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The
Apostles'
Doctrine
Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to
rise from the dead the third day; and that repentance and remission
of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning
at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things. And, behold, I
send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of
Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high (Luke
24:46-49).
But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon
you; and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all
Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth
(Acts 1:8).
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you
in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall
receive the gift of the Holy Ghost (Acts 2:38).
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)
As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other
gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed
(Galatians 1:9).
And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets,
Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone (Ephesians 2:20).
As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into
Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other
doctrine (I Timothy 1:3).
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for
doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in
righteousness (II Timothy 3:16).
Foreword
This booklet is being printed and distributed with a sincere prayer
that it may strengthen and establish the believer and that it may
enlighten the thousands of perplexed and bewildered souls who are
earnestly seeking, amid the maze of men's traditions to find the
true doctrine of our Lord Jesus Christ.
With sincerity we pray that God will grant the reader grace to
accept the truth as it is in Christ Jesus.
We certainly do not want to miss heaven. Let us therefore heed the
prophet's words: "Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old
paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find
rest for your souls" (Jeremiah 6:16).
The Apostles' Doctrine Concerning . . .
. . . 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), in the son (Savior), and as the
Holy Ghost (indwelling Spirit).
. . . Father
God is a Spirit (John 4:24). 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 there be 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 10:30).
It took shedding of blood for the remission of the sins of the world
(Hebrews 9:22), 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 2:11).
. . . 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 14:16-26; Romans 8:9-11).
. . . Sin
Sin is the transgression of the law, or commandments of God (I John
3:4). The guilt of sin has fallen upon all humanity from Adam until
now (Romans 3:23). The wages of sin is eternal death (Romans 6:23;
Revelation 20:14) to all those who refuse to accept salvation as set
forth in the Word of God.
. . . 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).
. . . Mode of Baptism
Water baptism is to be administered only by immersion. Paul said,
"We are buried with him [Jesus Christ] by baptism (Romans 6:4; see
Colossians 2:12), Jesus came up "out of the water" (Mark 1:10), and
Philip and the eunuch went down "into the water" and came up "out of
the water" (Acts 8:38-39).
Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection are applied to our lives when
we experience New Testament salvation: "Repent [death to sin], and
be baptized [burial] every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ
for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy
Ghost [resurrection]." (See Acts 2:38; Romans 6:1-7; 8:2).
Sprinkling, pouring, or infant baptism of any kind cannot be
substantiated by the Word of God, but are only human traditions.
. . . Formula for Water 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 1:21).
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 8:16; 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 4:12).
. . . Baptism of the Holy Ghost
The baptism of the Holy Ghost is the birth of the Spirit (John 3:5).
This spiritual baptism is necessary to put someone into the kingdom
of God (God's church, the bride of Christ) and is evidenced by
speaking in other tongues (other languages) as the Spirit of God
give utterance.
It was prophesied by Joel (Joel 2:28-29) and Isaiah (Isaiah 28:11),
foretold by John the Baptist (Matthew 3:11), purchased by the blood
of Jesus, and promised by Him to His disciples (John 14:26; 15:16).
The Holy Ghost was first poured out on the Day of Pentecost upon the
Jews (Acts 2:1-4), then upon the Samaritans (Acts 8:17), and later
upon the Gentiles (Acts 10:44-46; 19:6). "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).
. . . Tongues
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.
1. 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 16:17), and experience by Jews
and Gentiles alike.
2. 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 14:23-28). 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 14:39)
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?
. . . Holiness
After we are saved from sin, we are commanded, "Go, and sin no more"
(John 8:11).
We are commanded to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this
present world (Titus 2:12) and warned that without holiness no one
shall see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14).
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).
. . . Divine Healing
God has made Himself known through the ages by miraculous healings
and has made special provisions in the age of grace to heal all who
will come to Him in faith and obedience. Divine healing was
purchased for us by the blood of Jesus Christ, especially by His
stripes (Isaiah 53:5; Matthew 8:16-17; I Peter 2:24).
Jesus went everywhere healing those who were sick (Matthew 4:23-24),
and He commanded His disciples to do the same (Matthew 10:8). He
said concerning those who believe the gospel, "They shall lay hands
on the sick, and they shall recover" (Mark 16:18). Mighty healings
and miracles followed the disciples wherever the gospel was
preached.
There is no sickness or disease too hard for God. Any of us, our
children, or our friends can be healed by the power of God.
"Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church;
and let them pray over him , anointing him with oil in the name of
the Lord shall raise him up: and if he have committed sins they
shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults one to another, and pray
one for another, that ye may be healed" (James 5:14-16).
. . . Second Coming of Christ
Jesus Christ is coming back to earth in bodily form, just as He went
away (Acts 1:11). He will catch away a holy people (His bride, His
church) who have accepted redemption through His blood, by birth of
water and of the Spirit, and who are found faithful when He comes.
"For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with
the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead
in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall
be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in
the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord" (I Thessalonians
4:16-17).
"One shall be taken and the other left" (Luke 17:36). Will we be
ready?
The signs of His coming are everywhere. The days of peril are here
indeed, with forms of godliness void of the power of God; society
and politics corrupted; and people's hearts filled with pride,
blasphemies, unholiness, love of evil, and love of pleasures (II
Timothy 3:1-13). These things, together with multitudes running to
and fro, the increase of knowledge (Daniel 12:4), the persecution of
the Jews and their return to Palestine (Luke 21:24), and scores of
other things are starting signs that Jesus' coming is drawing near.
Wars, rumors of wars, famines, earthquakes, storms, floods, distress
of nations, perplexity, and people's hearts failing them for fear
are sounding the solemn alarm that Jesus' coming is at hand (Matthew
24:6; Luke 21:25-28).
"Prepare to meet thy God" (Amos 4:12).
. . . Resurrection
There will be a resurrection of all the dead, both just and unjust.
"Marvel not this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are
in graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have
done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done
evil, unto the resurrection of damnation" (John 5:28-29).
"And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God . . . and the
sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered
up the dead which were in them" (Revelation 20:12-13)> (See also
Daniel 12:2; I Corinthians 15:13-23.)
. . . Judgment
"It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment"
(Hebrews 9:27). For this reason there will be a resurrection for
everyone. "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of
Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body,
according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad" (II
Corinthians 5:10).
The eternal destiny of every soul shall be determined by a just God
who knows the secrets of everyone's heart. "And before him shall be
gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another,
as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: and he shall set
the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall
the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my
Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of
the world. . . .Then shall he also say unto them on the left hand,
Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the
devil and his angels. . . . And these shall go away into everlasting
punishment; but the righteous into life eternal" (Matthew 25:32-34,
41, 46).
* * *
The law-the Word of God
The judge-the righteous God
To be judged-our souls
What will the sentence be?
* * *
Life's opportunities past!
Reaping day at last!
Two verdicts pend:
Life or death!
The following references show plainly that speaking in tongues as
the evidence of the Holy Ghost has been given by God to earnest,
God-fearing people down through the years.
Scaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge, vol. 3, page 2369,
"Tongues, Gift of": "A phenomenon of the Apostolic age, technically
known as the 'glossolalia.' In later time analogies have been found
for it in the 'speaking in tongues' of the Camisards, Prophets of
the Cevennes, Early Quakers and Methodists, 'Lasare' in Sweden
(1841-1843), converts in the Irish revival of 1859, and particularly
in the Catholic Apostolic (Irvingite) Church."
Scaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge, vol. 2, page 1119,
"Irving, Edward": "In 1830 the news was spread abroad of the strange
speaking with tongues which occurred in widely separated parts of
Scotland. In 1831 prophecy and tongues appeared in Irving's church
and Irving fell in with the movement, heartily convinced of its
spiritual basis and divine authority."
Scaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge, vol. 1, page 422,
"Catholic Apostolic Church": "Pious Presbyterian men and women
believed that their organs of speech were used by the Holy Spirit
for the utterance of His thoughts and attentions."
Encyclopedia Britannica, New Werner Edition, vol. 4, page 749, "Camisards":
"Speaking in tongues, accompanied by all kinds of miracles, was
common among the Camisards and Cevennes of Southern France in the
18th century. Children, under the influence of supernatural power,
spoke and prophesied in languages unknown to them."
Encyclopedia of Religion and Ethics, edited by James Hastings, vol.
7, page 424: "In 1831 the gift of tongues and prophecy appeared, it
was believed in answer to fervent prayer, among the members of
Irving's congregation."
Butler, Christian Denominations of the World, "Edward Irving
(1792-1834)": "He proclaimed his conviction that the gifts of the
Holy Ghost, such as tongues, healing, etc., were withheld only
because of the want of faith, and ere long there were several
persons in his church who claimed the gift of tongues."
Abingdon Bible Commentary, page 1190: "Scottish peasants spoke in
tongues."
Webster's New International Dictionary, 2nd edition, page 1056,
"Gift of Tongues": "A phenomenon experienced by some of the
Christian of New Testament times, the nature of which seems to have
been a kind of ecstatic utterance usually unintelligible to the
hearers and even to the speakers, therefore requiring
interpretation; glossolalia. Similar phenomena have in modern times
been experienced by some of the early Friends, Jansenists,
Methodists, etc."
*Taken from the Word Aflame Press Tract "The Apostles' Doctrine"
#6103
Word Aflame Press
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Hazelwood, MO 63042-2299
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