Quote:
Originally Posted by Sam
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. |
You are right Sam/Jim. The thing that alot of people do not know is that most one-steppers are not exactly the same as the once-saved-always-saved people. Pray a simple prayer and you are saved. This is not totally true. As CC1 said that it is a journey and it starts with repentance. If for some reason they did not reach the other stages, baptism and HGB, maybe because of death or something I believe they will be saved. I am not altogether sure that even if they live a long time and are never baptized in Jesus name and receive the HG that they will not make heaven.
For several years people have preached the 3-steps and then you are good to go. Yeah they talk about dress codes and stuff, but they talk about
Acts 2:38 as if it is a once you do it then you are automatically going to heaven. That is not true.
Acts 2:38 is our response to the Gospel, I know you believe this. There are alot that do not. You have gave a great outline on how the 3-steppers took over.