Doctrine:(2)
Doctrinal
Principles of the Apostolic Assembly:
4. THE HOLY SPIRIT
We believe in the baptism of the Holy Spirit as promised by
God in the Old Testament and as poured out after the glorification
of our Lord Jesus Christ, who sends
it (Joel 2:28-29; John 7:37-39, 14:16 -26; Acts 2:1-4, 16-18).
Furthermore, we believe that the demonstration that the person has been baptized
with the Holy Spirit are the new tongues or languages in which the believer can
speak.And this sign applies also in our time.
We
also believe that the Holy Spirit is power that enables us to
testify of Christ (Acts 1: 8). The Holy Spirit helps us
develop a Christian character more pleasing to God (Galatians
5:22-25). The same Spirit endows men with gifts for the edification
of the Church (Romans 12:6-8; I Corinthians 12:1-12; Ephesians
4:7-13). We do not believe, that any man has the power to
impart the gifts of God, “But all these worketh that one
and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he
will.” (I Corinthians 12:11) “But unto every
one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift
of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:7)
All
members of the Apostolic Assembly must seek the Holy Spirit and
strive to live constantly in the Spirit, as recommended in Romans
8:5-16, Ephesians 5:18, and Colossians 3:5.
5. BAPTISM
IN WATER
We believe in baptism in water, by immersion in the Name of Jesus Christ and
that it should be administered by an ordained minister. Baptism should
be by immersion because only in this way can it represent the death of man
unto sin, thus bearing similarity to the death of Christ (Romans 6:1-5). Baptism
should be in the name of Jesus Christ because this was the practice of the
Apostles and ministers who baptized during the early period of the Church,
as recorded in the Holy Scriptures (Acts 2:38, 8:16, 10:48, 19:6, 22:16).
6. THE
LORD’S SUPPER
We believe in the literal practice of the Lord’s Supper, which He himself
instituted (Matthew 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:15-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26).
This ordinance shall make use of unleavened bread that represents the sinless
body of our Lord Jesus Christ, and unfermented wine that represents the blood
of Christ, which consummated our redemption.
The object of this ceremony is to commemorate the death of our Lord Jesus Christ
and to announce the day in which He shall return to the world, at the same
time to give testimony of the communion that exists among believers. No
person shall participate in this ceremony who is not a faithful church member
or is not in full communion; if a person does participate without fulfilling
these requirements, he or she will be unable to discern the body of Christ
(1 Corinthians 10:15-17, 11:27-28; 2 Corinthians 13:5).
After
partaking of a supper with His apostles, the Lord washed their
feet, an act that marveled them at that moment. When He
was done, the Master explained to His Disciples the significance
of this act, and recommended that they wash one another’s
feet. The Church practices this act in combination or indistinctly
with the Lord’s Supper as an act of humility and Christian
fellowship (1 Timothy 5: 10 ).
7. THE
RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST
We believe in the literal resurrection of Jesus Christ, which took place on
the third day after His death as recorded in the Gospels (Matthew 27:60-64;
Mark 16:1-20; Luke 24:1-12, 36-44; John 20:12-20). This resurrection
had been foretold by the prophets (Isaiah 53:12), and is necessary for our
hope and justification (1 Corinthians 15:20 ; Romans 4:25). |