Our faith is based upon the full content of the Bible. “The Bible is the infallible Word of God.” - II Timothy 3:16. We believe that all scriptures were the inspired work of God. Because the content of the scriptures were inspired by God, we believe them to be fundamentally accurate. Whether certain passages should be translated literally or figuratively largely depends on the context of the passage, but whether literal or figurative the significance and integrity of the content of both the passage and Bible in general is in no way compromised.

We accept the “canon” of scriptures, including all 66 books of the Old and New Testaments as the authentic inspired writings of the Bible referenced in II Timothy 3:16. While other writings may exists and offer some historic and other value, we do not give them the same consideration as the canon of scriptures and dismiss them totally where they conflict with the authentic and inspired scriptures.

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1) It is important that it is understood, Christianity and all of it tenants are from faith. We define faith as the belief in something in the absence of absolute evidence. This should not be confused with what is commonly referred to as “blind faith”. It is not that there is no substance in our belief, but that we acknowledge there are some things for which there is no definitive proof. For example, there is ample evidence to suggest the existence of Jesus and the circumstances surrounding his natural death. However, it is a matter of faith that his death was an act of propitiation for our sins.

We do not dispute with the facts of science and believe that science and Christianity are not mutually exclusive. One can, and in fact many do, believe in the facts of science and maintain a faith in Christianity. While we acknowledge our understanding of all things in scripture is incomplete, we must also acknowledge that the facts of science are also incomplete; for what was once held as fact for scientist was later determined to be inaccurate.

In our efforts to gain a better understanding of things related to life, our planet and the universe it is not possible to remove the element of faith from the Christian. “Without faith it is impossible to please God.” (Hebrews 11:6) Therefore, we accept that there are going to be areas related to our faith to which we do not have a complete understanding or explanation, yet we accept them as true by faith.

It is because of our faith in the word of God and the principles of Christianity that we behave in the manner in which we do. For faith without works is dead; our faith is therefore evidenced by our works. (James 2: 17-18)

What is the Apostles Doctrine and what does it mean to be Apostolic? Doctrine simply means teachings or instructions, so when we say Apostles Doctrine we are referring to the teachings and instruction of the Apostles as they received it from Jesus. Acts 2:42 tells us that the first church ever established continued in the Apostles Doctrine... "And they continued steadfastly in the Apostles Doctrine and fellowship".

The original apostles were those hand selected group of men that followed Jesus throughout his earthly ministry. During the time the apostles spent with Jesus, they received valuable instructions and directions. The time the apostles spent with Jesus is chronicled in the four gospels; Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. The implementation of that teaching can be found in the remainder of the New Testament from Acts to Revelation.

A vital component of the Apostles Doctrine is the plan of salvation, that is what does it take to be saved from Gods wrath to come in response to sin on the earth. Gods plan of salvation for mankind is comprised of five basic components: Belief, Repentance, Water Baptism, Infilling of the Holy Spirit and a Holy life. We will review each briefly below to familiarize you with our doctrinal position, however it is not intended to be a thorough exposition, the best method for that is Bible study.

Belief in God is the first step in obtaining eternal salvation. Hebrews 11:6 tells us, "for he that cometh to God must believe that he is". Once belief in God has been established, that belief will prompt you to take action. That action is to discover what God desires out of your life and then to put those desires into place in your life. The only place to discover this plan for your life is through the word of God, found in the Bible.

Repentance is the act of changing ones mind and behavior. When any aspect of our lives are not in alignment with Gods word we are moving in a direction that takes us away from a relationship with God. In order to restore that relationship, we have to change the way we think about what we are doing and then change what we are doing. This is the act of repentance and is clearly illustrated in the biblical account of the prodigal son found in Luke 15:11-32.

Baptism is an outward sign or demonstration that a change has taken place on the inside and is required to be saved. Mark 16:16 reads, "He that believe and is baptized shall be saved". Baptism comes from the Greek word baptizo, which means to be completely immersed or fully wet. We follow the biblical method of baptism, which is complete immersion in water. When you are baptized, you will be baptized in the only name given among men whereby we must be saved (Acts 4:12) that is in Jesus name.

Holy Spirit is the Spirit, character and nature of God. The Holy Spirit is the power that will enable us to overcome our sinful nature and take on the nature of God. The Spirit is also there to be a comforter to us (John 14:16,26; 15:26) and to guide us into all truth (John 16:13). The evidence or sign that a believer has been filled with the Holy Spirit is the supernatural event of speaking in other tongues found in Acts 2:4, Acts 10:44-46, Acts 19:6.

Holiness pertains to the quality of life that God intends for us to live. Although living a Holy life includes living a morally sound life, it does not end there. To live a Holy life is to live a life as God would as demonstrated in the life that Jesus lived. The bible gives us a couple of clear indications as to why we should live not only morally pure lives but Holy lives as well; because He is Holy (Leviticus 19:2, 21:8) and because without it we cannot see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14).

This is Gods plan of salvation for mankind, as Jesus delivered it to the apostles who in turn taught and implemented it in the 1st century church. History tells us that after the death of the original apostles, men that had not been with Jesus altered and changed what had been originally established. This diluting of the true gospel was foreseen by the apostles and warned against in the bible (Jude 4). As a result of the dilution of the gospel and the opinions of men we have the many different "denominations" today.

Being Apostolic is not another "denomination". Apostolic is a derivation of the word Apostle. Being Apostolic means we identify our faith with the same faith of the 1st church started on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2). By so doing, we maintain doctrinal purity and the integrity of the teachings of Christ as they were delivered to the apostles and thus on to the 1st century church. Simply stated we believe and teach the same things the first church did.

Others of our faith sometimes refer to themselves as Pentecostals, meaning they also identify themselves with the 1st church started on the day of Pentecost. Those outside of our faith sometimes equate us with being Charismatic or Evangelical Christians, because we believe in the gifts of the Spirit and in the speaking of other tongues. However this would not be an accurate statement because we have strong doctrinal differences.

We have a biblical history and a Godly heritage. We pray that the tenants of our faith are clearly seen and understood just as they are clearly supported and taught in the scriptures.

The gift of the Holy Spirit has become the topic of much discussion in our day. Men and women of all persuasions and from all walks of life have become interested enough to search for greater understanding of this phenomenal spiritual experience. Capturing headlines, dominating the content of many religious periodicals, and generally creating excitement, this canon of apostolic faith deserves a sincere appraisal.

The Facts

The Holy Spirit is God. “God is a Spirit” (John 4:24). “There is…one Spirit” (Ephesians 4:4). To become a subject in the kingdom of God, Jesus said a person must be “born again,” or “born of water and of the Spirit” (John 3: 3-5). The birth of the Spirit and the baptism of the spirit are synonymous terms. The Apostle Peter understood this truth as he spoke to the multitude in Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost: “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” (Acts 2:38).

This experience was received by the Jews on Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4), the Samaritans (Acts 8:15-17), and the Gentiles (Acts 10:44-48), plainly indicating that it was meant for all people, regardless of race, creed, color, or station in life. The new birth, consisting of water and Spirit, was never set forth as being optional or unessential. “Ye must be born again” are the words of Jesus in John 3:7. Until a person is born of the Spirit, he cannot be called a “son” of God.

The Privilege

But why concentrate only on the absoluteness of the command? It is a blessed privilege to experience a release of spirit, finding freedom of soul and expression in the baptism of the Holy Spirit. There is no other experience similar to it. “Incomparable” is the only adequate description of this filling. The transition is to an entirely new realm and way of life. A complete transformation takes place. The soul has an empty place “in the shape of God” that nothing else will fit or satisfy. The baptism of the Spirit completely satisfies every longing of the soul. In this experience is fulfillment.

The Evidence

There are two major evidences of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. The initial, outward evidence is speaking with tongues, which means speaking miraculously in languages the speaker does not know.

Speaking with other tongues has been connected with Spirit baptism since the beginning of the church age. On the birthday of the New Testament church, the Day of Pentecost after Christ’s ascension, approximately 120 Disciples of Christ were inundated by the Spirit of God and “began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:1-4). The household of an Italian centurion received the same spiritual experience, which the Jewish Christian onlookers readily identified, “for they heard them speak with tongues” (Acts 10:44-48). In Acts 19:1-6, a group of John the Baptist’s disciples heard about the Holy Ghost from the Apostle Paul; they too were filled with the Spirit, “and they spake with tongues.”

We cannot adequately express with our own words the ecstasy experienced in the baptism of the Spirit. Only through unaccustomed words of heavenly coherence can we utter what our souls would express.

There are perhaps several other reasons why God chose speaking in tongues as the initial evidence of this spiritual baptism. It is an objective, external evidence that recipients and onlookers can both identify with certainty (Acts 10:46). It is a uniform evidence-all the disciples on Pentecost, all the believers in Ephesus spoke in tongues. “So is everyone that is born of the Spirit” are the words of Jesus in His description of this spiritual new birth (John 3:8). Speaking in tongues also indicates the complete control of the Spirit over our human wills. The tongue is the most unruly member of the body (James 3:8), and it’s being tamed by God is evidence of His complete control.

Further evidence of the Spirit’s abiding presence in our lives is the fruit of the Spirit, which Paul mentioned in Galatians 5:22-23: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”

The Promise

Was the baptism of the Holy Spirit for the apostles or early disciples only? Is it today available to only a select few who are “super-spiritual”?

The obvious answer to these questions is no. The Apostle Peter made it very plain in his message on the Day of Pentecost that the gift of the Holy Ghost is for everyone: “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” (Acts 2:39). (See Luke 11:13). Our faith, obedience, and submission to the Lord Jesus and His gospel qualify us for this most joyous of all experiences. (See Acts 5:32; 11:15-17.) As Isaiah 12:3 states, “With joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.”

Seek Him today, for “He is the rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Hebrews 11:6). “Ho every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters” (Isaiah 55:1). This means you!

The subject of water baptism has long been called a great issue and no doubt has been made such by many church leaders of the past and present. In our study of it, let us first consider its importance, or the necessity of being baptized.

The Importance of Water Baptism

Christian water baptism is an ordinance instituted by Jesus Christ. If it is not important in the plan of God, why did Jesus command it in Matthew 28:19? And why did Peter follow up by saying, “Be baptized every one of you,” and by commanding the Gentiles to be baptized (Acts 2:38; 10:48)? We must remember two points about the importance of water baptism. First, whatever Christ definitely established and ordained cannot be unimportant, whether we understand its significance or not. Second, Christ and the apostles showed the importance of this ordinance by observing it. Jesus walked many miles to be baptized, though He was without sin, saying, “For thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness” (See Matthew 3:13-16.)

It is true that water itself does not contain any saving virtue, but God has chosen to include it in His plan of salvation. Peter explained, “Baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (I Peter 3:21). According to Luke 7:30, “the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized.”

The Mode of Baptism

According to the Scriptures, the proper mode of baptism is immersion. “And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water” (Matthew 3:16). “And they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him” (Acts 8:38). “Therefore we are buried with him in baptism into death” (Romans 6:4). A corpse is not buried by placing it on top of the ground and sprinkling a little soil on it, but by covering it completely.

​According to the World Book Encyclopedia, “At first all baptism was by complete immersion” (vol. 1, pg. 651). And the Catholic Encyclopedia states, “In the early centuries, all were baptized by immersion in streams, pools, and baptisteries” (vol. 2, pg. 263). Immersion was not convenient after the Catholic church instituted infant baptism; thus the mode was changed to sprinkling. (See Encyclopedia Britannica, 11th ed., vol. 3, pp. 365-66.)

Repentance identifies us with the death of Christ, and baptism identifies us with His burial. Coming forth from the watery grave of baptism and receiving new life in the Holy Spirit identifies us with His resurrection.

The Formula of Baptism

Jesus commanded His disciples to “teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost” (Matthew 28:19). He did not command them to use these words as a formula, but He commanded them to baptize in “the name.” The word name is used here in the singular, and it is the focal point of the baptismal command. The titles Father, Son, and Holy Ghost describe God’s relationships to humanity and are not the supreme, saving name described here, which is Jesus. “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).

Jesus is the name in which the roles of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are revealed. The angel of the Lord instructed Joseph, “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). Jesus said, “I am come in my Father’s name,” and, “The Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost,…the Father will send in my name” (John 5:43; 14:26). Thus by baptizing in the name of Jesus, we honor the Godhead. “For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily” (Colossians 2:9).

Luke 24:45-47 records that just before His ascension, Jesus opened the disciples’ understanding. It was necessary that their understanding be opened, and many today need the same operation in order to understand the Scriptures. Then Jesus said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it is behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead on the third day.” The disciples had their understanding opened so that they could grasp the vast importance of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. Verse 47 describes the commission that Jesus then gave: “And that repentance and remission of all sins should be preached in his name among all nations (Jews and Gentiles), beginning at Jerusalem.”

Peter was one of that number to whom Jesus had spoken and whose understanding had been opened. After having listened to these instructions, a few days later he was inspired by the Holy Ghost to preach on the Day of Pentecost. The hearts of the hearers were pierced and, feeling condemned, they cried out to Peter and to the other apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” (Acts 2:37). Peter did not hesitate but boldly answered, “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” (Acts 2:38). “Then they that gladly receive his word were baptized, and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls” (Acts 2:41).

Some say that Peter told them to be baptized in Jesus’ name because they were Jews and this baptism was to make them acknowledge Jesus Christ. But let us go with Peter to the house of Cornelius several years later. Cornelius and his household were Gentiles, yet there again Peter “commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord” (Acts 10:48). (Most translations actually say, “In the name of Jesus Christ.”) If Peter was wrong on the Day of Pentecost, he surly had ample time to be corrected before he went to the house of Cornelius.

Was Peter wrong on the Day of Pentecost? When the hearers were pricked in their hearts, they spoke to Peter and to the rest of the apostles (Acts 2:37). This included Matthew, who wrote Matthew 28:19. Moreover, when Peter preached, he stood up with the eleven (Acts 2:14). Matthew was there, yet we find no words of correction from him. He surely would have spoken up if Peter had disobeyed the Lord. But all the apostles understood and carried out the Lord’s commission. As Jesus said in prayer, “I have manifested thy name unto men [the apostles] which thou gavest me out of the world…and they have kept thy word” (John 17:6).

The Samaritans, who were not Jews, were also baptized in the name of Jesus. “Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them….But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women…They were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Acts 8:5, 12, 16).

Let us see how Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles, baptized. He went to Ephesus many years after the Day of Pentecost and found some disciples of John the Baptist there. “He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Acts 19:2-5). Although these disciples had already been baptized, the name of Jesus was so important as to cause them to be re-baptized in His name.

We do not believe that Paul changed the formula or mode of baptism when he baptized Lydia and her household (Acts 16:14-15) or the Philippian jailer. The latter came trembling and fell down before Paul and Silas, said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. And he took them the same hour of the night [shortly after midnight], and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway” (Acts 16:30-33). How can we doubt that Paul baptized these people using the same mode and formula that he used elsewhere, that is, immersion in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ

Paul was not with the apostles when Jesus gave his final instructions to them in Matthew 28:19 and Luke 24:47, yet Paul baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. How did he know what to do? He said the gospel was not a tradition of men but a revelation from God. “I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ” (Galatians 1:11-12). Paul was chosen to bear Jesus’ name to the Gentiles, and he wrote many divinely inspired epistles to the church. To this apostle, God revealed the mystery of the church, “which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit” (Ephesians 3:5). Paul claimed to have divine authority: “If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I wrote unto you are the commandments of the Lord.” (I Corinthians 14:37). And Paul wrote, “Whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him” (Colossians 3:17). Water baptism is done in both word and deed. We cannot afford to overlook this command to the church.

The church is “built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone” (Ephesians 2:20). The apostles not only preached baptism in Jesus’ name, but they practiced it. Nowhere can we find that they baptized using the words “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” Instead, we find them baptizing in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. In baptizing in Jesus’ name, they fulfilled the command of the Lord in Matthew 28:19.

Paul said, “ But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you then which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed” (Galatians 1:8). Let this be a solemn warning to us.

Some say that they will accept the words of Jesus in Matthew 28:19 but not those of Peter in Acts 2:38. But Peter spoke on the Day of Pentecost under the anointing of the Holy Ghost. Peter was one of the apostles, and to him had been given the keys of the kingdom, so we have no right to discredit his words.

In Mark 7:8 Jesus said, “Laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men.” History tells us that it was not until many years after the apostles that the mode and formula of baptism in the name of Jesus Christ were changed. (See Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible, vol. 1, p. 241.) Which means more to you, the command of the Lord or the tradition of men?