one-step doctrine
 

speaking of moving beyond "the principles of the doctrine", I'm all for that seeing I get bored with some the the redundancy of the forum, but I can't get this one-step doctrine out of my mind. I have never heard of apostolics teaching this doctrine until I came to this forum. I was always of the notion that apostolics believed in 3 steps, repentance, water and sprit baptism. If one-step doctrine is true, does that mean that many people from protestant and catholic denominations are saved?? I sympatize with one-step because many of my family members are trinitarian pentecostals and I hope for their salvation, but my mind still believes that Jesus-name baptism is still needed. I don't mean to rehash salvation doctrine, but I do wish that one-step were true and that many more would be saved.

One step doctrine (of belief in Christ only) is false....

What about salvation at repentance?

Those of the PCI persuasion believe in several steps.

BUT.......the salvation process begins with the first step.

Growing up in the UPC my whole life I have found that many lay persons believe along the lines of PCI but don't dare mention it.

Even some folks who will teach the three-step doctrine as salvational because they are worried that people won't follow through with receiving the baptizm of the Holy Ghost.

I have often wondered why people are so scared of the PCI belief if the congragation usually ends up following all three steps anyway.

:nah

Regardless of the one or three step beliefs, the bigger picture is where creedence to the cross lies. I came into the movement like many others on what I did or do to get saved with little emphasis on what Jesus did.
The result is various forms of confusion or unsettled issues throughout the circles evidenced in the last 15 years. Even before that, you had varied opinions on the "blood application" issue. Enough said. See the threads of choice for more on any of these.

Isn't it really two step? Faith then Repentance?

It's not steps it's ingredients........First you pour in the belief/repentance, then you can add in Holy Ghost baptism then Water baptism in Jesus Name, or Water Baptism then Holy Ghost Baptism, or Both baptisms at once........ Got to have all the ingredients to make the bread.......:killinme

comments (not arguments)

Since the beginning of the teaching about using the name of Jesus in water baptism beginning in 1913 or so, there have always been one-steppers. These were originally folks who had been saved, then found out about and accepted an experience known as the HGB (Holy Ghost Baptism) and then later found out about Jesus' name water baptism. As they taught and preached over the years, folks heard the Gospel and got saved/converted/born again and susequently submitted to water baptism in Jesus' name and then went on and received the HGB. This is how they fulfilled and experienced Acts 2:38. Over the years others began to preach that they really hadn't been saved at all until they got water baptized in Jesus' name and received the HGB. Over the years the three steppers gained in numbers teaching that born of water meant water baptism and born of the Spirit meant HGB. When the UPC was formed in 1945 two organizations merged with the agreement that they would fellowship one another and allow both the one step and three step message be preached, taught in Bible Schools, and printed in the Pentecostal Herald. In time the three steppers gained enough political power, violated the principles of freedom proposed in the original agreement of 1945, modified the fundamental doctrine statement, and pushed through the Affirmation Statement under dubious circumstances. Now we have people who have been in UPC churches for years and have never even heard of the one step position.

If the one step position is true, then it means that anyone who has repented of sin and made a commitment to Jesus Christ is indeed saved/born again. The first General Superintendent of the UPC stated that "even the Baptists will be in the Bride of Christ."

Actually, both one steppers and three steppers believe in and preach Acts 2:38. We just believe that justification/regeneration/salvation occurs at different points of the two commands and one promise outlined in that verse.

I agree. What ever happened to putting our faith in the finished work of Christ? I was UPC for 27 years and only during the last few years did I hear teaching on the Cross of Christ.

I am not an expert but if we can save ourselves what is the point of the Cross.