Salvation the Pentecostal Way

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> Bro. Bill wrote:
>
> | For Example: I beleive that Acts 2:38 is the plan of salvation, but
> I also | acknowledge that I am not God and that there maybe others ways, but I do not see
> | or teach them. I condemn nobody, but I do deny what I see as false
> (Bible denying) doctrine.


> Anneliese wrote:

> I think, Bro. Bill, that you have effectively summed up Bro. Steve's
> position also :-).
> 
> All he is asking (in a very long, drawn out way) is whether it is
> *possible* for there to be other avenues of salvation.  And if so, why
> are
> we so quick to condemn all others to hell and refuse to call them
> Christian?

Steve:


To state my position clearer, others do experience the reality of
salvation.  Biblical salvation is a very broad concept effecting the
whole of human existence.  Even sinners experience God's Grace!  This
does not mean they will be found in heaven on judgment day.  It does
mean that Apostolics should see God's hand at work in salvation in many
different ways, not just through obedience to Acts 2:38.  It does mean
that Apostolics should not minimize the reality and importance of God's
salvation where ever and however it is found.  We should not insist that
others have not experienced God's salvation until they have obeyed Acts
2:38.  This exclusiveness is a hindrance to evangelism and dialogue. 
This  exclusiveness is what has caused the Apostolic movement to be
labeled a cult. At the same time it does not mean that Apostolics should
stop preaching Acts 2:38 as the human response to the Gospel message. 
But the Gospel message, Jesus Christ, should be proclaimed first. 
Apostolics are not converting people to a doctrinal belief but to
Jesus!  Acts 2:38 describes the way in which Jesus is experienced in the
Apostolic community!

What is my fundamental doctrine of salvation?  I apologize that I have
not made it plain!  I would like to quote form Arthur L. Clanton's
United We Stand, Pentecostal Publishing House, 1970.  In this passage
Brother Clanton is writing of the struggle to form the United
Pentecostal Church from two different organizations.  

"Both the Pentecostal Church Incorporated and the Pentecostal Assemblies
of Jesus Christ believed in repentance, water baptism in the name of
Jesus Christ, and receiving the Holy Ghost, with the initial sign of
speaking in tongues.  To be a minister in either organization, one must
have obeyed these gospel precepts, and must preach and teach them."

"But in general, the two groups differed in the spiritual significance
attached to each of these "steps" in the plan of salvation.  The vast
majority of the ministers in the Pentecostal Assemblies of Jesus Christ
believed that water baptism in  Jesus' name remitted sins, and was the
birth of the water.  They further believed that that the baptism of the
Holy Ghost was the birth of the Spirit."

"The belief of some in the Pentecostal Church  Incorporated was
identical with this.  Others, however, believed that the word "for" in
Acts 2:38 meant "because of", and that one was baptized because his sins
had been remitted, through the efficacy of Jesus' shed blood, at the
time of repentance.  The Pentecostal Church Incorporated had accepted
ministers who believed either way, seeking to keep the unity of the
Spirit, until they all came into the unity of the faith."

"So it is easy to see that before a merger could be effected, there must
be a fundamental doctrine, relative to the plan of Salvation, that
ministers in both groups could conscientiously accept."

"After some discussion, Witherspoon left the committee room, went
downstairs to the Pentecostal Publishing House, borrowed a typewriter,
and wrote the following Fundamental Doctrine:

The basic and fundamental doctrine of this organization shall be the
Bible standard of full salvation, which is repentance, baptism in water
by immersion in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the baptism in
the Holy Ghost with the initial sign of speaking with other tongues as
the Spirit gives the utterance.

We shall endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit until we all come into
the unity of the faith, at the same time admonishing all brethren that
they shall not contend for their different views to the disunity of the
body," Clanton, 120-121.

If you read my presentation of Salvation The Pentecostal Way carefully
you will see that I embrace the position of The Pentecostal Church
Incorporated allowing for a diversity  in the understanding of Apostolic
salvation.  I eagerly embrace the Fundamental doctrine which created the
United Pentecostal Church for it presents the central tenets of
Apostolic salvation while admonishing all not to contend for their
individual views to the disunity of the body.  This is the understanding
and the spiritual dynamic which needs to be restored to the Apostolic
movement.  


God Bless!

Steve (signing an Apostolic Pentecostal confession of faith) Starcher