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 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 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 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 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 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 experienced 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 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 14:8). 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.
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).