Apostolic Contender

Matthew 28:19 Explained

Apostolic Contender — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 20:03:00 GMT

In this video teaching Matthew 28:19 is explained in detail. Matthew 28:19 is th be obeyed by all! Jesus in his unique way of teaching gave a command in this verse for the entire world. In this teaching you will learn how the thief on the cross next to Jesus was saved without water baptism.

http://blog.apostoliccontender.info/2010/02/21/matthew-2819-explained.aspx

Mighty God in Christ

Apostolic Contender — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 17:53:00 GMT

In this video "Mighty God in Christ", Pastor Rhodus teaches how that Christ and God are one. Trinity advocates and Oneness alike can learn from this all important teaching!

http://blog.apostoliccontender.info/2010/02/14/mighty-god-in-christ.aspx

Jesus Name and Water Baptism

Apostolic Contender — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 19:42:00 GMT

Watch this short video on the name of Jesus and water baptism.

http://blog.apostoliccontender.info/2010/02/11/jesus-name-and-water-baptism.aspx

David Bernard Oneness Debate Video

Apostolic Contender — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 00:47:00 GMT

David Bernard debates on the subject of the Oneness of God and Trinity. Watch this video and learn as he makes a easy and clear explanation of who God is.

David Bernard Oneness debate-video

New Birth and Water Baptism

Apostolic Contender — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 18:36:00 GMT

New Birth & water Baptism

What the scripture will prove in this study is that the new birth includes water and Spirit. Repentance alone, is NOT the new birth. Believing by itself, is NOT the new birth.

“born of water” is baptism by immersion with the name of Jesus Christ invoked.
“born of Spirit” is when one receives the gift of the Holy Ghost evidenced by tongues.

John 3:5
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.

Read it one more time please…

John 3:5 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.

What does “cannot” mean? “you cannot go out with your friends”; “you cannot take the car tomorrow”; “you cannot miss work”; “you cannot afford to miss the rapture”; You cannot go to Heaven if you are not born of the water and Spirit. Did Jesus mean what he said? Did he? If you can go to Heaven without the correct baptism and the Holy Ghost, then Jesus is a liar! Does this Bible give us more than one way to get to Heaven? NO!

Peter preaches in agreement with Jesus…”water & Spirit’
Acts 2:38
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. Again we see water and Spirit.

Compare these two verses and find the truth and find the lie!

Here are two verses of 1 Peter 3:21, one of them is a lie and one of them is truth. All lies come from Satan but Jesus Christ is truth!
You choose the one you will believe.

1 Peter 3:21
21 The like figure whereunto even baptism does not 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:

1 Peter 3:21
21 The like figure whereunto even 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:

Here are two verses of Mark 16:16, one of them is a lie and one of them is truth. All lies come from Satan but Jesus Christ is truth!
You choose the one you will believe.

Mark 16:16
16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

Mark 16:16
16 He that believeth is saved, and should be baptized; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

2 Thess 2:10-12
10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

1 John 2:21
21 I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.

Can you believe the lie about these two verses that water baptism in Jesus name is not necessary, and still go to Heaven?

Fact:
1. No lie is of the truth
2. All will be damned who believe not the truth
3. “baptism doth also now save us”
4. “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved”

More passages proving that the water and the Spirit is how the New Testament church was saved and born again… Remember, the New Testament church was born in Acts chapter two. The gospels were all under the law and NOT New testament dispensation. The renting of the veil at Jesus’ death is when the Old Testament era ended! So, let us go to the book of Acts.

Acts 8:16-17
16(For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.

Here is vivid proof that Cornelius was NOT saved as he was.

Acts 10:1-6
10:1 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band,
2 A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.
3 He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius.
4 And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.
5 And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter:
6 He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do. (do what? Do to be saved! He was not yet born of the water and Spirit!)

What did Peter tell him to do?

Acts 10:44-48
44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,
47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?
48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.

They all, including Cornelius were water baptized in Jesus name and filled with the Holy Ghost! Everyone, including Cornelius needs a preacher in their life!

Fact:
1. Cornelius’ good works did not save him
2. His giving to the poor did not save him
3. His fasting did not save him
4. His praying to God always did not save him
5. Him seeing an angel did not save him
6. Him fearing God did not save him
7. Him being devout did not save him

Cornelius obeyed this verse
John 3:5
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.

Can you go to Heaven and NOT obey this verse? Can you forbid water and be saved? NO.
The fact is that God answered a hungry man. Cornelius desired more truth. His fasting and praying brought to him the angel to tell him to find Peter, so that he would tell him how to be saved!

Water baptism was so important to being saved that Paul inconvenienced himself and twelve believers and re-baptized them in Jesus name and they received the Holy Ghost.

Acts 19:1-7
19:1 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,
2 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.
3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.
4 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.
5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
7 And all the men were about twelve.

These twelve believers/disciples received the water and Spirit birth just as Jesus taught it 20 years before! They could have said “I have been baptized, besides baptism is not needed to go to heaven”. They did not, they were rebaptized in Jesus name!

Fact:
1. They were disciples
2. They were believers
3. They had been baptized before
4. They received more truth and were born of the water and Spirit!

What is the gospel?
It is termed as the “good news’.
What is the good news?
It is, Jesus died, was buried and rose from the dead!
The only way to get to Heaven is by obeying the gospel!
How can a person obey the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus???

Matt 24:14
14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

Rom 1:16
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

Rom 10:16
16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?

2 Thess 1:8
8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:

1 Peter 4:17
17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

2 Cor 4:3-4
3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

1 Cor 15:1-4
15:1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

The Gospel of Jesus Christ must be obeyed!
1. Jesus died – You must die (in repentance)
2. Jesus was buried – you must be buried (by water baptism in Jesus name. Col 2:12)
3. Jesus rose from the dead – you must rise from the dead (by receiving the Holy Ghost you rise from the dead. The Holy Ghost is your new life)

Acts 2:38
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.

When water baptism is administered it MUST be done with the name of Jesus invoked! Many are baptizing with the words “father, son and Holy Ghost”. The problem is, no one in the Bible was baptized that way! Not one single preacher in the Bible baptized in the titles “father, Son and Holy Ghost”, it was always done in the name of “Jesus”. God will not honor a man made baptism. It must be done according to the New Testament plan!

Believing and repentance are the prerequisites for being born again of the water and Spirit.

Look at the two verses of John 3:5. One is a lie and the other is true. One will get you to Heaven and the other will take you to Hell. Which one will you believe?

John 3:5
5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When a man gets saved he does not need to be born of water and of the Spirit, he will enter into the kingdom of God without it.

John 3:5
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.

Three or One?

Apostolic Contender — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 15:57:00 GMT

Are there three in the Godhead or only one? Is God three persons or is God one in number?

Let us take a look at a couple subjects:

How many persons sit on throne of God
Who gave who to die on the cross

I will first address the scriptures regarding the throne of God. Here are a couple questions that we need to consider regarding God's throne. Where is the throne? What is the throne of God?

The Throne of God

Isa 66:1
66:1 Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest?

Do you believe the Bible or the theory of man? The theory of man says that God sits on some physical throne. If that is true how then is God omnipresent? God cannot be contained in a box, house, Church or anywhere else. God is everywhere! Look at the verse. what does it say?

How does a God that is everywhere sit down? How does a God that is everywhere have someone sit next to Him? If God is everywhere as the verse indicates then He fills all space! If God is not everywhere then he evidently is millions of miles from here sitting on a chair (throne) in Heaven.

The verse says that Heaven is God's throne. What is Heaven? The Hebrew says: OT:8064 shamayim (shaw-mah'-yim); dual of an unused singular shameh (shaw-meh'); from an unused root meaning to be lofty; the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds move, as well as to the higher ether where the celestial bodies revolve):
(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright (c) 1994, Biblesoft and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

The throne of God is not a chair. The throne of God is the sky. This is telling us of the bigness of God, the largeness of God, His omnipresence. God is everywhere. Again, how can God be everywhere and then at the same time need a chair to sit on and be confined to that chair?

Num 23:19
19 God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man,

If God were a man like the verse says he is not than He would need to sit down.

John 4:24
24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

God is a Spirit and He as a omnipresent Spirit does not need to sit. The Sky, atmosphere etc. is His throne. He is everywhere!

Let us examine a couple more verses.

Rev 3:21
21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

Rev 4:2
2 And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.

We must understand that the Bible and especially the book of Revelation speaks in parables and typology. Here is a honest question. Why does 3:21 refer to two on the throne but in 4:2 we see only one on the throne? In 3:21 why is the Holy Spirit the "3rd person of the Trinity" left out? Where is he? Why, in all of the verses in the Bible regarding the throne, do we not see the Holy Spirit mentioned? Is he throneless? If John 4:24 says that God is a Spirit and then you believe that the Holy Spirit is a spirit then you must also believe that God is two spirits.

God is one Spirit, not two. Eph 4:4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;

John 4:24 God is a Spirit...

Rev. 3:21 proves the oneness of God in that it shows how that the Spirit of God and the Son of God are one in the same. God was manifest in the flesh, 1 Tim. 3:16. God the Word was made flesh John 1:14. God himself came to earth as a man.

When John saw the throne of God, when God was revealed to him in all his glory and Kingship he saw only ONE. Only one was on the throne. God is one in number and has has three manifestations, namely the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. In all of human history there has never been a earthly King that shared his throne with another. This analogy that the scripture gives us is not for us to count "persons" but to see the Kingship of God and to see who the King of Kings really is, the Lord Jesus Christ!

The fact is, Jesus Christ sits on the throne alone as God! See Isa 44:24 24 Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself;

More scripture proving thst Jesus is the King of Kings...

1 Tim 6:15
15 Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;

Rev 17:14
14 These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.

Rev 19:16
16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

Who Gave Who to Die on the Cross?

Did the first person give the second person to die in capital punishment or did God himself love His creation so much that He himself took on the nature of flesh and came to earth as the Messiah?

John 3:16
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.

1 John 3:16
16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

The verse in John says that God gave His son but in 1 John it says that God gave himself. Which is it? Who came to die? Did God die? Did His son die?

When we understand that God is a Spirit and that He came in flesh helps us understand the verses. God did not die. The Son of God died. The manifestation of God died. The flesh of God died. There is a difference between the flesh and spirit. God has a Spirit nature and a flesh nature. Everyone that is born again also has a Spirit nature and was born with a human nature.

God is a Spirit but added a human nature when he came in flesh. Not another person but simply a revealing of God in human flesh!

1 Tim 3:16
16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

The fact is that God himself came in flesh and died on a tree for our sins. It was not another person but simply God loving His own creation enough to come Himself and die!

God is one in number. He said it.

Isa 43:10-11

10 Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.
11 I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour.

Isa 43:14-15
14 Thus saith the LORD, your redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; For your sake I have sent to Babylon, and have brought down all their nobles, and the Chaldeans, whose cry is in the ships.
15 I am the LORD, your Holy One, the creator of Israel, your King.

Isa 44:6
6 Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.

Isa 44:8
8 Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any.

Isa 45:4-5
4 For Jacob my servant's sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me.
5 I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me:

Isa 45:18
18 For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else.

Isa 45:21-22
21 Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the LORD? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me.
22 Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.

Jesus Christ the manifestation of God is the ONE true God!

1 John 5:20
20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.

Believing is NOT Enough!

Apostolic Contender — Sat, 30 May 2009 15:45:00 GMT

Believing Alone is NOT Enough!

This easy believism is not enough to get you to Heaven. Believing alone does not save you. You must be born again. “Believing on the Lord Jesus Christ is NOT being born again. Believing is the prerequisite for being born again. Jesus taught how to be born again. The Apostles taught how to be born again. This “Roman Road” salvation doesn’t get you much farther than what the Roman Catholic Church teaches. Salvation did not begin in Rome. The Church does NOT have its roots in Rome!

This most popular phrase regarding getting saved is NOT found in the Bible

“Accept the Lord as your personal Savior”

This is a man made term to describe a salvation experience without the new birth. Sure, those that use it say they are born again if asked. The Christian Church world is getting farther and farther from true Biblical ideals, acts, lifestyle, standards and salvation!

To be saved you must be born again as Jesus said in John 3:3

John 3:3

3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. KJV

How does one get born again? Does he jump straight to John 3:16? The answer is Yes! Before you can be born again you must believe on the son of God.

John 3:16

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. KJV

Now any good student knows you cannot take one statement or one verse in the Bible and make a doctrine. That is how false doctrines begin.

Believing within its self is not salvation but you must be born again. Believing brings us to Christ. Believing is synonymous with repentance. If one truly believes he will repent of his sin. Repentance alone is not enough to get you to Heaven.

In a moment I will tell you about the man in the Bible that was given the keys to Heaven’s gate.

Let us finish what Jesus said about being born again. Look at John 3:5.

John 3:5

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. KJV

Jesus talked about being “born of water and the Spirit”. In verse three He said “born again” and in verse five He said “born of water and the Spirit”. These are synonymous terms. They both mean exactly the same thing. In studying the Apostles in Acts we find they taught this same thing. They taught being born again of the water and the Spirit.

What is this “water and Spirit” Jesus was talking about? Jesus said you cannot go to Heaven without it! If you cannot go to Heaven without it than we had better understand it and make sure we have it!

Notice the small “w” in water and the capital “S” in Spirit. The water is h2o. It is water baptism by submersion. The Greek word for baptism is “baptizo” which means to submerge. These so called baptisms of sprinkling and pouring water are not baptisms. You must be submerged in water.

God used an earthly element and a Heavenly element for the new birth. The “Spirit” is the Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost as the New Testament usually refers to it as. You must receive the Holy Ghost to be born again. Jesus said you must be born of the “Spirit” to go to Heaven. We find in Acts how that individuals and groups of people were being baptized and receiving the Holy Ghost experience.

You might ask “how then was the thief on the cross saved”? That is a good question. This born again experience did not begin until the New Testament era. The Old Testament era ended when Jesus died on the cross. When He died the veil of the Temple was torn in two pieces. This indicates the end of all sacrifices. Jesus was the final sacrifice. The Old Covenant of salvation ended by Jesus’ death and His resurrection began a new covenant dispensation of which we are in until the second coming of the Lord.

The thief on the cross was promised salvation in Old Testament era! He did not have to be baptized. He did not have to receive the Holy Ghost. He got saved before the requirement of the new birth was sealed. Jesus spoke of the new birth to Nicodemus in John but it was not administered until Acts when the man with the “Keys” began preaching it.

Jesus did not give Nicodemus a new way to be saved “during” the old covenant. The new covenant was right in front of them and Jesus was preparing Nicodemus for it. Nicodemus’ hunger allowed him to see into the new covenant salvation by Jesus himself revealing it to him. No one in the Gospels was born again. It was not the way to get to Heaven. The old covenant of Moses was still required in everything. When Jesus healed a leper He told him in Matthew “go show yourself to the priest”. This proves again that the four Gospels were Old Testament era. The new birth was not required until after Jesus death when the “man with the keys” preached it.

Here is when Jesus promised the “Keys” of Heaven to Peter.

Matt 16:18-19

18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. KJV

Now let us look at the first sermon preached in new covenant era which is Acts. We see here that this first sermon was preached by the man that had the keys to Heaven. Peter knew how to get to Heaven. Peter knew how to get saved.

Acts 2:37-38

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?

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. KJV

We find here about being born of water and the Spirit. When you are baptized you must be baptized as Peter said in the savior’s name. You must be baptized in Jesus name. When you receive the Holy Ghost as Peter said you will speak in tongues. You will see this happening in its beginning in Acts 2:1-4. Speaking in tongues is the evidence and sign of being born of the Spirit.

Here is a list of more new covenant proof found in the New Testament regarding being baptized in Jesus name and receiving the Holy Ghost with tongues.

Acts 8:12-17

12 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.

13 Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.

14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:

15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:

16(For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)

17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. KJV

Acts 10:44-48

44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.

45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.

46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,

47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?

48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days. KJV

Acts 19:1-7

19:1 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,

2 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.

3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.

4 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.

5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.

7 And all the men were about twelve. KJV

The Bible says the devils believe and tremble and they are not saved. You also need to go farther than believing. Be born again of the water and the Spirit.

Do like the man with the keys to Heaven said.

1. Repent
2. Be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins
3. Receive the promised gift of the Holy Ghost

Jesus Christ or Father, son & Holy Ghost

Apostolic Contender — Sat, 16 May 2009 16:37:00 GMT

Take this Test regarding the name used in the New Testament

Choose the correct answer

1. What is the only name we can be saved by according to? Acts 4:12
12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
a) Jesus Christ
b) Father, son & Holy Ghost

2. What is the name we are to call upon to be saved according to Romans 10:13?
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
a) Jesus Christ
b) Father, son & Holy Ghost

3. What is the name we should believe in to obtain eternal life according to 1 John 5:13?
13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
a) Jesus Christ
b) Father, son & Holy Ghost

4. What is the name that we should use in words or deeds according to Colossians 3:17?
17 And 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.
a) Jesus Christ
b) Father, son & Holy Ghost

5. What is the name that is above every name according to Philippians 2:9?
9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
a) Jesus Christ
b) Father, son & Holy Ghost

6. What is the name we should use to cast out devils according to Mark 16:17?
17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
a) Jesus Christ
b) Father, son & Holy Ghost

7. What is the name by which the whole family in Heaven and earth is named according to Ephesians 3:15?
15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named...
a) Jesus Christ
b) Father, son & Holy Ghost

8. What is the name Jesus said that we should use to baptize with according to Matthew 28:19?
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name…
a) Jesus Christ
b) Father, son & Holy Ghost

9. What is the name that Peter said we should use to baptize with according to Acts 2:38?
38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name...
a) Jesus Christ
b) Father, son & Holy Ghost

10. What is the name Paul used to rebaptize some believers with according to Acts 19:5
5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name…
a) Jesus Christ
b) Father, son & Holy Ghost

11. When you say Grace over your meal what name do you use?
a) Jesus Christ
b) Father, son & Holy Ghost

12. What name were you baptized in?
a) Jesus Christ
b) Father, son & Holy Ghost

Give us your answers.

Did Jesus Claim to be the Father?

Apostolic Contender — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 15:47:00 GMT

Call Jesus a liar. Say He did not say it. Believe He did not mean it. Believe the Pope or anyone one else but His words will live on forever!

What did Jesus say about being the Father?

John 8:23-24, 27
23 And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world.
24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.
27 They understood not that he spake to them of the Father.

John 14:6-11
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
8 Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.
9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?
10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.
11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.

Because Jesus as us had a dual nature sometimes He spoke as the Father and at other times He spoke as a man. He had a divine nature and a human nature. There were times Jesus spoke and acted as a man(son of God), there were other times he spoke and acted as being God. Every born again believer also has these two natures. You must be able to decipher what nature was speaking. Was He speaking as God or man? If God uses you to heal the sick the divine nature is in operation but if you are eating dinner your human nature is at work. If you are being a witness to a sinner your divine nature is at work but if you are sleeping your human nature is at work. If you do not understand the dual nature of Christ you will always see God as more than one.

Rev 1:8
8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

Here is a prophecy that Jesus will return again to the Mount of Olives.

Acts 1:10-11
10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;
11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

Here is a prophecy that Jehovah will come and stand on the Mount of Olives.

Zech 14:4
4 And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.

Are two coming to stand on the Mount of Olives? No, Jesus as God Almighty the Father is coming once again and will stand on the Mount of Olives!

Isa 9:6
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, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

The name Jesus identifies Him as being the father. The name Jesus means "Jehovah has become our salvation".

Yes, Jesus is the Father!

What The Trinity Preachers Will Not Tell You!

Apostolic Contender — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 17:50:00 GMT

The Trinitarian preachers do NOT want you to know the truth of when the trinity doctrine began! When a person sees the documented history of the origin of the trinity and reads the Bible he can see as never before. Some trinitarian teachers vehemently despise Oneness Christians. Some forbid their church members to study along with Oneness Christians.

Any sincere Christian should wonder first of all why the terminology of the trinity is NOT found in the Bible. There are many words, terms and phrases that trinity preachers use to indoctrinate their people with. When you speak where the Bible speaks it is very difficult to go into false teachings. When you think that God needs your help in describing HIM, by saying that God is a trinity, three persons and the like, you have made yourself smarter than God!

Let us look at a little history of the origin of the trinity. Where did it come from? When was its beginning. Who were the "fathers" of this teaching? Why did it come into being? When did the trinity water baptism start? How did the early church baptize?

CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA, VOLUME 8

“Justin Martys was one of the early Fathers of the Roman Catholic Church who helped change the ancient baptism of “in the Name of Jesus Christ” to the titles of Father, Son and Holy Ghost”

FORMULA “With regard to the form used for baptism in the early Church, there is the difficulty that although Matthew 28:19 speaks of the Trinitarian formula which is now used, the Acts of the Apostles (2:38, 8:16, 10:48, 19:5) and Paul (I Corinthians 1:13, 6:11, Galatians 3:27, Romans 6:3) speak only of baptism “in the Name of Jesus.”

CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA, 1967 edition, volume 2, pages 56, 59.

“An explicit reference to the Trinitarian formula of baptism cannot be found in the first centuries.”

CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEIA, 1913 edition, volume 2, Page 265:

“They acknowledge that the original formula for baptism was in the Name of Jesus, but

the pope changed it.”

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF RELIGION AND ETHICS Scribner‘s T & T Clark, Edinburgh, 1924, vol 1 Page 380

“Christian baptism, when connected with the mention of a formula, is alluded to four times in the Acts (2:38, 8:16, 10:48, 19:5) and the formula is never that of (Matthew 28:19) but is twice in the name of Jesus Christ (Acts 2:38, 10:48) and twice in the name of the Lord Jesus (Acts 8:16, 19:5). That this was the usual formula of Christian baptism is supported by the evidence of the Pauline Epistles, which speak of being baptized only into Christ or into Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:27, Romans 6:3). Is it possible to reconcile these facts with the belief that Christ commanded the disciples to baptize in the trine name? The obvious explanation of the silence of New Testament on the trine name, and the use of another formula in Acts and Paul is that this other formula was the earlier, and that the trine formula is a later edition. It would require very strong argument to controvert this presumption, and none seems to exist”.

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF RELIGION AND ETHICS James Hastings, Published 1924, volume 2, Pages 377, 378, 384, 389:

Page 377. “It is clear from the contemporary usage (Acts 1:15; 11:13; Revelations 3:4) that ‘name’ was an ancient synonym for ‘person.’

Page 378 “Whereupon the latter sealed the reception of the candidate into the holy community by invoking ‘the fair name’ of the Lord Jesus upon his head (James 2:7; Revelations 7:3; 9:4; 14:1; 22:4).”

Page 384. “The formula used was “in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ,” or some synonymous phrase. There is no evidence for the use of the triune name.”

Page 389. The earliest known formula is, “in the name of the Lord Jesus” or some similar phrase...”

ENCYCLOPEDIA BRITANNICA—1910, 11th Edition, Volume 3, pages 365-366

Page 361 “The trinitarian formula and trine immersion were not uniformly used from the beginning, nor did they always go together. The teachings of the Apostles indeed prescribes baptism in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, but on the next page speaks of those who have been baptized into the name of the Lord—the normal formula of the New Testament. In the 3rd century, baptism in the name of Christ was still so widespread that Pope Stephen, in opposition to Cyprian of Garthage, declared it to be valid. From Pope Zachariah (ep.x) we learn that the Celtic missionaries in Baptizing omitted one or more persons of the trinity, and this was one of the reasons why the church of Rome anathematized them; Pope Nicholas, however (858867), allowed baptism to be valid (Tantum in nimineChristi), as in Acts.

Ursinus, an African Monk A.D. 1284), also asserted that baptism into the name of Christ alone was valid. The formula of Rome is; “I baptize thee in the name of the Father, and Son, and holy Spirit”

Page 366 No record of such use can be discovered in the Acts or the Epistles of the Apostles. The baptisms recorded in the New Testament after the day of Pentecost were administered “in the Name of Jesus Christ” (Acts 2:38), “into the name of the Lord Jesus” (8:16) “into Christ” (Romans 6:3; Galatians 3:27). This difficulty was considered by the Fathers.

THE ENCYCLOPEDIA BRITANNICA 13th. Edition Volume 3, pages 365-366

The baptismal formula, the trinitarian and the trine immersion were not uniformly used from the beginning nor did they always go together.

A DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE—James Hastings, Scribner’s New York Published 1900, Volume I. page 241.

“the original form of words was ‘into the name of Jesus Christ’ or ‘the Lord Jesus’. Baptism into the name of the Trinity was a later development”

DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE— James Hastings, 1906 Edition, volume 1, page 241

“Moreover there is no mention in the New Testament of any one being baptized into the name of the trinity.”

HASTINGS ENCYCLOPEDIA OF RELIGION—Vol 2, pages 377, 378, 389.

“The Christian baptism was administered using the name of Jesus. The use of the trinitarian formula of any sort was not suggested in the early Church history, Baptism was always in the Name of the Lord Jesus, until the time of Justin Martyr, when the trinity formula was used. Volume 2, page 377, commenting on Acts 2:38, “Name was an ancient synonym for person. Payment was always made in the name of some person, referring to ownership, therefore, one being baptized in Jesus name became his personal property, “Ye are Christ’s I Corinthians 3:23.

HASTINGS DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE— PAGE 88.

“It must be acknowledged that the three-fold name of Matthew 28:19 does not appear to have been used by the primitive church, but rather in the” “Name of Jesus, Jesus Christ or Lord”

THE INTERNATIONAL STANDARD BIBLE ENCYCLOPEDIA—Volume 1 pages 392, 393, 396.

“the formula of Christian baptism, in the mode which prevailed, is given in Matthew 28:19, ‘I baptize thee in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost’ But it is curious that the words are not given in any description of Christian baptism until the time of Justin Martyr; and there, they are not repeated exactly, but in a slightly extended and explanatory form. In every account of the performance of the rite in Apostolic times a much shorter formula is in use. The 3,000 believers were baptized on the Day of Pentecost “in the Name of Jesus” (Acts 2:38), and the same formula was used at the baptism of Cornelius and those that were with him (Acts 10:48). Indeed it would appear to have been the usual one, from St Paul’s question to the Corinthians: “Were ye baptized into the name of Paul?” (I Corinthians 1:13). The Samaritans were baptized “into the name of the Lord Jesus” (Acts 8:16); and the same formula was used in the case of the disciples at Ephesus. (Acts 19:1-5)....Others think that the full formula was always used and that narratives in the book of Acts and in the Pauline Epistles are merely brief summaries of what took place; an idea rather difficult to believe in the absence of any single reference to the longer formula The evidence to show that the formula given by St Matthew became the established usage is overwhelming; but it is more than likely that the use of the shorter formula did not altogether die out, or, if it did, that it was revived. The historian Socrates informs us that some of the more extreme Arians “corrected” baptism by using the Name of Christ only in the formula. “The practice of using the shorter formula existed in the 5th. and 6th. Centuries, at all events in the East”

Page 396. “No record of such use can be discovered in the Acts of the Epistles of the

Apostles. The baptisms recorded in the New Testament after the Day of Pentecost are

administered “in the Name of Jesus Christ” (Acts 2:38), “into the name of the Lord Jesus”

(8:16), “into Christ” (Romans 6:3, Galatians 3:27). This difficulty was considered by the

Fathers.”

HISTORY OF CHRISTANITY IN THE APOSTOLIC AGE—A.C. McGiffert, Scribners, 1901, page 61.

…”of the trinitarian formula, into the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, which later became universal in the Church, we have no trace in the New Testament, except in the single passage, (Matthew 28:19). It is difficult to suppose that it was employed in the early days with which we are here concerned; for it involves a conception of the nature of the rite which was entirely foreign to the thought of the primitive Christians, and indeed no less foreign to the thought of. When and how the formula arose, we do not know.”

Church of Rome

Apostolic Contender — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 18:43:00 GMT

I am going to make some factual statements and Biblical statements that apply to the Catholic church. I am not at all against any Catholic. I do not hate Catholics or their leaders but we do need to recognize their serious error.

Facts

The Catholic church has persecuted the Jews for over 1,000 years and today are still at odds with each other.
History has recorded that the Roman Catholic church has ordered and personally murdered an estimated 65 million Christians over the last 1,800 years. Most of these murders were from 300 AD. to about 1,000 AD..
The priesthood today is polluted with homosexuals, pedophiles and alcoholics.
History has recorded how the Catholic leaders changed the water baptism from immersion to sprinkling and the use of the name of Jesus to the words "father, Son and Holy Spirit"". This was all done at the Nicaean Counsel 325 AD. (Google it or go to your local library and see the historical documentation).

The Bible speaks of those that will forbid to marry and abstain from meats. They forbid their priests to marry and not to eat meat on Fridays (1 Tim 4:2-3 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; 3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
They teach to call their Priests "Father". Matt 23:9 9 And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.
They teach to confess to priests and pray to dead saints. 1 Tim 2:5 5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
They teach a "salvation" that changes not the person. 2 Tim 3:5 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. (Their "salvation" converts no one. They stay in their sex sins, alcoholism, nicotine habits and much more. It has no redeeming power".)
They teach that Mary had no other children after Jesus, stressing the lie that Mary remained a virgin. Matt 12:46-47
46 While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him. 47 Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee.

Visit www.theworldofpentecost.net

False Statements About God

Apostolic Contender — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 18:50:00 GMT

None of these statements can be found in the Bible!

1) God is a Trinity
2) God is three persons
3) God is three
4) God is three separate persons
5) God the son
6) God the Holy Ghost
7) The son of God is eternal
8) The son existed with the Father in eternity
9) The Holy Spirit is a separate person from God
10) Jesus is in the Godhead

All these statements are false and are not found in the Bible. Speak only where the Bible speaks. Believe only what the Bible says and revelation of God’s oneness will come to you!

More God Facts

Apostolic Contender — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 18:36:00 GMT

More facts on the oneness of God.

1. Jesus Christ is the one and only name we can be saved by and all we do should be done in Jesus name.
2. The name Jesus is far above every other name and everyone in Heaven and earth that is born again of the water and Spirit is called by that name.
3. God is the Word, He made Heaven and earth and came to earth as the man Christ Jesus.
4. God Made himself known in a flesh body and died for us.
5. When you look at Jesus in the face you are looking at Jehovah God the Father. The only way to see God is by looking at Jesus.
6. The name “Jesus” identifies him as being the Everlasting father and the Might God.
7. Call his name Jesus for he is God with us that came as a man.
8. Jesus is the Father. Jesus is the son. Jesus is the Holy Ghost. Father, son Holy Ghost are not names but titles of the one true God Jesus Christ. God is one in number, one person.
9. God has many titles but only one name.
10.Jesus Christ is the true God and eternal life.

Visit www.theworldofpentecost.net

God Facts

Apostolic Contender — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 18:28:00 GMT

Give us your opinion, comment or argument on these factual statements on the oneness of God.

1. God is a spirit and the “Father” is God which makes him a spirit.
2. The “son” is flesh
3. The “Holy Ghost” is a Spirit
4. The Father and the Holy Spirit are one in the same spirit. The Father is God. God is a spirit and he is holy which makes him the Holy Spirit.
5. The son of God is God made flesh, God manifest in the flesh. Jesus is the Father come in the form of a man and he is called “the son of God”.
6. Jesus being the image of God is the only visible form of God. He is not separate from God but is the very substance of God. He is the Jehovah God of the Old Testament.
7. Jesus is the Father, Jesus is the son and Jesus is the Holy Spirit.
8. Jesus is not in the Godhead but the Godhead is in Jesus.
9. There are not three persons of God. There are not two persons of God. Jesus is the only person of God.
10. There are many manifestations of God. A manifestation is not necessarily a person.
11. Father, son and Holy Ghost are three manifestations of God and they are not names.
12. God was not a man (person) until he came in flesh and was born of a woman.
13. Jesus is the name of the Father, son and Holy Ghost.
14. God is not a trinity. God is one in person, one in number with many manifestations and titles. Jesus is his name.
15. God became the rock that followed the Israelites in the wilderness. God became a burning bush for Moses. God became an angel that wrestled with Jacob. God became a man to redeem us from sin by shedding his blood, the blood of God, Acts 20:28.

Jesus is NOT in The Godhead!

Apostolic Contender — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 00:42:00 GMT

Does the Bible say that Jesus is in the Godhead? No!

The advocates of the trinity say that because there are three mentioned in Matthew 28:19 proves there are three persons of God, thus Jesus being one of the three. These three mentioned in Matthew chapter 28 are not separate persons but manifestations. Nowhere in the Bible does it say that God is three persons and nowhere in the Bible is the word persons used in reference to God.

Is a person the same as a manifestation? A person is a manifestation but is a spirit a person? The answer is no. A spirit is not a person. The Holy Spirit is not a person. The Trinitarian doctrine teaches that the three persons is a makeup of two spirits and one human. See below.

Father = spirit
Holy Spirit = spirit
Son of God = human

The next verse gives us the correct definition of God. (1) Spirit and (1) body. So does this make God two persons instead of three? No! God is one person even Jesus Christ. The “body” and “Spirit” referenced here are not persons but natures. Jesus Christ was fully God and fully man at the same time. He had two natures, one being that of humanity and the other being that of Spirit. (See on this blog “The dual nature of Christ”)

Eph 4:4
4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;

Does the Bible say that the Godhead is in Jesus? Yes!

Col 1:19
19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;

Col 2:8-10
8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

These verses tell us plainly that Jesus possess the FULLNESS of the Godhead. In the body of Jesus was all of the attributes of God. All of God, the completeness of God dwelt in Jesus! The Lord Jesus was not part of God. He was not one of three but was the full manifestation of God himself in flesh. The Bible says that God was manifest in the flesh. He was made known in the flesh. He was revealed in a human body.

1 Tim 3:16-4:1
16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

When reading the Gospels you can notice how Jesus spoke. Sometimes he spoke as a subordinate man but other times he spoke as being God himself. When understanding the dual nature of Christ the need to make him more than one is not necessary, nor Biblical. See below.

John 10:30, 33
30 I and my Father are one…
33 The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.

In the previous verse we see that the Jews clearly understood the claim of Jesus. Jesus’ claim was that he was Jehovah God! The dual nature represented here is one that is the “Father”, “God” or “Spirit”.

John 14:28
28 Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.

In the previous verse you can see that Jesus spoke as one that was a subordinate. The dual nature of Christ is here represented by the “flesh”, “man” or “son”

See below that Jesus claims full Lordship, being the Allmighty God. Not one of three but the FULLNESS of God dwelling in him.

Rev 1:8
8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

Let us go back to Colossians a bit and see how Paul describes Jesus as God the creator.

Col 1:15-18
15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
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:
17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

What did Paul say here?

Jesus created all things
Jesus is before all things
All things consist because of Jesus
Jesus is the beginning

There was no reference to a trinity but Jesus only. These attributes belong to Jesus, for in him dwells all the fullness of God.

In the following verses we can see that Jesus is described to Timothy as God himself in flesh.

1 Tim 1:16-17
16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.
17 Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

1 Tim 6:14-16
14 That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:
15 Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;
16 Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.

The attributes of God are given to Jesus Christ by Paul because he is God made flesh.

King eternal
Immortal
Invisible
the only wise God
the only potentate
King of Kings
Lord of Lords
Who only has immortality

If Jesus is not fully God with all of the fullness of God dwelling in him, than how can be immortal? Immortal means he was not born nor can he die. This is true of Jesus because he is God manifest in flesh.

How can Jesus be invisible? He was seen of all those while here on earth. He is invisible because it is referring to one part of his dual nature, his Spirit nature. God as Spirit was made into a man, manifest in the flesh.

How many wise Gods do we have, one, two or three? We have only one wise God and his name is Jesus. Jesus is
the one God of the Bible, manifested in the flesh, made known among men!

If Jesus is potentate, he has ALL power! If there are two more, they are powerless.

Jesus being the King of Kings simply says he is the only one in the Godhead. ALL dwells in him!

The Trinity teaches that all three persons are co-equal. Jesus alone has immortality. If there are two others, they are not eternal.

Jesus is NOT in the Godhead. The Godhead is in Jesus!

Do this before you go to bed tonight.

Acts 2:38
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.

Who Was Jesus Praying To? Why Did The Thief on The Cross Not Have to be Baptized?

Apostolic Contender — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 14:16:00 GMT

In this teaching you will find the simple truth of the oneness of God.

The teaching of the dual nature of Christ is vital in understanding the Godhead. Many are teaching that God is three persons but in this lesson you will learn how to separate the flesh from the Spirit.

Two questions are answered in this lesson. 1. If there is only one in the Godhead, who then was Jesus Praying to? 2. If water baptism is needed for salvation how then was the thief on the cross saved?

If you have questions you may call Pastor Charles Rhodus at 219-865-1449

God Has a New Name

Apostolic Contender — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 00:07:00 GMT

What a profound statement I have made, “God has a new name”! Really, it is not my statement, it is God’s statement. How does God have a new name? Take a look at the following verse and see what God says.

Rev 3:12
12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.

When and how did God get a new name? What is his new name? Throughout the Old Testament God had many names and titles but what about this New Testament era that we live in?

This new name I will prove to you is “Jesus”. Jesus is not a title of God. Jesus is the one name that carries the fullness of God in it. All that God is is found in Jesus. Jesus is not in the Godhead but the Godhead is in Jesus. All the attributes of God are found in that all wonderful name of Jesus!

I am sure you have noticed if you looked up this verse in the Bible that it is written in red ink. Why, because Jesus is speaking. Jesus is the one with a new name. What name did he have before? His primary name in the Old Testament was Jehovah.

The next verse is a prophecy of when Jesus would come in flesh to save his people from their sins. The prophets only knew of Jehovah God as being God and he says that there shall be one LORD and his name shall be one. His name shall not be three (father, Son & Holy Spirit) as the Trinitarians teach but one. Many that believe that God is a trinity will say that Father, Son and Holy Ghost are three names of God.

Zech 14:9
9 And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one.

How can anyone look at the previous verse and say that God has more than one name? We must somehow agree that God is making a bold claim to have one name in these last days. If it doesn’t matter as some will quickly say or say that I am making something out of nothing, than why did God say it? It is his word, not mine.

Acts 4:12
12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

What name is Acts 4:12 referring to, Father, Son, Holy Ghost or Jesus? What is the one name that mankind can only be saved by? What is the only name that you can call upon and be saved? Is Acts 4:12 referring to Jesus or Father, Son & Holy Ghost? Is the name referred to in this verse found in Matthew 28:19 (Father, Son & Holy Ghost) or is it found in Acts 4:10 (Jesus)?

The name Jesus is above every name! Father, Son and Holy Ghost are titles and not names. No knee will bow to these titles. No tongue will confess to these titles! If you disagree with me and say that they are names, you must agree and say that the name Jesus is above even these three names / titles!

Jesus is the one name of the one LORD found in Zech 14:9. Look below at verse eleven and you will see that Jesus is the one LORD.

Phil 2:9-11
9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Yes, Jesus is the one LORD of the Old Testament that gave himself a new name. When was this name given? It was given at the birth of Jesus!

Matt 1:21
21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

In the next verse you will notice that a name is referred to but not mentioned. This new name at the time of Isaiah the prophet was yet a secret. God had not revealed this new name to the world. Even the prophet did not know what it was but had a great revelation of what this name would encompass.

Earlier I had written that the Godhead is in Jesus. By this I mean that Jesus is fully God. Jesus is the Father, Son and Holy Ghost in one person.

Isa 9:6
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, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

In the previous verse Isaiah brings out the awesomeness of this yet secret name. Isaiah boldly claims that this name of Jesus would reveal him as being The Mighty God and the Everlasting Father. Everyone agrees that Jesus is wonderful but can you agree that he is the Mighty God and the Everlasting Father? How long is Jesus the father? He is the Father, Everlasting. From the beginning and to the end! What kind of God is Jesus? He is the Mighty God!

Col 2:9
9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

In the previous verse you can plainly see that all of God is in Jesus Christ. Jesus is not part God. He is not one third God. He is Jehovah God manifest in the flesh! See the verse below.

1 Tim 3:16
16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

God changed his own name from Jehovah to Jesus. Jesus means, “Jehovah has become salvation”.

If There Was No Book of Matthew, How Would You Be Baptized?

Apostolic Contender — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

If There Was No Book of Matthew, What Would You Do?

On the subject of water baptism, the Trinitarian immediately runs to the book of Matthew to prove his point on the trinity baptism. I have even heard it said, “I would rather believe Jesus than Peter”. I will deal with that statement a little later.

My dear reader, what would you do if there was no book of Matthew? What scripture would you use to prove your Trinitarian baptism? You know that you couldn’t go to Acts because there in Acts it clearly states that all the converts were baptized in Jesus name.

In my Dake Bible it states that Matthew was actually written in 37 AD. Other Bible historians say that Matthew was written as far out as 70 to 90 AD! Let us use the shorter time period in our discussion. If Matthew was written in 37 AD, what did all the believers use for baptismal proof for those 37 years? If the church was baptizing in the triune formula during those 37 years what were they using to substantiate their position on water baptism?

It would seem to make sense that because the history of the book Acts is not even 37 years old, we would need to go to Acts to find out how the church at that time was baptizing.

From the death and resurrection of Jesus to at least 37 full years passed, no one could turn to Matthew 28:19 and try to prove their Trinitarian baptism! There was no book of Matthew! There was no reference for the “trinity” baptism. If you did not have that passage in Matthew, what honestly would you do? How would you baptize or how would you be baptized?

Can you imagine tens of thousands of new believers and they had no scripture to turn to that they could use for their baptism. What did they do? Who did they listen to? How were they baptized?

Acts 2:37-38
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?
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.

This passage of scripture is the first mention of water baptism after Jesus’ final words to his disciples before his ascension. As you can see, the first mention of water baptism is by Peter and his command is that water baptism is to be done in the name of “Jesus”. In reading this chapter you will find the 120 people that were in the upper room were baptized in Jesus name. Later that same day 3,000 more people totalling 3,120 new believers were baptized in the name of Jesus, just 50 day after Jesus’ ascension!

When Peter made this command of baptism in Jesus’ name on that day of Pentecost in Acts two, where was Matthew? Was Matthew there? Was Matthew with the other Apostles and the crowd listening to Peter that day? There is no doubt in my mind that Mathew was right by Peter’s side as he preached that everyone should be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins! Is there any record of Mathew standing up and interrupting Peter and saying “No, stop! Baptism should be done in the trinity formula! Water baptism should be done in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit!” My friend, there is no record of anything like that happening. Matthew was there and was in full agreement with Peter and the rest of the Apostles that water baptism should be administered in the name of Jesus.

By studying history on the subject, you will see that the triune baptism did not even exist until over 200 years after the death of Jesus. It was in 325 AD at the Nicene counsel that the trinity baptism was made dogma by the Catholic Church and by Pope Constantine.

The fact about Matthew is that he by every indication was baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins along with all of the other Apostles.

If you are going to do it, do it Biblically! Water baptism is not an option. It was commanded by Jesus, and his Apostles throughout the book of Acts also commanded water baptism in the name of Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul went as far as re-baptizing twelve believers in Acts 19:5. In that passage you will learn that the timing was about 20 years after Jesus’ death and Paul commands that these believers converted under John the Baptist be re-baptized! What would you do, get mad or would you obey and be re-baptized in the name of Jesus Christ? Do you get it? There was no trinity baptism yet, it did not exist. Matthew had not written the book of Matthew and the Bible does NOT give us one person that was baptized in the trinity formula, not one. There is no mention in the Bible of one preacher that baptized using the titles Father, Son and Holy Ghost.

Here is the reference of Paul re-baptizing the twelve believers.

Acts 19:1, 3-5
19:1 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,
3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.
4 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.
5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

My dear reader, don’t follow tradition, don’t follow the crowds. Don’t follow the Popes of Rome. Find an Apostolic church and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins!

Three Persons, Three Lords and Three Gods

Apostolic Contender — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 16:35:00 GMT

Three Persons, Three Lords and Three Gods

The reason people continue to insist upon three people in the Godhead is that they do not understand the dual nature of Christ. On this blog you can find one of my studies entitled “the dual nature of Christ”.

It amazes me that people choose to run with the Popes of Rome of whom never had a revelation of God and were never born again. These same preachers and believers believe that God is three persons as the Roman Catholic church has taught for 1,800 years. What most people don’t know, it was a Pope from Rome who changed the water baptism in the 3rd century from “in the name of Jesus Christ” to “in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit”.

It was at the Nicene Counsel of the Roman Catholic church in 325 AD that the teaching of the trinity came about. In the first two centuries after Jesus ascension you cannot find any teachings of Jehovah God as being a trinity. The teaching came about by a backslidden church that began to compromise with the local pagans to bring about religious harmony. The local pagans worshiped multiple Gods by many names. For an example, the mother and child worship (Mary and Jesus) is centuries older than Mary herself. Look in your history and you will see pictures of statues that have been excavated of a woman holding a child. These are much older than 2,000 years! Again the pagans and backslid church of the day both compromised there standards. Of course the pagans were already lost so there compromise did not hurt them any worse. The sad part is that the church was falling further and further from many truths originally held by the early church. This falling away was spoken of by Paul in 2 Thessalonians 2:3

2 Thess 2:3
3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
KJV

This falling away of the church was yet to happen and as we can see the Apostle Paul had revelation of it. Much of the church forsook the teaching of the “oneness” of God and water baptism “in the name of Jesus Christ” in the 2nd and 3rd centuries. Do a google search “Nicene Counsel 325 AD”. You can read all about it.

Let me show you why this teaching is so wrong…
The Trinity in a nutshell is “God in three separate persons, all three are Lord and all three are God”.
If the Father, Son and Holy Ghost are three separate persons than…
The Father, Son and Holy Ghost are three separate Lords and
The Father, Son and Holy Ghost are three separate Gods!
The end result of this pagan teaching is that God is three separate persons, three separate Lords and three separate Gods. This is complete heresy!

Everything that I have written here is documented history. The Roman Catholic church admits to having changed the teachings of baptism and the Oneness of God. They admit it and it is in their encyclopedias! They know they did it and don’t deny it. The secular encyclopedias also verify that truth.

Rev 18:4
4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.KJV

Part of chapters 17 & 18 in Revelation is about the coming Roman Catholic church. God is saying “come out of her my people”. Look in your history and you will find where the church of Rome has murdered an estimated 68 million Christians that believed in the oneness of God and were baptized in Jesus name. Google it, it’s their!

The Pope in 1962 at the Vatican Counsel said “we the Mother church are opening our arms for all of our daughters to return home”. Every person that has been baptized in the triune formula is part of the the Roman catholic church. The Pope claims you. You came out of the Catholic church by means of the Reformation. The only church the Popes will not claim is the church that baptizes in Jesus name and believes in the oneness of God.

The true Apostolic church did not come out of the reformation but existed even before the catholic church. The true Apostolic church was founded by the Apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ!

Come out of the Trinitarian teachings, forsake them and cleave only to the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ and his twelve apostles.

Who is Jesus? Part Two

Apostolic Contender — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 18:13:00 GMT

In this lesson you will hear teaching on the very important subject of the oneness of God. The Bible is very clear on who God is.

Listen and be blessed!

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