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Originally Posted by Falla39
Christ lived on earth and taught the disciples/apostles. He taught them what to teach and preach to the world. Before Jesus ascended, he gave them instructions as what to do. In the 24th chapter of Luke, He was with them and gave clear instructions as what to do. Earlier he had told them that if he did not go away, the Comforter (Holy Ghost) could not come. The role of Son had been completed, now the Spirit could be poured out from on high.
The chosen apostles were given instructions by Jesus and their understanding opened. They were equipped to go into the world and preach the gospel. And preach and teach they did. They preached Christ and him crucified.
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And the world called them Christians. No one called themselves Apostolic Pentecostals in the Bible. It's a modern construct.
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Those who have followed the Apostles of the LORD, teach and preach the same thing. If not, they are not APOSTLICS! Apostolics came from the Apostles Doctrine or teaching. Pentecostal comes from the experience received on the DAY OF PENTECOST! I have absolutely no problem being called an APOSTOLIC PENTECOSTAL! DO YOU? IF SO, WHY! I also do not have a problem being called a JESUS NAME APOSTOLIC PENTECOSTAL! For I am not ashamed of the gospel of JESUS CHRIST, for it is the POWER OF GOD unto salvation to everyone that believeth! It is for WHOSOEVER WILL!!
Falla39
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I have a problem being called Apostolic Pentecostal in some ways because it associates me with many groups I don't want to be identified with. Because of the elitist, self righteous reputation that many AP groups have, I don't want folks to lump me in with the same.
There are Apostolic groups that handle snakes and drink poison. But theybare hardline Oneness and holiness standards. There's a group of Apostolics that are part of the C. Peter Wagner/Cindy Jacobs/Dutch Sheets prayer movement that have no holiness dress codes. So the pride in the term Apostolic really becomes subjective. I doubt if you would want those people to be lumped in with you, yet they claim the Apostolic label.
Then there's Pentecostal. The TBN crowd is Pentecostal. I find very few on TBN I want to be connected to. Most of the prosperity doctrine comes out of Pentecostal circles. I deplore that false teaching. There are cooky Pentecostals that seek after signs and do crazy stuff that isn't Biblical. There are folks who are Pentecostal that abuse the gifts of the Spirit and prophecy false prophecies and make a sham out of true spirituality and godliness. The spectrum on the Pentecostal continuum is very broad. And many on that continuum are people you wouldn't want to represent you.
So I look at the Bible and I see the label Christian. They were identified as having been with Jesus. They didn't get on their high horse and brag about their superior doctrines and organizations and how they were the true Body of Christ. They simply walked by faith, obeyed Christ's command to spread the Gospel, started churches, strengthened the brethren and lived the life. They didn't get caught up in political church struggles and names to slap on their church signs. They loved the Lord and humbly walked with their God and the world took notice and they embraced the message they preached and lived.
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