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Apostolic Pentecostal Doctrine Series
John 4:23-24 23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. In the beginning In Genesis, we read about the creation of Adam and Eve, and how they lived in paradise – innocent, sin free, and in communion with God. Because today’s world is so far removed in time from the days of Adam and Eve, most of the world does not know its roots. The world does not know much about the events that took place in the Garden of Eden, and therefore, it does not know much about the true God that exists today. Most of us, members of an Apostolic-Pentecostal church, know because we have been introduced to the Bible and we have read (or have been told) the story in Genesis about Eve and her deception by the serpent (possessed of the devil) to eat of the forbidden fruit; then Adam also ate of it and brought sin into the world which was intended to be populated and governed by man. But something else happened in the Garden of Eden. God instituted a plan of redemption (or salvation) for Adam and Eve. God forgave their sin, killed some sheep to shed their blood and thus atone for the sins of Adan and Eve, and He clothed them properly with coats made from the sheep’s skin to exemplify their redemption. But He also made a promise of a future Redeemer. And as a consequence of their sin, as a judgement, God expelled them, removed them from the Garden of Eden. However, God did not forsake them and their offspring as they could have continued redemption from sin and fellowship with Him if they repented and obeyed Him and taught it to their children. However, now they and their descendants were to live a life of hardship – work for a living and pain in childbirth. They also had a carnal fallen nature, and now they would have to overcome the wiles of the devil in order to please God. Continued redemption/salvation Beginning with the time of Adam and Eve being expelled from the Garden of Eden, God continued fellowship with them and their descendants by means of a redemptive/salvation process from sin. From time to time, the salvation process changed but a key part of the process was that blood from animal sacrifices had to be shed for the forgiveness of sins. As a plan of salvation came to an end, it usually came with a judgement to the world, and then another plan of salvation was instituted by God with the Godly people crossing from one plan of salvation to the next. For example, Adam’s and Eve’s generations ended with a judgement of the flood where Noah and his descendants crossed over into the next plan of salvation after the flood. From Noah came Abraham’s time which ended with his descendants, the Israelites, ending up in Egypt when Joseph, under God’s guidance, brought them to Egypt to save them from the famine and to unite the family of Jacob. This period ended with Moses delivering them from the bondage of Egypt’s pharaoh under the great power of God Who sent down 10 plagues, the last one being the death of the first born, which convinced pharaoh to let the 12 tribes of Israel go. Please note that God through Moses instructed the Israelites on how to miss the Judgement of God – put blood of the Passover sacrifice on their door mantel. This judgement ended the period of Abraham and his immediate descendants and started the period of the Law of Moses. The Law of Moses The Law Moses essentially began after the crossing of the Red Sea. In 1 Corinthians 10:1-2, it says that those that crossed the Red Sea were baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea. A little later, the Sabbath was established. The 10 Commandments, written in stone by the “finger of God,” became the foundation of the Law. Later, Moses wrote or had written the accounts of Genesis and the books which cover the Law – Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. These five books are the sacred books of the Israelites called the Torah. Please note that all the books that follow Deuteronomy all take place under the Law of Moses and make up most of the Old Testament. Please also note that God’s relationship with man and His expectations of man are written down. They also give a historical perspective of God’s relationship with His people and how they responded to God’s commandments. The Lord Jesus Christ makes His appearance under the period of the Law of Moses. Jesus was born under the Law of a Jewish mother, Mary, and she and Joseph raised Jesus as Jewish parents. Jesus begin his earthly ministry at the age of 30 after being baptized by Jon the Baptist. At the end of His 3½ year ministry, after He had called out and separated His Apostles, Jesus gave His life as a sacrifice of redemption for the whole world and to fulfill and put an end to the Law of Moses to establish the Church Age. This time the judgement that was to fall on all the unrighteous, fell upon Jesus. He took all the sins of the world from and for all mankind so that they could all cross over into the Church Age and have an opportunity for salvation instead of damnation. The Church Age Due to the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ, today we are on this side of the Law of Moses and we are under the Law of the Lord Jesus Christ. The commandments of the Law of Christ – with some additional commandments - look similar to those of the Law of Moses. What are missing are the commandments that have to do with the ceremonial animal sacrifices of the temple and the keeping of a seven day Sabbath. The temple sacrifices were fulfilled by Jesus and the weekly Sabbath is fulfilled in us when we are saved during the Church Age (Hebrews 4:2-4) when we enter together into the rest of the Lord mentioned in Genesis when God rested on the 7th day from His works. What is also missing in the Church Age is the administration of death found in the Law Moses when the same sins are committed under the Church Age. Under the Church Age, we can repent and get another opportunity to make it to heaven. We need to: 1.) Repent – This means that we are truly sorry for living a sinful filled life and now we want to change that life style and live a life in obedience to God’s commandments as required in the Bible, with God helping us. With that attitude God then gives us a Godly sorrow, a true Godly repentance – as told in 2 Corinthians 7: 9-11. 2.) Be baptized in the name of Jesus for the remission of sins– That means that after we repent, we are immersed in water by an Apostolic-Pentecostal minister and he invokes/calls out loud the name “Jesus” over us as we go under the water. With this action, the Lord God Jesus applies His blood of sacrifice over us and forgives all of our sins and remembers them no more – we are morally clean/sin free. From this time forward, if we sin, we can repent and ask for forgiveness and we are reconciled back to God sin free. Read about baptisms in Acts 2:38-39- Jews; Acts 8:16- Samaritans; Acts 10: 44-48- Gentiles; and Acts 9:15- disciples of John the Baptist. 3.) Be baptized by the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance- That means that after we repent and have the faith to receive It, the Spirit of God/Jesus comes into our body in a supernatural sense, and we speak in tongues as a sign/manifestation that we have received It. Read about Holy Ghost infilling in Acts 2:4- Jews; Acts 8:17- Samaritans; Acts 10:45-46- Gentiles; and Acts 19:6-disciples of John the Baptist. We need the Holy Ghost a) to change us to a glorified body when the rapture takes place – as told in Romans 8:1, 1 Corinthians 15:52-54; b) to reveal to us what the Bible scriptures mean – as told in John 16:13; c) to intercede for us by speaking in tongues regularly – Romans 8:26-27; d) help us overcome temptation so we don’t sin – Romans 8:26-27; e) so we can receive gifts of the spirit – I Corinthians 12; f) so we can love as God loves – John 13:34-35; g) so we can have power over the devil/demons – Mark 16:17, Luke 10:18-19; h) overcome fear – 2 Timothy 1:7; i) so we can receive the fruit of the Spirit – Galatians 5:22-23; and, j) etc. Note: 2 and 3 above constitutes “being born of water and spirit” as required in John 3: 3-5. 4.) Taking the Lords Supper and foot washing – see explanation below 5.) Living in holiness – Hebrews 12:14, Isaiah 35: 8-9. After you do steps 1.) - 4.) above, now you are saved – you are truly a child of the Most High God. To remain a saved child of God, then you have to live a life separated from sin. This means that you make a sincere and wholehearted effort to obey God’s commandments as required under the Church Age. If you happen to sin, you need to repent and be reconciled to God – 1 John 1:8-9. If you do not repent and reconcile with God, then you will be a lost child of God and be cast into the Lake of Fire – Revelation 20:15. The above is the plan of salvation for the Church Age. It does not matter who you are, everybody during the Church Age needs to follow the above steps in order to be saved and go to heaven when the last trumpet sounds (1 Thessalonians 4:16, 1 Corinthians 15:52, Revelation 10:7 and 11:15) announcing the catching away of the church, known as the rapture. The Lord’s Supper and Foot Washing Introduction The Lord Jesus Christ established the Lord’ Supper and foot washing on the day of the Passover, when He was eating the Passover meal with His disciples, the 12 Apostles.. The Passover was established by God in the Old Testament, to begin at sunset on the first month of the year, Abib (later changed to Nisan) 14 until sunset the next day, which then began the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which lasted seven days. (Exodus 12:18-20 18 In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at even, ye shall eat unleavened bread, until the one and twentieth day of the month at even. 19 Seven days shall there be no leaven found in your houses: for whosoever eateth that which is leavened, even that soul shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he be a stranger, or born in the land. 20 Ye shall eat nothing leavened; in all your habitations shall ye eat unleavened bread.) For eight days (1 day for Passover + 7 days for Feast of Unleavened Bread) all the food they ate, including the drinks, had to be unleavened, could not have yeast in it, for yeast (leaven) desecrated the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. After the Passover meal, Jesus then washed the disciples’ feet. The Lord’s Supper The following scriptures describe Jesus instituting the Lord’ Supper, Matthew 26:17, 26-29 17 Now the first day of the feast of unleavened bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the passover? 26 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. 27 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; 28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. 29 But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom. Luke 22:15-20 15 And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer: 16 For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God. 17 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves: 18 For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come. 19 And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. 20 Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you. Notice that in the following scripture Jesus says that we need to eat His flesh and drink His blood to be a part of Him, make it to heaven, John 6:50-56 50 This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. 51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. 52 The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat? 53 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. 54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. 55 For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. 56 He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. Jesus is not telling us that we literally have to eat His flesh and drink His blood, be cannibals. He was speaking in a figurative sense pointing to the Lord’s Supper. The Apostles that were present certainly understood what Jesus meant. So as to emphasize its importance, the Lord revealed it to the Apostle Paul. This is how the Apostle Paul explains it in 1 Corinthians 11:20-34 20 When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's supper. 21 For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken. 22 What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not. 23 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: 24 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. 25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. 26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come. 27 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. 29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. 30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. 31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. 33 Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another. 34 And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come. In his epistle to the Corinthians (and the rest of us today), the Apostle Paul tells that he was revealed what actually happened when the Lord introduced the Lord’s Supper and that we are to take it often in celebration of the crucifixion of Jesus, His death. Paul also tells the Corinthians (and us) how to do it correctly, as Jesus would want it done. There is some confusion and misunderstanding as to what ingredients should be used when taking the Lord’s Supper. The answer is very simple. Use the ingredients that Jesus used consistent with what was used in the Passover meal when the Lord’s Supper was instituted - unleavened bread and kosher wine – as the bread and the wine could not have yeast in them. Right around the time before the Jewish Passover, unleavened bread and kosher wine suitable for the Passover can be found in stores so that the Christian churches can use them when they celebrate the Lord’s Supper, or communion as some call it. There is also some confusion concerning the use of wine in the Lord’s Supper, since wine has alcohol in it. I specifically said kosher wine, consistent with Jewish Passover use as has been used by Jews for centuries now, and it cannot have yeast in it. Orthodox Jews carefully watch its conversion from grape juice to wine over time as the natural yeast of the grape juice needs to be totally consumed during the fermentation process. Fermentation stops when all the yeast is consumed with the natural byproduct being alcohol, and the wine now being usable for Passover, and also the Lord’s Supper. Some have much trouble with the use of kosher wine with alcohol in it since the Bible condemns drunkards and the evils of alcohol. They prefer to use fresh grape juice instead, Welch’s comes to mind. They even loudly claim that Jesus would never consume it because of the alcohol. Let me clarify the alcohol issue with Bible scripture. Let me start with what the Bible says about John the Baptist, Luke 1:15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb. The verse says that John shall drink neither wine nor strong drink, meaning no alcoholic beverages. Note what Jesus says in the following two scriptures, Matthew 11:18-19 18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil. 19 The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children. Luke 7:33-34 33 For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine; and ye say, He hath a devil. 34 The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners! The scriptures of Matthew and Luke say that Jesus did what John the Baptist was forbidden to do. Jesus says that He drank wine with alcohol in it! Get the revelation. It is not the alcohol that is the problem; it is the yeast! Foot Washing Jesus instituted foot washing following instituting the Lord’s Supper as described in John 13:1-17 1 Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end. 2 And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him; 3 Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God; 4 He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. 5 After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. 6 Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet? 7 Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. 8 Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. 9 Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. 10 Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash Apostolic Pentecostal Doctrine By Pastor Inez G. Dominguez Page 7 of 7 his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all. 11 For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean. 12 So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? 13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. 16 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. 17 If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them. Foot washing became a necessary practice of the church as recorded in 1 Timothy 5:8-10 9 Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years old, having been the wife of one man, 10 Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints' feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work. Conclusion The Lord’s Supper and foot washing are mandated by the Lord to help us in our faithful service to God. The Lord’s Supper forces the issue in the believers to be in communion with God and with one another. Foot washing teaches the believers humility as they have to humble themselves before their brothers or sisters when they wash their feet.
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Apostolic Pentecostal Doctrine Series
WHAT IS THE NAME OF GOD? 1. Exodus 3:13-15 13 And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them? 14 And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. 15 And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations. Moses asks God what His name is, and God answers that His name is “I am.” This is His name forever and His memorial to all generations. This means that the name of God is “I Am” from Genesis to Revelation and whatever name is identified with God means “I Am.” 2. John 8:54-58 54 Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God: 55 Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying. 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. 57 Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? 58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. Jesus says that He is the “I am” of before Abraham’s time consistent with what God told Moses. 3. John 17:11-12 (New American Standard Version) 11 "I am no longer in the world; and yet they themselves are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep them in Your name, the name which You have given Me, that they may be one even as We are. 12 "While I was with them, I was keeping them in Your name which You have given Me; and I guarded them, and not one of them perished but the son of perdition, so that the Scripture would be fulfilled. John 17:11-12 (New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures) 11 “Also, I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world and I am coming to you, Holy Father, watch over them on account of your own name which you have given me, in order that they may be one just as we are. 12 When I was with them I used to watch over them on account of your own name which you have given me; and I have kept them and not one of them is destroyed except the son of destruction, except that the scripture might be fulfilled.” Philippians 2:9-12 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. The above scriptures say that Jesus has the same name as the Father. 4. Isaiah 9:6 6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. This is a prophecy about a Son (Whom we know His name is Jesus) Who is born, and His name will be identified with “Wonderful, Counselor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, and the Prince of Peace.” 5. Matthew 28:18-19 18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Jesus has resurrected in a glorified body and He says He has all the power in heaven and earth. He then tells His disciples to baptize all nations in the name “of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” The three prepositional phrases “of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost” are adjectives that define the word “name.” The word “name” is singular in number meaning that Father, Son, and Holy Ghost all have the same name – Jesus, consistent with Isaiah 9: 6. 6. John 14:16-18, 26 16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. 18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. 26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. This scripture says that the Holy Ghost is the Comforter, and Jesus says that He is the Comforter. 7. Colossians 2:7-10 7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. 8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: This scripture says that Jesus, now in His glorified body, is totally God. The above scriptures state that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost all have the same name. Therefore, the name of God is Jesus. Due to the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ, today we are on this side of the Law of Moses and we are under the Law of the Lord Jesus Christ. The commandments of the Law of Christ – with some additional commandments - look similar to those of the Law of Moses. What are missing are the commandments that have to do with the ceremonial animal sacrifices of the temple and the keeping of a weekly seventh day Sabbath. The temple sacrifices were fulfilled by Jesus and the weekly Sabbath is fulfilled in us when we are saved during the Church Age (Hebrews 4:2-4) when we enter together into the rest of the Lord mentioned in Genesis when God rested on the 7th day from His works. What is also missing in the Church Age is the administration of death found in the Law Moses when the same sins are committed under the Church Age. Under the Church Age, we can repent and get another opportunity to make it to heaven.
The NT of the Bible outlines the plan of salvation for the Church Age. What is the specific plan of salvation today under the Church Age? We need to: 1.) Repent – This means that we are truly sorry for living a sinful filled life and now we want to change that life style and live a life in obedience to God’s commandments as required in the Bible, with God helping us. With that attitude God then gives us a Godly sorrow, a true Godly repentance – as told in 2 Corinthians 7: 9-11. 2.) Be baptized in the name of Jesus for the remission of sins– Read about baptisms in Acts 2:38-39- Jews; Acts 8:16- Samaritans; Acts 10: 44-48- Gentiles; and Acts 9:15- disciples of John the Baptist. 3.) Be baptized by the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance- Read about Holy Ghost infilling in Acts 2:4- Jews; Acts 8:17- Samaritans; Acts 10:45-46- Gentiles; and Acts 19:6-disciples of John the Baptist. 4.) Taking the Lords Supper and foot washing – see explanations below. We take the Lord’s Supper as stated in 1 Corinthians 11:23-27. We also wash one another’s feet as Jesus did in John 13:3-5. 5.) Living in holiness, sin free – Hebrews 12:14, Isaiah 35: 8-9. We make a very strong effort to live sin free. If we do sin, we repent and God reconciles us to Him once again. Note: See Important Bible lessons on Apostolic-Pentecostal doctrine. |
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