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SALVATION:

We believe that salvation means deliverance form the bondage of sin NOW; and ultimately from EVERY vestige of sin in our spirits and in our bodies. We believe that this salvation (or deliverance) begins with the sinner's believing on Jesus Christ (He IS saved from guilt and penalty of sin "PAST", Luke 7:50; 1 Cor. 1:18; 2 Cor. 2:15 and is saved); the believer is BEING saved (delivered from the habit and dominion of sin "PRESENT" (Romans 6:14; Phil. 1:19; 2:12, 13; II Thess. 2:13, Romans 8:3; Gal. 2:19, 20; II Cor. 3:18); The believer SHALL BE SAVED in the sense of entire conformity to Christ (Romans 13:11; Hebrews 10:36; I Peter 1:5; I John 3:2) and to complete deliverance of the affects of sin in our bodies "FUTURE" (Phil. 3:20; I Cor. 15:52-57). This is what the writer of the book of Hebrews meant when speaking of the eternal priesthood of Christ stated that He was able to save to the uttermost (completely, perfectly, finally) them that come to God by Him (Hebrews 7:25). This salvation from sin was wrought for all men upon the cross of Calvary; for it was there that He became "The Lamb of God to take away the SIN of the world" (St. John 1:29)


SALVATION OBTAINED

All that Jesus did for mankind at Calvary is summed up in a statement by Jesus Himself after His resurrection; "Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day; and that REPENTANCE and REMISSION of sins should be preached in HIS NAME among ALL NATIONS (not just Jews), beginning at Jerusalem" (Luke 24:46, 47). Note that Calvary made possible a "universal plan of salvation" for the NATIONS (Gentiles); that repentance and remission of sins was to be preached in HIS (Jesus) NAME and that it was to have it's beginning at Jerusalem. Let us go to it's starting point (Jerusalem) and see how the salvation was obtained. At Pentecost, after Peter's stinging indictment, accusing the nation of Israel of the crucifixion of Christ (Acts 2:22-24) he was asked by those who were guilty, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" 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 you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." (Acts 2:27-38)


WATER BAPTISM


Note Water baptism was administered in the NAME OF JESUS CHRIST; for this was the name given to our Savior before His birth for the purpose of "saving men from their sins" (St. Matt. 1:21); for there is salvation in "none other name" (Acts 4:12) whereby we must be saved. The Apostles always administered baptism in His NAME for the day of Pentecost forward. There is no biblical record of one person ever being baptized as some believers are today. NO ONE was ever baptized, using the formula, "In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost". (St. Matt. 28:19). The reason why they weren't is because the Apostles KNEW the NAME of the Father, the NAME of the Son and the NAME of the Holy Ghost. If you will notice there is a single NAME for the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. If the NAME is one; then the persons must be one (Zech. 14:9). The titles Father, Son, Holy Spirit, denote one God's relationship to His creatures. As has been said, He is "FATHER" in relationship to His creation; He is "SON" in His redemptive role saving the human element of His creation; He is the HOLY GHOST in His sanctifying and preserving the indwelt believer, but His NAME is "ONE" . . . JESUS!

St. Paul believed that baptism should be administered in the NAME of the one who was crucified for us (I Cor. 1:13). He held that "washing, sanctifying, justifying" was affected by the NAME of the LORD Jesus and the Spirit of our God (I Cor. 6:9-11). Not only Jews on Pentecost (Acts 2:38); but Samaritan (Acts 8:16); Saul of Tarsus (Acts 9:15, 16; 22:16); Cornelius and his household (acts 10:43, 48); the Ephesians (Acts 19:1-7); the Corinthians (1 Cor. 1-13) were all baptized in the NAME of the LORD JESUS. It can also be added that NO present day Christian has been baptized "unto John's baptism". (St. Matt. 3:11, 12; Acts 19:4). Without the NAME of Jesus, baptism does not carry the substation of Calvary.

Baptism in the days of the Apostles was ALWAYS by "IMMERSION". The word "BAPTIZE" (baptidzo) means to make a thing dipped or dyed. To "immerse" for religious purposes. It's various forms "baptimos" (the washing: the act as a fact) shows that only immersion was considered baptism. St. Mark records that Jesus "came up OUT of the water" (1:10). St Luke writes that Philip and the Eunuch "went DOWN INTO the water", and "came up OUT of the water" (Acts 8:29, 39). Baptism is said by St. Paul to be a "burial with Christ". We are "buried" with Him by baptism into death. (Romans 6:4). The scriptures teach that Jesus was buried in the "heart of the earth" (St. Matt. 12:40). The earth was not "sprinkled" upon our Lord in his burial; but as Jonas was hidden the belly of the fish, so our Lord was hid away by His burial. IMMERSION will ONLY justify the symbol used here.

All of the "modes" of baptism (sprinkling, pouring or infant baptism) are all inventions of historical Christianity, but without biblical substation. While they (the modes) have been used for generations by Christendom, they are without sanction or approval of the Apostles.

BAPTISM OF THE HOLY GHOST


We believe that "all true believers" received the gift of the Holy Ghost, as promised by our Lord, as a witness to the scripturally-based faith in Jesus (St. John 7:37-39); and that the new birth of the Spirit (St. John 3:5) is necessary to place the beliver in the Kingdom of God or the body of Christ (the Church) (I Cor. 12:12,13). We further believe that the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost marked a "new era" in the Spirits dealings with mankind as prophesied by Joel (2:28,29) and (Isa. 28:11), the Holy Ghost giving the "gift" to every believer in this age of grace, both handmaidens, servants, sons and daughters. The Holy Ghost bears witness that "we are the children of God" (Romans 8:16). It is witness to the faith of our hearts (Acts 15:7-9). The Holy Ghost does NOT indwell the believer simply because he says, "I believe", as many evangelicals teach. St. Paul shows that the Holy Ghost comes AFTER believing (Eph 1:13), NOT synonymous with it. As said before, the Holy Spirit is "the seal of the righteousness of the faith", which the believer has (Rom. 4:11), Just as circumcision was the seal of the righteousness of faith for Abraham.