THE DOCTRINE OF SALVATION:
John 3:5-8:
5. Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
8. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell when it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirt.
Jesus is discussing with Nicodemus what one must do to enter into the kingdom of God. Jesus describes two births that must take place: one of water and one of spirit. Take notice to verse #8: the wind blows, you hear the sound thereof, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going, so is every one that is born of the Spirit. Here in these few words He perfectly describes the day of Pentecost.
John 3:16: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
This verse is part of the conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus. This particular scripture has great meaning when kept in its proper context and confirms to us that if we believe in Jesus Christ (that one must be born of water and Spirit) then we shall not perish but have everlasting life.
John 7:37-39:
37. In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.
38. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
Jesus clearly states here that one must believe on Him as the scripture teaches us to believe. Not just believe that Jesus was the Christ, but to believe scripturally to obedience. One is not a believer if He does not obey. We must also be doers of the Word and not just hearers only.
Acts 1:1-4:
1. The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach.
2. Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:
3. To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:
4. And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father which, saith he, ye have heard of me.
Here Luke gives us some very important information. Jesus spent forty days with His disciples after His resurrection, giving commandments to them pertaining to the kingdom of God. Then He commanded them that they should wait for the PROMISE of the Father.
Acts 1:8: 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.
Here He clearly establishes that the promise they are to wait for is the Holy Ghost.
Acts 2:1-4:
1. And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
2. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
3. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
4. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Remember what Jesus told Nicodemus: when one is born of the Spirit of God there will be a sound. Cloven tongues or divided languages sat upon each of them, and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost. Please notice that the Spirit gave them utterance.
James 3:8: But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
James also explains that the tongue controls the whole body. This helps us to understand why God chose speaking in tongues as a sign of receiving the Spirit of God. When He took control of the tongue by the Spirit, it was His evidence that He now controls the body.
Acts 2:6-8:
6: Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.
7. And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galileans?
8. And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?
The people came and were amazed that these were speaking in languages that they did not learn naturally. The apostles having now received commandments from the Lord were prepared to explain this strange event.
Acts 2:16-18:
16. But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
17. And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
18. And on my servants and my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
So this is the Spirit of God being poured out upon all flesh.
Acts 2:37: Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter
and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
Everytime I read this verse I stop and consider the multitudes of people whose heart God has stirred and they have asked this very same question...What shall I do?...What have I got to do to be saved? It is sad to note that there are very few who will give them the same answer that the apostles gave on that day.
Acts 2:38: 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.
It is so simple that it in itself is amazing. If you remember John Chapter 3 you will notice that this includes a birth of water and Spirit. Repentance is doing an about face, to turn and go in the opposite direction. Repentance is dying out to the flesh and its desires. Baptism, which is being fully submerged under water, establishes our obedience to the word of God.
Colossians 2:12: Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
Baptism is our burial that we may rise with Him. The Holy Ghost is our resurrection, for it is the birth of the Spirit. It testifies that the blood of atonement has removed our sins. When one truly repents of their sins, they do an about-face, and when baptized in the name of Jesus Christ they will receive the Holy Ghost; it is the promise.
Acts 5:32: And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.
Acts 2:39: For 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.
The promise of the Holy Ghost is for all, of all generations.
Since its origin Souls Harbor has preached the same message preached by the apostles on the day of Pentecost and still see the exact same results. When it comes to baptism the scriptures give only one method and that is fully submerged in the name of Jesus Christ. You may read Acts, Chapters 8, 10, and 19, to further establish this.
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ONE GOD IN CHRIST:
Genesis 1:1: In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
John 1:1-3, 14:
1. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2. The same was in the beginning with God.
3. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
14. 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.
Genesis tells us that in the beginning God created the heaven and the earth, then we read in John that all things were made by Christ.
John 1:10: He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
So Jesus was in the world and the world was made by Him.
Colossians 1:16: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him.
God is a spirit. A spirit does not have flesh and bones. God robed Himself in flesh.
Isaiah 9:6: 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, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
So Jesus is the mighty God and the Everlasting Father. It is no wonder that John makes such references to Him, for he understood His deity. One may ask how can He be the Father, Son and the Holy Ghost at the same time. How can one be a father, son and husband at the same time? They are titles that describe the bearer of the name, and that name is Jesus.
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MANNER OF LIFE:
We of the Apostolic Church believe in separation from the world. We believe that when one receives the Holy Ghost they begin to live a holy life. The Holy Ghost begins to guide, and holiness and Godliness take control of the heart, causing one to cease from his own works to do the will of God.
I Peter 1:15-16:
15: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
16. Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
The word "conversation", meaning lifestyle, brings to light the fact that we must live a holy life as defined by the scriptures. Holiness affects everything about our life. The root of holiness is the fruit of the Spirit.
Galatians 5:22-24:
22. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23. Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
24. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
These teach us that holiness is about being submitted to God and remind us that we have crucified the flesh with its affections and lusts when we received the Spirit of God. Holiness affects every area of our life: our attitude; thoughts; how we live, dress, do business, etc.
For more information about the doctrine of Souls Harbor Apostolic Church, please email us at pastor@soulsharborapostolicchurch.com.