Yesterday I received a magazine from a small Oneness Pentecostal organization and this is one of the articles in it.
What do you think of the stand this pastor and this bishop take on water baptism? They are not alone. There are other Oneness Pentecostal preachers, pastors, teachers, bishops, etc that believe and practice like this.
The Mark of a True Follower of Jesus Christ
The Apostle Paul records in
1 Cor 4:15, 16, For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me. Apostle Paul’s mission was to win people to Christ. In order for him to do that, he had to use the gospel. It is approved by God and His Word, if we preach His Word.
Paul was instructing the Galatians, in
Gal. 1:6-9, “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ but though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you that that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed,” Those who refuse to do it God’s way; the Word calls them false prophets.
What will identify truth from error in God’s Word? If it is not in the Bible, it is not gospel. You are no stronger in God than the last scripture that you obeyed. Not just reading or hearing the word God say, Be ye doers of the word and not hearers only.
We had the privilege of having a dear sister in the Lord come to our tent revival that we had back in September. One morning, I shared with her that we do not use Jesus’ name, because God’s son’s name is Jesus Christ.
1 John 3:23, “And this is his commandment. That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.” The commanded name is Jesus Christ. Many oneness preachers will criticize trinity preachers for baptizing in the titles of father, son and Holy Ghost; and they turn around and baptize in Lord Jesus Christ. Neither one is correct. It is the old saying of the pot calling the kettle black.
Acts 10:36 says, “The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: 9he is Lord of all).” He is Lord, but His name is Jesus Christ. I am a father, a son, a grandfather, and so on but my name is Tommy Johnson.
Acts 4:10-12, “Be it known unto you, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which has become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”
We thank God for Sis. Lucille Hausler of Illinois, whom we met back in the 80’s when we had a radio broadcast over WLAC. We stayed in contact since then. She has visited in our home many times and been in many of our convocations and services. We were discussing about how important it is to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, nothing added or taken away. She said she really could not remember what the minister said over her and that she wanted to make sure and be rebaptized. So after the 3:00 PM meal at the church that day, we baptized her. To me, this is the mark of a true Christian. When more light came her way, she walked into it. If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we will have fellowship one with another.
Are you sure how you were baptized? If not, it will only take a few minutes to know. It is all about Jesus Christ and not us. It is what He did and what we do. In
Acts 19, there was a preacher who came to more light. When more light came, he walked in it. To me this is a true disciple of Jesus Christ. We thank God for our dear sister, who is a follower of Him.
It is signed by a Bishop and countersigned by a pastor and the Church location (city and state) is given.