Teaching of Faith on the Apostle's Doctrine

The Apostle's Doctrine

Doctrine: Teaching, program, belief, method. That which is held as foundational.

Whose doctrine? The Apostles - those who were ...

• Eyewitnesses of Jesus Christ, his death, burial and resurrection
• Of the first generation to receive the understanding and experience of salvation by faith in the Life, Death, Resurrection and Eternal Name of Jesus Christ.
• Commissioned and Authorized by Jesus Christ for the preaching of THE GOSPEL

Today, we receive their word through the scriptures, and we can receive the promise of the Holy Ghost if we will believe upon, through their word, the message and person of the Lord Jesus Christ.

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The One True God

• We believe and preach the One creator God, and Father of all, who is one in being and person!
• Read the article The Name of Jesus Christ identifies and reveals the One True God.
• Study the doctrine of the Oneness of God with well known author, David K. Bernard

The Bible Plan of Salvation is your opportunity in this late date of the '90s

You can make a lasting change and open the doors for God to work in your life! Baptism in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ is given for remission of sins. It's the teaching of the Apostles! The "promise of the Father" is fulfilled in the Baptism of the Holy Ghost (Luke 24:49. Acts 1:5,9, 2:1-4)

Oneness asserts that ...

1. God is indivisible in number with no distinction of persons
2. Jesus is the absolute fullness of the Godhead in the flesh He is God, Jehovah, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
3. The Son of God was begotten after the flesh and did not exist in eternity past - the term only refers to God's incarnation in Christ.
4. The Word is not a separate person, but the mind, thought, plan, or expression of the Father God.
5. Jesus is the revealed name of God, in the NT which represents power, authority and salvation from God
6. Water baptism should be administered orally invoking the name of Jesus Christ.
7. believers will definitely see only one divine being in heaven; Jesus Christ.

One God in Christ Jesus

GOD

There is only ONE GOD; the Creator of the heavens and theearth and of all mankind, manifested to mankind as FATHER (creator) SON, (savior), and HOLY GHOST (indwelling Spirit) (Romans 8:11).

God is by nature, a spirit (John 4:24). Wheel of Prophecy 

FATHER

God is a Spirit (John 4:24), the Eternal One, the Creator of all things; and of course, of all men, thus making Him their Father (through creation).

He is the FIRST and the LAST and beside Him there is no other. (Isaiah 44:6)
There was no God formed BEFORE Him, neither shall there be after Him.

The title "Father" used by Jesus, refers to Deity

SON

Jesus is the SON of God according to the flesh (Romans 1:3), and the very God Himself according to the Spirit. Jesus is the Christ (Matt 1:23); God made flesh (John 1:1-14); God manifested in the flesh (1 Tim 3:16); He which was, which is, and which is to come. THE ALMIGHTY (Rev 1:8; Isaiah 9:6).

To this Jesus Himself testified when he said, "He that hath seen me hath seen the father" (John 14:7-11); and "I and the Father are ONE" (John 10:30).

Since it took the shedding of blood for the remission of sins of the world (Hebrews 9:22), God as the Father being a Spirit had no blood to shed; so He prepared a body of flesh and blood (Hebrews 10:5), that He might fulfill the prophecy of Isaiah 43:11; "Beside ME there is no SAVIOR"; and caused the angels to sing "For there is born this day in the city of David, a SAVIOR which is CHRIST THE LORD".

Hebrews 1:3 refers to Jesus as "the express image of [God's] person". No wonder Jesus could say "he that hath seen me hath seen the Father" (John 14:9)

The title Son, used by Jesus Christ, and by Deity (such as at the Jordan baptism) refers to humanity.

HOLY GHOST

The HOLY GHOST is not the third person in the Godhead, but rather the manifestation of the Spirit of God (the Creator), and of the resurrected Christ, coming to dwell in the hearts and lives of all men who will be obedient to the gospel, and the Comforter, Sustainer, and the Keeper (John 14:16-26; Romans 8:11). 

When we use the title "Holy Ghost" after the Day of Pentecost (or when Jesus used it referring ahead to this era), it is referring to the immanent God, who works in human lives for regeneration BY that spirit since Pentecost. 

So there are not three GODS, or persons, but three manifestations of ONE GOD who we know by the revealed face of God, Jesus Christ, God in Flesh.

"These three are one" (1 John 5:7)

The following truths are also essential...,

• All the names and titles of God apply to Jesus
• Jesus is Jehovah
• The Holy Spirit is literally the Spirit that was in Jesus Christ, i.e. the Spirit of Truth (John 14:17=18, 2 Cor 3:17)
• Jesus is the One depicted on the throne in Rev 1-22, and particularly ch 4.
• The essential identity of Jesus is the same as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. The title of Father refers to His role as Father of all creation, Father of the only begotten Son, and Father of the born-again believer. The title Son refers to God's incarnation, in human flesh, for the man Christ was certainly conceived by the Spirit of God. The title of Holy Ghost describes the fundamental of God's moral attributes. It specifically refers to God in activity, where unlimited by fleshly incarnation. God particularly anoints, regenerates, and dwells in man by this means.
• The name of Jesus receives strong emphasis in scripture. In all scripture the name of God is an extension of His individual personality. In the OT Jehovah was the distinctive name of God whereby He distinguished himself from false gods. In the NT, God accompanied the revelation of Himself in the flesh with a new name. That name is Jesus which includes and supersedes Jehovah since it literally means Jehovah Savior. or Jehovah is salvation. Although others have born the name of Jesus, the Lord Jesus Christ is the only one who is actually what that name describes.

Jesus is the redemptive name of God in the New Testament. It carries the power and the authority needed by the Church, as shown in: John 14:14, Acts 4:12, Acts 10:43, Phil 2:9-10, Col 3:17

The Authority of the Word of God

When the cop says, "Pull over" - why do it? When Mom said, "Stop putting hot sauce on your little brother's gumbo", why stop? If you sit down comfortably in a dentist's char, in spite of all those wicked looking instruments, what allows you to relax? In each case, the answer is authority. You ought to be very comfortable trusting your life to the Word of God. What has more authority? You don't need to think further about it, if there is no authority in this world, or in the "world beyond". But if there is, we do need to consider it. Is the Word of God authoritative? If there is a God, and He is creator, it seems that it would be! Let's assume that God is real, and that He has sent his word to us. What does it say about Him and His word? "And God said, Let there be light: and there was light." - Gen 1:3 That's power! It also means that He is the architect, and generates all there is, by his word. Did the Apostle's agree? Lets take a look: "Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear." - Heb 11:3 Things that are true last, lies fade away, and the corruptness underneath is revealed. Thus truth has authority. That's the way it would be in an ideal world, in a court of law. "Do you swear to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth?". God cannot do otherwise. "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth." - John 17:17 The Word of God is Truth, The is powerful, and has authority, It can change things. It concludes all things in comparison with itself. It can separate a person from sin, and darkness. "But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." - John 4:23 True Worship is worship which is rooted in, empowered or enlivened by, reflective of, and conforming to TRUTH. God's Word is TRUE, but His Spirit is One with His Word.. The Spirit and Word work toward the same thing, and today a true worshipper is one who surrenders to the Holy Spirit, while abiding in the definition of the WORD. This is the Apostolic experience of PENTECOST! "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." - John 1:1 Are you aware that Jesus Christ is the expression, or word of God, written in flesh? Want to know God? Look at Jesus! His mind is conveyed to us in the BIble! "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." - John 1:14 There's the record. God expressed himself in the flesh. Hebrews 1:3 says: "Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;" "He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day." - John 12:48 Friend, is there some very serious reason why YOUR authority should be counted greater than the WORD of GOD ? I hope, not for God's word is the measure by which all things will be finally evaluated (i.e. judged) "... For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven." - Ps 119:89 Consider who God is... Whether you and I agree or not, he cannot change. He constitutes perfection. The WORD preceded all things that were made. As John wrote: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." ... think about it, the WORD is powerful because it IS God. When God expresses Himself, he REVEALS Himself. Awsome, huh ? "And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire." Revelation 20:12-15 What books are to be opened ? Look back at John 12:48.. Among the books will be the revealed words of Jesus and His Apostles, who, by the way, are the only means by which we receive the words of Jesus Christ. "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:" - 2 Timothy 3:12-16 There are deceivers and deceptions. Thats a fact.. How can we escape the pitfalls of spiritual deception? The Holy scriptures. They are reliable. They were given so that we could have a stable reference point. "Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." - 2 Peter 1:20-21 The words "moved on" in the above scriptures as tranlated from greek impress us with the idea of a ship moved by the wind in its full sails. God was and is very much interested in us receiving the WORD which is SPIRIT and LIFE. Thus the word is much more than writings of holy men. It is motivated by the urge of God to communicate with us, looking to save us! "And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen."- 2 Peter 3:15-18 If the unstable wrestle with the scriptures and are destroyed, it is clear where stability comes from, and what the promise of accepting their authority is! "For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus." - Revelation 22:18-20 Elsewhere Paul makes it clear...There will come a time when all that has not found a place of stability and truth, will be eliminated: " In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ" - 2 Thesselonians 1:8 The only way to know and love God is by taking a place in submission to His word! Vengance here is not emotional. It is simply the consequence of rejecting life. "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." - 2 Timothy 2:15 If we are approved of God, it is because of compliance and agreement with His all-powerful Word!

Bishop Stephen B. Hall

Dr. Stephen B. Hall

Love As Much As You Live

If I had to choose between breathing and loving you I would use my last breath to tell you I love you.
Never leave life not loving all that you possibly can. Love is something that we are all able to do if we just put the effort into, and love is also a part of life, a state of being, that will never fail us. If we choose to do everything that we do, out of hate, and out of spitefulness, the things that we do will wreak of hate and disdain and will only be drawn to by very few.

If we are willing to go the road less traveled and make sure that every action we commit to is out of love, we will see growth and success in every aspect of our lives, from our physical beings, to our spiritual beings as well.

In an effort to win we must simply be love. When others hate you can choose to not surround yourself with them. When others bully and mock others you can choose to be that helping hand to others who may have no one else to help them. Be love!

Being Deeply Loved Gives You Strength

Being deeply loved gives you strength, loving deeply gives you courage. -Lao Tzu
Love is what makes the world go round. When we are able to accept the love from the people around us that are willing to transmit it to us, we are accepting the strength therein that love will help to provide. In turn, when we are able to love those around us who should be given ones due, we are also acting out of courage.

It takes courage to love because in every relationship at some point we will become disappointed. Since no human is able to carry out their full existence of life without making a mistake, chances are they will make mistakes in their relationships and in their dealings with the people that they are closest to.

New Mercies, Every Moment Has A Morning

Sometimes mercy does not always look like what we think it should. It comes in many forms: an encouraging or exhorting phone call from a friend, a spiritual message given by someone…as a still small voice or a loud sounding trumpet.
Mercies may come as a sense of peace when resting in Him…as small seemingly insignificant thoughts which we need to grasp a hold of and believe or through a Scripture we hear or read…through a message or through the beauty of nature…yes, and even through a storm.
Mercies may come when you are listening to a song and feel your heart being tugged at to receive its words as truth in your life… or as words of victory, comfort, obedience, hope, correction, instruction…whatever they might be.
To give reference as to how many ways there are to receive the mercies, comfort and loving- kindness of God on a daily basis is impossible. They are as varied as the people He has created. However, I think you get the point.
His thoughts toward us are beyond measure, therefore; we should without fear and with great pleasure endeavor to find them out on a moment by moment basis. Doing so will save us a lot of grief all while illuminating the path ahead of us.
Once we have received a new mercy, a comfort or a new expression of His loving-kindness we must do what Psalms 59:16 (noted above) instructs us to do. We must sing, speak, declare or whatever He tells us to do in response to the new mercies He gives. When we do, faith comes and we are encouraged to press on all the while putting the past behind us.
Every mercy we receive takes us further in the process and we would be foolish to look back at where we were. No matter how small the step we take is, we are still further along than we were before. How comforting is that…very?
In conclusion, take the time to be with Him in whatever way you are being led to do so. Listen and receive the things He gives you…the new mercies He longs to feed you and let them penetrate your soul man. Know your born again spirit is already perfect in Him, loved by Him and longs to flow like rivers of living water into your mind, will and emotions until you know Him as He knows you.
Yes, His mercies are new every morning…every moment…for every moment in time has its own morning. Selah