing, may compare with Scripture which of the two doctrinal positions more nearly reflects Christian orthodoxy. --Hank |