“I’d rather obey Jesus than Peter”

Sometimes when talking to Trinitarian friends we hear the phrase, “When it comes to baptism, I’d rather obey Jesus than obey Peter.” This usually comes after we’ve shown them Acts 2:38,

“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”

The part that bothers them is that Peter said to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, and they see that as contradicting what Jesus said in Matthew 28:19,

“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.”

Which is the right way to be baptized?

When a Trinitarian friend says that they’d rather obey the words of Jesus they imply that Peter may have been mistaken, but Jesus, of course, could never be mistaken. By asserting this they essentially shot themselves in the foot, among others, for the following reasons.

1. He is admitting there’s a contradiction in the Scriptures. He assumes Peter was wrong when he said baptism was in Jesus’ name. Then, ALL Scripture would NOT be inspired of God as Paul asserts in 2 Timothy 3:16. No true Christian should ever make such an affirmation. It destroys the trustworthiness of the Bible.

2. If there's a contradiction between both scriptures, then the Holy Spirit made a mistake, because Peter had just received the anointing of the Holy Ghost (Acts 2:1-4) and this was supposed to have given him the power to be a witness of Jesus (Acts 1:8).

3. If the Holy Ghost can make a mistake, then, how can we trust the rest of the Scriptures? How can we know which parts are true and which are in error?

4. We must also remember that Jesus never wrote an epistle. Matthew is the one that reports Jesus commanded to baptize in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. This would not be a case of Jesus vs Peter, but Matthew vs Peter (IF there was a contradiction).

5. If there was such a disagreement between Peter and Matthew, why did Matthew, on the day of Pentecost, say nothing but rather stood with the other Apostles backing up what Peter was preaching? Why did Matthew not correct Peter, if Peter was mistaken? (Acts 2:14).

6. Why did Jesus give Peter the keys to the kingdom of heaven if He knew that the day Peter was to receive the Holy Spirit he would disobey and betray His instructions?

The only solution to harmonize this apparent contradiction is to see in Matthew 28:19 the commandment and in Acts 2:38 the fulfillment or obedience to the commandment of Jesus. Both scriptures are true. The “name” of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost is Jesus!

In other words, the Spirit that was in Peter reminded him of the words of Jesus, and gave him the Name that should be called on the baptismal waters. Matthew, being present, full of the same Spirit, was in total agreement with Acts 2:38. The rest of the Apostles understood Jesus’ words in Matthew 28:19 in the same way since they consistently baptized calling on the name of the Lord. (Please do take the time to study the following scriptures: Acts 2:38; 8:16; 10:48; 19:5; 22:16.)

For Apostolic Pentecostals “all Scripture is inspired of God” (2 Timothy 3:16). There are no contradictions in the Holy Word of God. There’s perfect harmony between Matthew 28:19 and Acts 2:38. There’s a Name revealed for our salvation, a Name so high and glorious that manifests the identity of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. That name is the name of Jesus (Please see Hebrews 1:4; Ephesians 1:21-23).

"Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:12 NKJV)

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A "Preterist" Prophet

Preterists insist that Jesus returned on 70 A.D., evidenced by the destruction of Jerusalem by the Roman armies. They assert that we are waiting for a Second Coming that's already come.

They also insist that the "end of the world" or "end of the age" really meant the "end of the Jewish age." So, in their view, this "end of the world" has already occurred.

They can believe and preach what they want, but we remain, as the Apostle Paul, "looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ." (Titus 2:13)


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What does this passage mean to me?

Most small group Bible studies are lead by reading a portion of the Scriptures and then asking the participants, “What does this passage mean to you?” Everyone answers what they feel this passage is trying to say to them, they have a group discussion and that’s it. That’s a cell group’s “Bible” study.

The problem with this approach to Scripture is that it makes every individual’s feelings the interpreter of Scripture. It is one of the easiest way to twist Scriptures and make the Bible say what we want it to say rather than what God intended. The important question when sharing Scripture in a small group settings (as well as when preaching from a pulpit) is not “what does it mean to me?” but rather, “what does the passage say and what reasons do I have for such an interpretation?”

In Apostolic circles, not even a “Holy Ghost impression” is enough to judge the validity of an interpretation, but rather we judge every impression by the written Scripture as instructed by Paul in 2 Timothy 3:16-17. Interpreters (this includes the leaders, pastors and theologians) are not infallible, only Scripture is. That is why the context of a passage is so important to determine the meaning of the author. We compare Scripture to Scripture to make sure we are interpreting it correctly.

We believe the Holy Ghost can guide us in ascertaining the meaning of Scripture, but His meaning will never contradict the plain meaning of the Bible. The Holy Spirit didn’t make any mistakes when he inspired the writers of Scripture, therefore He doesn’t need a prophet or apostle today to fix His Word. He doesn’t make mistakes when He leads us in our Bible studies. But sometimes we think God is guiding us to a certain meaning when in reality is just our own mind or emotions. The Holy Spirit doesn’t make mistakes but people do. That is why we teach that the best interpreter of the Bible is the Bible itself.

We don’t ask, “What does this Scripture mean to me?” but rather, “What does God mean in this Scripture?”

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Are tongues for preaching the Gospel?

I was at a wedding early in the year when a man that had been a member of a United Pentecostal Church (UPC), now backslid, came around trying to engage every UPC member he could get to listen to him.

“You should leave the UPC, the UPC doesn’t save, only Jesus saves. You don’t need tongues to be saved. Tongues were for missionary work, to preach in foreign languages. We don’t need tongues like that anymore, and certainly the UPC doesn’t use tongues that way.”

Since this was his son’s wedding I found it really strange that he would be spending his time going from table to table trying to find an apostolic to engage in the same conversation.

When he approached me I assured him that I was very interested in conversing with him, but that perhaps this occasion wasn’t the best venue for it. He had strayed so far from the truth that now he wasn’t even able to enjoy his own son’s wedding without attacking the church he had left many years ago.

I emailed him a couple of months later wanting to resume the conversation. I asked him where specifically the Bible taught that tongues were for preaching the Gospel in missionary work. He asked for more time to send me his reply. It’s been about four months now, and I have followed up with him on at least three occasions. He hasn’t replied yet. I wonder if he is still trying to find a Bible verse that teaches what he has come to believe about tongues. He will not find such a verse.

The truth is tongues are not a preaching tool, tongues are given as a sign of the infilling of the Holy Ghost (1 Cor 14:22; Acts 2:1-4; 11:15-18). Sometimes they are known languages (Acts 2), some times they are angelic tongues (1 Cor 14:2). They can help us in time of prayer for private edification or even for intercession (1 Cor 14:4; Rom 8:26). Tongues don’t save, the UPCI doesn’t save, Jesus does and He comes to us in the Holy Ghost if we repent of our sins and are baptized in Jesus name (See Acts 2:38-39). This experience is available to everyone that thirsts after God. Jesus is still making the invitation:

“If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive…)” (John 7:37-39).
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Attitudes in defending the faith

When the Apostle Peter instructed us to defend the faith, he laid out some principles that every successful ambassador of Christ will follow:

1 Peter 3:15:
"But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear."

"Meekness and fear" means with a humble attitude, with reverence. It is not the pedantic Apostolic that gets a listening ear, but the one that is not afraid to treat others with the same respect he'd like to receive.

God has given us a beautiful treasure to share with others, we must do so in a Christian spirit of love. We are not suppossed to hit people over the head with the truth.

For those that think that an argumentative way of doing apologetics is the best way, I'd like to ask them how many Trinitarians have they won to the Lord that way?

Every Trinitarian minister that our local church, Mundo Pentecostal, has baptized in Jesus' Name has been won first by love, then by doctrine. Both are important, both are required.

We are not shy to share the truth. We will never be ashamed of being Oneness believers. We will never be ashamed of believing in the Holy Spirit baptism with tongues or our lifestyle. At the same time, we will never be afraid to become friends with those we want to win to the truth.

We did not receive the truth because we deserved it. We weren't worthy. We weren't more honest that other people that go to denominational churches or other religions. It was by God's mercy and grace that we were saved. In ourselves we have nothing to be proud of. We certainly can not look at others as less spiritual or less honest. We must show them the "mark" that everyone can see: love.

I haven't found any other method that works to win souls. Have you?

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The Christian Origin of the University

Harvard, Yale, Princeton and others schools were founded primarily for the training of ministers for the evangelization of the world. The world may be surprised to learn that a full-fledged university was a Christian idea, not a secular one.The Church may be even more surprised to learn that such world-renowned universities used to be ministerial training centers.

The idea of a University, a place where all different sciences can be learned and studied in depth was born out of a desire to study God’s world precisely because creation was thought to be a revelation of the true God. It was thought that compartmentalized knowledge (the focusing on only one subject) was not worthy of a man created in God’s image. Man should be able to discourse on different subjects, was the thought, so a place where all avenues of knowledge could be explored for the glory of God was devised in the university.

I am not sure when anti-intelectualism hit the Church, but I have a feeling that part of it had something to do with Darwin’s theory of evolution. The thought was that if science had disproven God by making Him obsolete due to evolution, then believers either accepted science and denied God or held on to their faith by closing their eyes to modern science. Such thinking was very mistaken (and that’s a huge understatement), specially because evolution used faulty assumptions to construct its main theories.

Apostolics are called to reclaim science (and other disciplines) to the glory of God. I can only speculate the difference that Harvard, Yale and Princeton (among others) would have made in our world if they had remained Christian centers of knowledge and training. God and true science are never opposed to each other.

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We can do better than abortion

Right-click the image above to save the graphic. Please email it to all your contacts.

There are better options for the crisis pregnancy mother than abortion.

1. Give birth and keep the baby. It may not be easy, but this is one decision they'll never regret.

2. Give birth and give the baby up for adoption. They will always know their child is with a loving family and well taken care of. New Beginnings, an Apostolic Pentecostal organization is always ready to help with this option. Click on the title of this message to visit their website.


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The Vision recommends Upholding Our Future Hope

The Vision, the official magazine of the South Texas District of the United Pentecostal Church International carried an article by Brother David Bernard in their November/December 05 issue recommending to their readership our book Upholding Our Future Hope: An Apostolic Response to Preterism.

We thank God for what He is doing.

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What others have said:

The belief in the soon coming King was a significant part of the gestalt of beliefs that led to the rise of Pentecostalism. Early Pentecostals were convinced they were living on the cusp of the coming of the Lord and this belief provided added motivation to live their lives fully committed to the Gospel. This book takes a fresh look at the importance of the coming of the Lord in the life of the church. I trust it will renew our committment to the coming King.

Rev. Robin Johnston
Vice President, Gateway College of Evangelism
Director, The Center for the Study of Oneness Pentecostalism


Apostolic Bible Institute commends Brother Jorge Medina for his scholarship in writing this book which reveals the error of the false doctrine of Preterism. It is a work that we will include in our classes on end-time prophecy.

Rev. Gerald F. Grant
President, Apostolic Bible Institute
St. Paul, Minnesota

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The Pentecostal Publishing House has also been marketing the book agressively in all their mailouts to members of the Pentecostal Book Club and in ads placed in different magazines within the Apostolic community.

The book can be obtained at http://www.half.com (click the title of this message) or http://www.pentecostalpublishing.com


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Prophecy Conference Tapes

Brother William Chalfant sent us this ad which appeared in Indiana Bible College's Perspectives magazine.

The tapes can be ordered by calling 913.773.8318


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Upholding Our Future Hope: An Apostolic Response to Preterism

Printed by Word Aflame Press
$14
272 Pages
$3 shipping & handling
Payment can be sent to the following account: ejad@hotmail.com

Via PayPal

This book refutes the preterist theory that Jesus returned invisibly during the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70 and demonstrates fully the truth recorded in Scripture.

Compiled by G. Jorge Medina.

Contributing authors include: David Bernard, William B. Chalfant, Steve Pixler, John T. Larabell, J. R. Ensey, Phillip A. Dugas, Jorge Medina, Ken Gurley, and David Norris.


Brother Jorge Medina has provided in these writings a book that has long been needed. For several years we have needed answers to the many questions that the doctrine of preterism has raised in students and ministers across the globe. This book is written from a biblical perspective and we can always trust the Bible to have the correct answers for every subject that would not appear to be sound doctrine. Thank you Brother Medina for the many hours you have spent in compiling such excellent writings.

Bishop James L. Kilgore
Life Tabernacle
Houston, Texas


Our movement has made allowance for unity in diversity. We must not, however, seek diversity at the expense of truth. We must at all times take a firm stand for biblical truth, as the authors of this book have done. They have thoroughly demonstrated that preterism contradicts the Holy Writ. While we can allow for a pre-trib, mid-trib, or post-trib Rapture, we cannot allow preterism to rob us of 'that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.'

Anthony Mangun
Pastor, The Pentecostals of Alexandria
Alexandria, Louisiana


I am happy to recommend this work that calls us back to a renewed emphasis on "that blessed hope," the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. Since two men in white stood by the awestruck disciples as they watched Jesus ascending into heaven, believers have waited for Him to "come in like manner" as they saw Him go. With Paul, we confess that we who are alive and remain when the Lord descends from heaven shall be caught up with the dead in Christ to meet the Lord in the air. There is, as Paul says, comfort in these words.

Rev. Daniel L. Segraves
President, Christian Life College
Stockton, CA


For more info, write: faithdefenders@hotmail.com


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Apostolic Prophecy Conference

Wow!

What a Prophecy Conference we had in Kansas!

With names like William Chalfant, Mark Bassett, Todd Nance, David Hunt (Texas Bible College) and others we really had a powerful time digging deep into the Word of God.

Among the subjects treated were:

* Coming in the Clouds (Was Jesus to Return by A.D. 70?)
* God's Covenants in Prophecy
* The Reality of the Resurrection of the Body
* One Coming: Two Views
* Has God Rejected His People? (Israel, the Church, and Replacement Theology)
* The Relation of Apostolic Doctrine & Prophecy
* Judgment in the Plan of God
* And more...

You must obtain the tapes of this conference.

To do so call or write:

Truth Tabernacle
Apostolic Prophecy Conference
79 Ash Street
Leavenworth, KS 66048

913-651-0353


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Welcome to Defenders of the Faith!

Welcome to the Defenders of the Faith blog. This site is dedicated to apologetics of the Apostolic Faith. Apologetics comes from the Greek word apologia = defense. It is inspired by 1 Peter 3:15:

"But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear."

The word "defense" used by Peter is precisely "apologia." We understand apologetics to be a reasoned defense of the Apostolic Christian faith. We strive to do this with humility and love for those that may not share our points of view.

In this blog we will share some entry level Bible studies, answers to doctrinal questions, Evolution vs Creation, the Trinity, the inspiration of the Bible, cults, false doctrines, etc, etc.

I truyly hope this will be a blessing to the average church member, and an inspiration to our Apostolic ministers across the globe.

Please note that all Scriptures quoted are from the New King James Version of the Bible unless otherwise identified.

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