What sets the Apostolic Church apart from the rest of Christendom is not merely its emphasis on Acts 2:38 salvation and worship of the One True and Living God in Jesus Christ but also a unique approach to scripture. Our actual goal as Christians is merely to be Apostolic. We strive to "weed out" traditions and doctrines of men which were added later. Basically, we try to take what Luther started to its logical conclusion, true biblical reformation. We see many doctrines and beliefs as not Apostolic, but as a later development. Even my learned seminary professors would agree with this, but they put much authority in church history. They see the goal of the Bible scholar/theologian to develop the seed left by the writers of the New Testament. They think it arrogant to even question the wisdom of the church fathers. We on the other hand see our job description as one of recovery of truth which has been lost or distorted, to "earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints" (Jude 3). We are at heart, restorationists, trying to help restore the Church to her original belief and power. Of course we don't want to ignore what others have written or said about the Bible, but we understand this merely to be the thinking of fallible men. I believe that the church has gotten away from what the apostles taught in many respects and that we need to get it back. We need to stop seeing the church in Acts as in a “baby stage,” and start seeing it as the model upon which to base our belief and practice. Only when we return to New Testament patterns, principles and practice, will we experience true New Testament power.
What sets the Apostolic Church apart from the rest of Christendom is not merely its emphasis on Acts 2:38 salvation and worship of the One True and Living God in Jesus Christ but also a unique approach to scripture. Our actual goal as Christians is merely to be Apostolic. We strive to "weed out" traditions and doctrines of men which were added later. Basically, we try to take what Luther started to its logical conclusion, true biblical reformation. We see many doctrines and beliefs as not Apostolic, but as a later development. Even my learned seminary professors would agree with this, but they put much authority in church history. They see the goal of the Bible scholar/theologian to develop the seed left by the writers of the New Testament. They think it arrogant to even question the wisdom of the church fathers. We on the other hand see our job description as one of recovery of truth which has been lost or distorted, to "earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints" (Jude 3). We are at heart, restorationists, trying to help restore the Church to her original belief and power. Of course we don't want to ignore what others have written or said about the Bible, but we understand this merely to be the thinking of fallible men. I believe that the church has gotten away from what the apostles taught in many respects and that we need to get it back. We need to stop seeing the church in Acts as in a “baby stage,” and start seeing it as the model upon which to base our belief and practice. Only when we return to New Testament patterns, principles and practice, will we experience true New Testament power.
Yes, indeed! I agree with this. So many traditions have been added to the "church" that the church does not even remotely resemble what was the early NT church in either doctrine or practice.
Only when we are willing to be sold out to the gospel, including the hardships that come with it, will we ever see the power that the NT church experienced.
Yes, indeed! I agree with this. So many traditions have been added to the "church" that the church does not even remotely resemble what was the early NT church in either doctrine or practice.
Only when we are willing to be sold out to the gospel, including the hardships that come with it, will we ever see the power that the NT church experienced.
You make a very important point in reminding us of "the hardships." We in America have sadly, all too often been misled by the peace and prosperity message. We forget Jesus' own words about the persecutions and hardships we will face as disciples. Thanks for your input!
Yes, indeed! I agree with this. So many traditions have been added to the "church" that the church does not even remotely resemble what was the early NT church in either doctrine or practice.
Only when we are willing to be sold out to the gospel, including the hardships that come with it, will we ever see the power that the NT church experienced.
__________________
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14 KJV
He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? Micah 6:8 KJV
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 1 John 3:2 KJV
What sets the Apostolic Church apart from the rest of Christendom is not merely its emphasis on Acts 2:38 salvation and worship of the One True and Living God in Jesus Christ but also a unique approach to scripture. Our actual goal as Christians is merely to be Apostolic. We strive to "weed out" traditions and doctrines of men which were added later. Basically, we try to take what Luther started to its logical conclusion, true biblical reformation. We see many doctrines and beliefs as not Apostolic, but as a later development. Even my learned seminary professors would agree with this, but they put much authority in church history. They see the goal of the Bible scholar/theologian to develop the seed left by the writers of the New Testament. They think it arrogant to even question the wisdom of the church fathers. We on the other hand see our job description as one of recovery of truth which has been lost or distorted, to "earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints" (Jude 3). We are at heart, restorationists, trying to help restore the Church to her original belief and power. Of course we don't want to ignore what others have written or said about the Bible, but we understand this merely to be the thinking of fallible men. I believe that the church has gotten away from what the apostles taught in many respects and that we need to get it back. We need to stop seeing the church in Acts as in a “baby stage,” and start seeing it as the model upon which to base our belief and practice. Only when we return to New Testament patterns, principles and practice, will we experience true New Testament power.
What sets the Apostolic Church apart from the rest of Christendom is not merely its emphasis on Acts 2:38 salvation and worship of the One True and Living God in Jesus Christ but also a unique approach to scripture. Our actual goal as Christians is merely to be Apostolic. We strive to "weed out" traditions and doctrines of men which were added later. Basically, we try to take what Luther started to its logical conclusion, true biblical reformation. We see many doctrines and beliefs as not Apostolic, but as a later development. Even my learned seminary professors would agree with this, but they put much authority in church history. They see the goal of the Bible scholar/theologian to develop the seed left by the writers of the New Testament. They think it arrogant to even question the wisdom of the church fathers. We on the other hand see our job description as one of recovery of truth which has been lost or distorted, to "earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints" (Jude 3). We are at heart, restorationists, trying to help restore the Church to her original belief and power. Of course we don't want to ignore what others have written or said about the Bible, but we understand this merely to be the thinking of fallible men. I believe that the church has gotten away from what the apostles taught in many respects and that we need to get it back. We need to stop seeing the church in Acts as in a “baby stage,” and start seeing it as the model upon which to base our belief and practice. Only when we return to New Testament patterns, principles and practice, will we experience true New Testament power.
It's my opinion that the goal of every bible student is to correctly interpret scripture and arrive at truth, God's truth. For the past 2000 years, especially from the Reformation forward, honest hearted men have studied scripture prayerfully and those men haven't been able to arrive at a total consensus of what the bible teaches in different areas of theology. Literally thousands of Christian sects have been birthed because of the lack of consistency throughout scripture.
Now comes oneness pentecostalism, a very recent arrival in the long line of sects of Christendom, with it's different and unique doctrines mimicking the pattern set by the thousands of sects preceding it. As with these other sects preceeding them, such as Jehovah Witness, Church of Christ, Mormons, Seventh-Day Adventist, they claim exclusitivity within Christianity. They claim that they're the restored gospel, the restored Church and reject the Christians preceeding them.
The Church of Jesus Christ is much larger than oneness pentecostalism. Oneness pentecostalism isn't the restored Church of Jesus Christ. Oneness pentecostals aren't the sole Christians on earth.
Simply self-labeling yourself as 'Apostolic' will not negate those facts.
It's my opinion that the goal of every bible student is to correctly interpret scripture and arrive at truth, God's truth. For the past 2000 years, especially from the Reformation forward, honest hearted men have studied scripture prayerfully and those men haven't been able to arrive at a total consensus of what the bible teaches in different areas of theology. Literally thousands of Christian sects have been birthed because of the lack of consistency throughout scripture.
Now comes oneness pentecostalism, a very recent arrival in the long line of sects of Christendom, with it's different and unique doctrines mimicking the pattern set by the thousands of sects preceding it. As with these other sects preceeding them, such as Jehovah Witness, Church of Christ, Mormons, Seventh-Day Adventist, they claim exclusitivity within Christianity. They claim that they're the restored gospel, the restored Church and reject the Christians preceeding them.
The Church of Jesus Christ is much larger than oneness pentecostalism. Oneness pentecostalism isn't the restored Church of Jesus Christ. Oneness pentecostals aren't the sole Christians on earth.
Simply self-labeling yourself as 'Apostolic' will not negate those facts.
THERE IS ONLY ONE CHURCH
The Church Is that Body of Believers Born into the Kingdom of God
Scriptural References:
“There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism” (Ephesians 4:4-5).
“For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free” (I Corinthians 12:13).
There are literally hundreds of church organization and denominations in existence today, but there is only one Church.
The Church is one as far as place, area, or distance is concerned. The Church is one as far as race and nationality are concerned. The Church is one as far as time is concerned. Members of the Church today are members of the same Church as the apostles.
The Apostolic Church was born on the Day of Pentecost, but it is also the Apostolic Church which waits to be raptured when Jesus comes.
Men became a part of the Apostolic Church through obedience to the Apostolic Gospel which Peter and others preached. Men become a part of the Apostolic Church today through obedience to the Apostolic Gospel. God's plan of salvation has never changed. He commands men of all ages to accept His finished work of Redemption. He set the pattern through His death, burial, and resurrection. Man's acceptance of His redemptive work comes only through repentance, baptism, and receiving the Holy Ghost.
What sets the Apostolic Church apart from the rest of Christendom is not merely its emphasis on Acts 2:38 salvation and worship of the One True and Living God in Jesus Christ but also a unique approach to scripture. Our actual goal as Christians is merely to be Apostolic. We strive to "weed out" traditions and doctrines of men which were added later. Basically, we try to take what Luther started to its logical conclusion, true biblical reformation. We see many doctrines and beliefs as not Apostolic, but as a later development. Even my learned seminary professors would agree with this, but they put much authority in church history. They see the goal of the Bible scholar/theologian to develop the seed left by the writers of the New Testament. They think it arrogant to even question the wisdom of the church fathers. We on the other hand see our job description as one of recovery of truth which has been lost or distorted, to "earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints" (Jude 3). We are at heart, restorationists, trying to help restore the Church to her original belief and power. Of course we don't want to ignore what others have written or said about the Bible, but we understand this merely to be the thinking of fallible men. I believe that the church has gotten away from what the apostles taught in many respects and that we need to get it back. We need to stop seeing the church in Acts as in a “baby stage,” and start seeing it as the model upon which to base our belief and practice. Only when we return to New Testament patterns, principles and practice, will we experience true New Testament power.
As far as a hermeneutical model is concerned I would say we take the biblical approach of building on top of a foundation. We start with the OT and build on that with the NT.
That is the opposite of what Trinitarians do.
But I would say OPs have a lot of Traditions that are not necessarily biblical or are at least questionable...such as "Holiness Standards"...
I find it odd that OPs pride themselves a lot on not using non biblical terminology, yet "Holiness Standard" is one of them
__________________ Let it be understood that Apostolic Friends Forum is an Apostolic Forum.
Apostolic is defined on AFF as:
There is One God. This one God reveals Himself distinctly as Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
The Son is God himself in a human form or "God manifested in the flesh" (1Tim 3:16)
Every sinner must repent of their sins.
That Jesus name baptism is the only biblical mode of water baptism.
That the Holy Ghost is for today and is received by faith with the initial evidence of speaking in tongues.
The saint will go on to strive to live a holy life, pleasing to God.
Hybrid Mode
