Doctrine of the Spirit-Filled Church: (Revised, Expanded, Enhanced)

By Francis Vlok

This exhaustive doctrinal book contains all the teachings of Jesus Christ. It draws the reader to conform to the Bible’s message which says about the early apostolic church: and they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers (Acts 2:42).
Every tenet of the original apostles’ doctrine detailed in the New Testament is thoroughly explained. The teachings of Jesus and the ministry gifts He gave to the church found in Ephesians 4:11 are covered in depth to help establish the church of Jesus Christ which Jesus said He will build and the gates of hell would not prevail against it (Matthew 16:18).
This book gives deep insight into doctrinal issues and is a great guide for ministers, elders and all lay person who are ardent biblical students and desire a deeper walk with the Lord Jesus Christ.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Apr 13, 2022
• ISBN: 9781665556743

Francis Vlok

Francis Vlok is an ordained minister for more than forty years in The Christian Fellowship. He was led by the Lord to establish a church in South Africa and since immigrating to the United States, he was again led to establish a church in Pachuta, MS. He has lectured at the School of Ministry in South Africa and served as the Vice-president of the Fellowship. He has written the book The Perfect Will of God, and now, under the instruction of the Holy Spirit, completed this doctrinal volume.

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

Introduction

The History of the Church

1. Before the text delves into the depths of the tenets of the Spirit-filled church, it is expedient that the history of the church be studied to garner a more composite understanding of the need that exists today for the church to return to its original operation.

2. Every aspect of the tenets that was included in the apostles’ doctrine (Acts 2:42) should be in the church today. There is no reason for any variance. If the Master Builder, Jesus Christ, is the same yesterday, and today, and for ever (Hebrews 13:8), then why should there be any variance or change in what He gave to the church as its structure?

3. The history of the church as outlined over the past two thousand years shows the growth, the adaptation of leaders to accommodate influences that ministers chose to accept instead of God’s word, the influence of pecuniary pressure, and the bold steps that reformers took to separate themselves from the worldwide Catholic church. This history can be divided into six categories:

a. The Apostolic Church AD 33 - AD 100

b. The Persecuted Church AD 101 - AD 315

c. The Imperial Church AD 316 - AD 476

d. The Medieval Church AD 477 - AD 1453

e. The Reformed Church AD 1454 - AD 1700

f. The Splintered Church AD 1701 - Today

4. With the birth of the church on the Day of Pentecost, believers rooted themselves in the basic foundational pillars that were left them by Jesus Christ. They continued steadfastly in His teachings, the apostles’ doctrine; fellowshipped together; remained in one accord; were of one mind, one faith; kept the unity of the Spirit (Ephesians 4:3); and stayed focused on Jesus Christ and Him crucified (1 Corinthians 2:2). In so doing, upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread (Acts 20:7), they obediently did as Jesus instructed them, lest they forget His commandment and what He did for them in the new covenant.

The Apostolic Church

AD 35 - AD 100

5. After Jesus’ teachings and His instruction that they must tarry in the city of Jerusalem, until ye (they) be endued with power from on high (Luke 24:49) the followers went willingly and obediently (Isaiah 1:19, Acts 1:12) into the city and tarried in the Upper Room.

6. Within their hearts they waited for the promise of the Father (Acts 1:4 NKJV), not knowing what or how it would be manifested. Here was the first real test of their faith; they had to believe and trust that what Jesus said would happen.

7. When the Holy Spirit fell on them, they all received the divine intervention in their spirits and were baptized with the Holy Spirit. This baptism with the Holy Spirit was not given to them to place as a trophy in a showcase; it empowered them to do the work of the ministry Jesus had instructed them to do. This was the launching pad from which they were to go forth into the world and preach the gospel (Mark 16:15). They received the promise of the Father and then were ready for the task at hand.

8. What flowed from that day was the testimony of these men and the outpouring of God’s divine love onto all mankind, not just the Jews. The first gospel message to be preached procured three thousand souls who accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Savior; and as such, the church began its first few fledgling steps that catapulted it into history and throughout the entire world.

9. The ultimate question that must be asked is what did they preach? The Bible is quick to declare that these men, anointed by the Holy Spirit, spoke clearly and with boldness: they witnessed about Christ’s death and resurrection, and heralded the call for those who wanted to be saved to repent and be baptized (Acts 2:38 NKJV).

10. Repentance was a three-fold action: First, That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation (Romans 10:9-10). Thus, in an audible voice one must testify that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

11. Second, one must believe in his or her heart that He was raised from the dead. Third, one must repent of the inherent sin within the soul and in so doing be washed in the precious blood of Jesus Christ that cleanses us from all sin (1 John 1:7). Philip Schaff in his exhaustive volumes on History of the Christian Church says in Volume 1, The Christian church rests on the resurrection of its Founder. Without this fact the church could never have been born, or if born [excluding the fact of the resurrection], it would soon have died a natural death.

12. Jesse L. Hurlbut says in his book, The Story of the Christian Church, An essential doctrine was the Resurrection of Jesus; that He had been crucified, had risen from the dead, and was now living, the head of His church, to die no more. Then the doctrine of the Return of Jesus; that He who had ascended to heaven was in due time to come back to earth to reign.

13. This call to which the men were drawn was anointed with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke as the Spirit gave them utterance. Every time they were given the opportunity to speak and preach, they testified to witnessing the resurrection of Jesus Christ; and they called the hearers to repent. That is the message the church should still be preaching today! Hurlbut continues, The weapon of the church through which the world was to be won, was the testimony of its members. The love of Christ glowing in the hearts of these people called forth also a love for their fellow-disciples, a unity of spirit, a joy in fellowship, and especially a self-denying interest in the needy members of the church. It was strong in faith and testimony, pure in character, and abundant in love.

14. Literally thousands accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior and walked away from the old life of pagan worship and the Law of Moses. Daily the church grew (Acts 2:47) as people from all walks of life were born again and confessed Jesus Christ as Lord. Signs and wonders followed the preaching of the Cross; and lives were filled with love, joy, and the peace of God.

15. The growth from Jerusalem was exactly as Jesus had told them; you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth (Acts 1:8 NKJV). Thus, the church took the message to the known world. During the first sixty years, the Word was preached with fervor; and people from all walks of life, Jews, Greeks, free men, slaves, men and women, rich and poor, all listened and responded to the gospel call.

16. It has been said that during the first few years the church consisted exclusively of Jewish converts. However, as they began to settle in their newly found faith and purpose, the men moved into Judea and Samaria. Then, not even fifteen years later, the mighty hand of God moved again and called Apostle Paul into the ministry to take the gospel to the known world consisting of Gentiles, Romans, and slaves. This proved once again that the universal call of the gospel was to the whosoever and not only to the Jew. Apostle Paul spoke from revelation he had received from the Lord, and he spoke from a personal encounter with Jesus. He did not steep his doctrine in his higher education, his race (tribe), or position as an influential leader in the Jewish religion; but, as Philip Schaff says, He [Paul] spoke in a tone of personal and moral authority.

17. Hurlbut explains, In all the history of Christianity no single conversion to Christ carried with it such momentous results to the whole world as that of Saul the persecutor, afterward Paul the Apostle. After a meeting in Jerusalem, church leaders agreed that the gospel be taken to the world; and it was entrusted to those who already had ministered to the Gentile nations and who were saved (Acts 15:23-27). Hurlbut summarizes, A conclusion was reached that the law was binding upon Jews only and not upon Gentile believers in Christ. With this decision the period of transition from a Jewish Christian Church to a church for people of every race and land was completed, and the gospel could now go forward on its ever-widening way.

18. It must never be forgotten that during these first few years the world was ruled by a pagan-worshiping, ruthless people, the Romans, and the Greek influences prior to that. The imperial dictatorship from Rome was at times wielded by tyrants who had no tolerance for Christians. They banished Christians from the ruling class to live in caves and homes where they clung to the promises of God and each other for support. Adding to the constant threat of persecution, they were mocked and jeered by the world as fanatical and possessed with witchcraft. Even though they were in various places treated with disrespect, Christians gathered and worshipped the Lord in Spirit and in truth (John 4:24); and the church grew and became a force to be reckoned with. While these early Christians were being persecuted this way, men were called by God to lay the foundation of the church that would root and ground its functioning. They wrote to the various churches, giving them the blueprint of the church’s operation, sound advice on how to handle issues that caused divisions, and words of encouragement about the impending return of the Lord.

19. Thus, it can be said that the first sixty-five years of the church, even under severe persecution, was a period of rapid growth in its strong foundational base from which to function, in the teachings of personal and corporate conduct, in its strengthening of faith in Christ alone, and in its ever-present desire to share the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

20. Perhaps one of the main reasons why the church endured during those early years can be ascribed to the commitment and dedication of its leaders. They were determined to know Him, and they never moved off the foundation, clinging to the words of Jesus, I will never leave you nor forsake you (Hebrews 13:5 NKJV). They understood the gravity of their calling and accepted that they were fellow workers for God, stewards of the mysteries of God, and ambassadors for Christ entrusted with the responsibility of proclaiming the acceptable year of the Lord. Within their office, they knew they were endowed with power from on high, were separated and sealed for the task, and carried this divine dignity that demanded accountability and responsibility never before given to mankind.

21. They set their face like a flint (Isaiah 50:7) as they immersed themselves in the work of the ministry. Schaff says, The persons thus inwardly and outwardly designated by the voice of Christ, were solemnly set apart and inducted into their ministerial functions by the symbolical act of ordination; that is by prayer and laying on of the hands of apostles, conferring or authoritatively confirming and sealing the appropriate spiritual gifts. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed (Acts 13:3-4).

22. At the close of the first century, Apostle John wrote the beloved gospel record that reaches past the physical and material ministry of Jesus Christ and delves into the spiritual application of all that Jesus did and said while He was on the earth. In his letters and his gospel account, the underpinning message is agape-Love.

23. The apostle brings the believer into a spiritual love relationship with his Savior. He details the application of this spiritual love that blends into an everlasting covenant. This same love that meets out the divine promises of caring, protection, and forgiveness also embodies the antithesis, the consequences for those who refuse and shun the Savior’s agape-Love. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him (John 3:36). Schaff explains this dichotomy best: Love and hatred are one and the same passion, only revealed in opposite directions. The same sun gives light and heat to the living and hastens the decay of the dead.

24. With this growth in numbers, the leading apostles wrote letters of encouragement and instruction to the churches to help them stay within the apostles’ doctrine. Heretical opinions were arising, and sects were forming, the germs of which had been noted and warned against by the apostles’ not wanting the fledgling church to get lost in every wind of doctrine. These heretics and members of renegade sects were constantly questioning and condemning Christianity as an evil movement. Some lukewarm adherents were influenced by worldly tendencies and returned to their pagan way of life. At times, schisms and differences wrenched at the core of these early Christians’ doctrine; and from the east to the west, pagan practices crept into the divine organism. However, the strength of its divinity would prevail. Philip Schaff affirms, The Christian church may degenerate in the hands of sinful men, but the doctrine and life of her Founder are a never-failing fountain of purification.

The Persecuted Church

AD 101 - AD 315

25. In the apostolic age faith was of the heart, a personal surrender of the will to Christ as Lord and King, a life in accordance with His example, and as a result the indwelling of His Spirit. But in this period, faith had gradually come to be of the mind, an intellectual faith, believing in a hard and fast system of doctrine. Emphasis was laid on correct belief, rather than on the inner, spiritual life (Hurlbut).

26. With the enormous expansion of the church’s numbers and the undaunted faith and courage the Christians displayed, the world had no choice but to take notice of this Spirit-filled organism. It began to influence many rich and poor members of society, as well as nobles and influential leaders in the cities where they operated.

27. Whenever such an influence is evident and the rulers of the people are totally against it, persecution and ruthless treatment of the faithful are always eminent. This is what happened to the church members who experienced a time of diabolical hatred and suffering at the hands of such Satan-infested emperors as Nero, Domitian, Diocletian, and other rulers who had authority to spew their evil venom upon the faithful.

28. Many Christians were punished, put to death by the most terrible methods, and banished from everything civil, all with such disregard for human life as the world had never yet experienced and witnessed. Christians became the laughingstock of the chosen people who worshipped idols; and when the believers were paraded before wild animals in colosseums, the evil onlookers were entertained as Christians were killed by wild beasts. At other times, the people clapped and cheered as Christians were tied to tarred posts and burned to death.

29. While the physical punishment continued, within the church’s leadership there arose false apostles, false prophets, and false teachers who began to sow confusion and discord amongst some of the members. This infiltration has been regarded by some ancient writers as the devil’s orchestration because the devil saw that, even under gross persecution, the church still grew and became a holy influence on society. Satan saw the fledgling status of the church and tried to break down its doctrinal beliefs, hoping he could end its existence.

30. The amount of work the early leaders put into protecting the faith can never be overstated. Their constant vigil and actions to protect the precious souls from false teachings enabled the early church to survive. These gospel giants, instruments of the Holy Spirit in those days, were men such as Polycarp (69-155), Justin Martyr (100-165), Irenaeus of Lyons (140-202), Clement of Alexandria (150-215) Tertullian (155-222), and Cyprian of Carthage (200-258). They never tired of straightening the crooked paths laid by false teachings. Their writings that protected the church during this period still are referenced today by biblical students.

31. Hurlbut explains the survival and growth of the church at this point: Three great schools of theology arose, at Alexandria, in Asia Minor, and in North Africa. These schools were established for the instruction of those who, from heathen homes, had taken the vows of the Christian faith.

32. To further clarify the situation, one must understand the position of the church within the society of that time and its norms. The world was dominated by Roman dictatorship under the imperial reign of an emperor whose words were edicts that had to be followed with diligence and without question. The force within the mighty empire was predominantly evil in its intent and, thus, diabolical in its pagan beliefs. The worship of pagan gods and goddesses was sanctioned and commanded by the Emperor himself. Also influential in the known world at this time were the philosophy and arts of the Greeks.

33. Also part of this lifestyle, many rich and noble people had numerous slaves. In fact, history reports that seventy percent of the people living throughout the world during this period were slaves. Many of these influential and rich people also served in the Roman and Greek governments and, as such, were party to the persecution of Christian church members.

34. While it was a regulation of Roman governance to allow the people the freedom to worship whom they pleased, once the church grew and became an influence in society, the rulers reacted and began persecuting believers, accusing them of affronting the Roman rulers and condemning their pagan and unholy lifestyle. This response was adopted by the Greeks who followed the same approach while hiding under the toga of their Roman governor.

35. Thus, during this period, major guiding forces of the western world were Roman dictatorship, Greek philosophy, and Christianity. While much of this world lived in a somewhat harmonious manner, Christians dwelled under the rod of Roman harshness. Yet, within the hearts of believers, their anchor was Jesus Christ and Him crucified (1 Corinthians 2:2). Their faith became a bulwark that was embedded in the holy Word, and they were not swayed by the social conduct and rulership of the day; they kept looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of [their] faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12:2 NKJV). On the whole, theirs was a church under unified teaching. Here was the body of millions of people, extended over many lands, embracing many races, speaking many languages, yet holding to one faith, a faith that was one in its doctrine.

36. Undoubtably, this was the worst time in the church’s history when such wholesale punishment and persecution of the church took place. The more the world tried to eradicate its existence, the stronger the believers’ faith became; and as they held onto the promises of their Savior and God, their strength was reinforced with hope that the promises they believed would be fulfilled by their Lord.

The Imperial Church

AD 316 - AD 476

37. When hopes and dreams of a release from their physical oppression and persecution were the furthest from the church members’ minds, God intervened in the church’s suffering and brought it to a close. God dealt with it at the highest possible human level, that of the future Emperor Constantine.

38. History records that before going into battle against a rival for the monarchy, Constantine had a vision of a cross in the sky. He pledged that, if the God of the Cross gave him victory in the forthcoming battle, he would accept the Christian faith when he was made emperor. He was victorious, became emperor, and adopted the Christian faith as his religion, the first emperor to make this decision.

39. However, he did not stop at his conversion. He declared that all other religions, worship of idols, and any form of pagan worship would be condemned and outlawed and that there was to be only one religion in the Roman world, namely Christianity.

40. Overnight, those who were being oppressed and regarded as outcasts were now elevated into the position of the ruling class for religious purposes. Their inheritance and their sphere of influence were immeasurable. What was a pagan temple became a house of worship to God, their Savior. What was a pagan ritual was condemned and replaced with Christian worship and sacraments. Added to that, the imperial state’s financial coffers and the people’s obligatory contributions became the lot of the church.

41. Without doubt, this transition that came as a bolt of lightning in the life of believers necessitated a huge change in their mindset. They had to stay focused and committed to follow the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers (Acts 2:42). Their focus had to stay saturated in the message they were entrusted with, namely, Repent and be baptized (Acts 2:38), and proclaim without shame or doubt that Jesus Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father (Romans 6:4).

42. Philip Schaff (paraphrased) explains that the Christianizing of the Roman state became a gain for the church in members; but in many respects, this gain was cancelled by spiritual loss. The mass of people in the Roman empire were baptized only with water, not with the Spirit and fire of the gospel; and they smuggled heathen manners and practices into the sanctuary under a new name.

43. The next decade saw the various nations adopting certain Christian principles which differed from each other and at times brought confusion to believers. The church needed to make a declaration as to what its beliefs were to ensure all members aligned their faith with the same accord. Constantine saw this need and from his imperial authority convened a meeting of the church’s leaders in AD 325 in Nicaea.

44. It was from this conference that the Nicene Creed was produced that declared the principles and doctrinal tenets in which the church rooted and grounded its faith. This document has embodied the guiding principles for the church ever since, its contents being spiritually sound and biblically based. The many who have served as leaders in the church throughout the ensuing centuries have always found that the Nicene Creed references the intrinsic truths in the Bible without ambiguity. Furthermore, the few modifications in the creed have not altered the basic statements of intent.

45. Even though the church fathers had the truth written on scrolls in the Greek and Aramaic, as well as in Hebrew, constant bombardment from the secular world, demanding that church leaders compromise on biblical issues that surround moral conduct and righteous living, caused the church to become embroiled in state and legislative affairs that forged a blending of the church and state. This was, is, and never will be the divine and spiritual intention of the church.

46. Hurlbut clarifies the consequences of this mingling of church and state: The ministers of the church soon became a privileged class, above the law of the land. This, also, while an immediate benefit, developed into an evil, both to the state and the church. But, while the triumph of Christianity resulted in much that was good, inevitably the alliance of the state and the church also brought in its train many evils. The ceasing of persecution was a blessing, but the establishment of Christianity as the state religion became a curse. The services of worship increased in splendor but were less spiritual and hearty than those of former times.

47. Of such political involvement and splendor, Jesus said, My kingdom is not of this world (John 18:36). Hence, the world does not comprehend the things that are spiritual (1 Corinthians 2:10-14). The church’s purpose is to share the gospel which is a spiritual gospel. It becomes the guide and compass for the world to follow; and in so doing, the world will turn from its wicked ways and follow righteousness.

48. This state birthed the Imperial church, which infested the church with responsibilities and influential position, for which the spiritual body of Christ was not intended. Church leaders served as rulers of the cities, and they became the powerful authority that dictated biblical rules and compelled the people to adopt and follow them. If the people did not follow its edicts, the church became the judge and jury instead of the conduit of God’s love and grace.

The Medieval Church

AD 477 - AD 1453

49. During this period, almost all authority and power rested in the hands of the church leaders as they became embroiled in the affairs of government and influence over the people. Their positions were so highly esteemed that the people reverenced them, instead of reverencing Jesus Christ. Members of the church feared and bowed to these church leaders and instituted regulations that gave the leaders positions with titles so outlandish that the establishment boarded on idol worship.

50. These developments marked the beginning of the decay that infested the church; for no longer were its members in poverty, no longer were they surviving on their faith in Jesus Christ, and no longer were they living a righteous life well-pleasing to God. Now, the church was the world’s show piece and not its place of peace.

51. Many different experiences and changes occurred throughout this period. The Islamic religion started in the sixth century, led by Mohammed, and was first introduced and accepted by Arabian inhabitants. At first, Mohammed relied on moral influences in preaching his gospel; but soon he changed his methods and became a warrior, leading his united and fierce Arabs to the conquest of those who had not converted to his religion.

52. While the birth of Islam challenged the spread of Christianity, a movement started by Charles the Great (742-814) sparked a church-related rivalry throughout Germany and France. As the church expanded and became entrenched in cultural differences, the split between Rome (Latin Roman church) and the Greek (orthodox) church finally took place in the eleventh century. [The descension raged over the wording in the tenets of each sector that surrounded the Holy Spirit’s place in the Godhead to the point where the strife ended, on occasion, in bloodshed.]

53. All the while that doctrinal tensions heated and the division in beliefs raised its conflicted head, there were the devout born-again believers who stood steadfast and immovable in the biblical foundational principles. There were many who were filled with the Holy Spirit and worshipped God in spirit and in truth. Within them, the remnant that God always has had stood strong and courageous, keeping the light of the gospel glowing in the dark world.

54. With the embers of the fire still smoldering from the division within Christianity’s Latin and Greek factions, the Islamic movement became ever stronger and infiltrated many countries, including the Holy Land. In 1095, a watershed year in the Christian calendar, an army of Crusaders began a three-hundred-years war. Launching attacks on the Mohammedan-controlled provinces along the way, as they marched from Europe to the Holy Land, their ultimate aim was to free the Holy Land from Mohammedan clutches.

55. These crusaders though, were not successful in conquering their adversary. Besides being an army of various countries loosely united to remove the enemy of their faith, the leaders were only half-heartedly committed to the crusades; and the warriors themselves had little or nothing to gain from their exhausting exploits. The scar on the once-righteous and peace-loving faith of Christianity, catapulted into the abyss of war and hatred, dug so deeply into the spirit of the righteous saints that their wounds festered for centuries.

56. Yet another development in this period was that of monasticism, founded by those whose basic premise was to cut themselves off from the world in order to seek a pious life of worshipping God and being sanctified for His purposes. It became a strict way of life and created unscriptural practices such as celibacy. The movement took root in most of the countries and is still in operation today. While many negatives can be placed at the gates of such a movement, these devout men were the custodians of many ancient manuscripts and books so vital in that period of the church. Their study of the Word and commitment to the absence of malice inspired many believers to seek a closer walk with God.

57. At this point, the Christian world was intoxicated with power and prosperity. Its leaders were the upper class and revered members of society, and the church literally wanted for nothing materially or physically. However, the dearth of spiritual revelation and of spiritual commitment and worship hardly ever overcame the dominance of ritual, pomp, and ceremony that many members loved to observe. Recognition and worship of those regarded as saints were placed alongside the worship of Jesus Christ as Lord. This borders on idol worship.

58. The simple observance of an ordinance such as the Breaking of Bread became an elaborate ritual of ringing bells, chanting, and selecting certain emblems consecrated for a specific use, all shrouding the efficacy of the actual reason and meaning of the humble act of partaking of the Table of the Lord.

59. During this period, God called John Wycliffe (1329-1384) for a specific task. He became highly educated, began the reform movement in England, and translated the Old and New Testaments into English. These translations provided a giant leap forward for the people in English-speaking countries who, for the first time, could read the Bible in their own tongue. Wycliffe’s work was shunned by the Catholic church, that always presented the Bible to its congregations in Latin. Wycliffe also was hypercritical of the papal appointment and monasticism. Today, Wycliffe’s translation is regarded as a watershed for all translations and one which many translators reference.

60. A few decades later in 1453, Constantinople fell under Islamic rule. This development closed the eastern headquarters of the church, and the city’s Christian churches were converted into mosques. Constantinople became the city of the Sultans and the capital of the Turkish Empire. It remained the capital for almost five hundred years.

61. Where, then, did the church fit into all this warfare, political strife, doctrinal division, and wasteful extravagance? There has always been a true church. There have always been believers who have stood for the truth. Even though this period had its many tumultuous times, the members who were rooted and grounded in the faith never moved away from the foundation that can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 3:11).

The Reformation Church

AD 1454 - AD 1700

62. The mid-fifteenth century church had become a part of society and not the separate entity the Word said it should be: Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you (2 Corinthians 6:17). This Scripture had no influence or call particularly amongst the church leaders. Their position, title, and opulent lifestyle was so far removed from the essence of the gospel that they had forgotten the purpose of the church.

63. The spiritual guidance that was smothered under flamboyant decor and ritualistic pageantry was lost to church attendees. There was no reverence for God; neither were there any miracles and conversions from a sinful life to forgiveness from a repentant heart. All was done by rote and works, which are totally opposite of God’s mercy and grace.

64. From among the previously mentioned steadfast believers who, despite dark times still were led by the Holy Spirit to stand for the truth, God separated Martin Luther, John Calvin, John Knox, and others to boldly proclaim that the path the church had taken was not according to the Bible.

65. The Holy Spirit thrust these men into the forefront of the worldwide church and used them to strike at the heart of sin being perpetrated by church leaders-the disgusting practices of compelling members to obey the so-called decreed act of indulgences, the ritual of a sacramental repentance, the twisted belief in a half-way stop where the dead wait in purgatory while priests and their followers pray that the sins of the dead be forgiven, and a system of penance that became a ritualistic observance.

66. While Martin Luther (1483-1546) has been singled out as the reformer, because he made the first move to oppose the church, men such as John Huss, Johannes von Wesel, George Wishart, and Andreas Karlstadt were also actively opposing the unrighteous acts that emanated from the Roman Catholic Church.

67. From Martin Luther’s controversial decree, his Ninety-Five Theses nailed to the door of the Wittenberg Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany, the reform movement spread throughout Europe and England and garnered many a theologian’s attention. John Calvin (1509-1564) in France and Switzerland was equally persuaded that the church needed to reform its doctrine. He led the movement into a Calvinistic Reformation that became the basis of many of today’s Protestant denominations.

68. In the British Isles, John Knox (1513-1572) was called to present the confessions of faith for the reform movement. He was fearless in his opposition to Mary, Queen of Scots, for supporting the Roman Catholic practices; and eventually, he was punished for this and other actions.

69. In spite of all these reformers being either excommunicated, banished from their office in the church, or made to flee their country, God used their endeavors to lay the foundation for the reformation church.

70. The movement took root and spread vicariously across the globe, establishing what is today known as the protestant/reformation church. Thus, the stronghold the Roman Catholic Church had on the world was torn apart and a new day dawned on the church.

The Splintered Church

AD 1701 - Today

71. Just as Constantine’s declaration in AD 313 freed the church from the shackles of persecution, poverty, and ridicule, bolstered its membership throughout the world, and became tainted by members who were unbelievers, pagans, and gainsayers, so the Reformation movement impacted the church throughout the world.

72. The members saw sweeping changes both spiritually and ecclesiastically. Ritualistic behaviors and hierarchal dominance that imposed strict application of ceremony were removed. The Bible was translated into languages that the ordinary person could read and understand. The place of worship, ornately adorned at horrendous cost, was replaced with sanctuaries that were plain and decent; and the extravagant expenses that had been used to decorate buildings were now channeled into financing missionary work and spreading the gospel.

73. The advancement of biblical knowledge and theological teaching began to reach the layman. Understanding the God whom they served was no longer reserved for the priests and upper echelons of the church. The lay people were no longer deprived of the biblical truths and subjected to "Ex-Cathedra and Ex Vatica" dictates.

74. It was a refreshing and revitalizing time for believers who could openly identify with Jesus Christ whom they worshiped. Simultaneously, the leading reformers understood that the followers of the new awakening needed guidance and help as they moved in the unchartered territory of freedom of spiritual worship and education in the Word and the church’s biblical structure. Consequently, these leaders penned the reformation and protestant doctrine that has prevailed to this day.

75. Glorious hymns and choruses were written, and worship became more spiritual and less ritualistic. Church services became more personal and less rote; the members participated, listened to the Word being read in their own language, and fellowshipped with one another.

76. Gradually, the movement’s momentum covered the globe. With this expansion came cultural and language differences. While the reformation-style of Christianity was a better way, the application soon suffered from differences in interpretation and opinion. These variances were devilish in their origin, and many worshipers would not conform to biblical principles or found they needed more from their new walk which was outside the church’s doctrinal tenets.

77. Perpetuating this disharmony, Satan would not and does not leave the church alone. He will do whatever he can to disrupt and confuse believers. His intentions are to deceive, sow discord, and disrupt the church’s operation. Knowing he can never overthrow or destroy what God has ordained for the church, he resorts to creating deception, division, and confusion.

78. Henceforth, the protestant and reformed churches began to separate from each other and erect denominational barriers. Many variances in doctrines and practices that seemed easy to resolve became the cause of splintering in the movement. The Dutch Reformed Church, one of the oldest reformation denominations, split into three factions over whether to use a chalice or individual cups for Holy Communion. Others decided it was wrong to accept the Bible as the only true authority for church operations. Subsequently, they fashioned their teaching on man’s interpretation of the Word and fell into dispute with those who clung to their conviction that the Word was the inherent God-breathed proclamation; and they would not budge from their stand.

79. What was also apparent during the first one hundred years after AD 1700 was that many men declared that they were called by the Holy Spirit to preach the gospel. These men, like John the Baptist took up the call and began to proclaim the gospel even though they had no formal biblical or theological education. In fact, some did not need it; they received it by revelation. Others, who should have stayed under spiritual guidance and strength from the covering of the church, broke free and began sowing false doctrine.

80. Clouds of confusion, abuse of ministries for pecuniary gain, and failure to understand the responsibility of being entrusted with a holy calling (2 Timothy 1:9) led many to be tossed to and fro with every wind of doctrine (Ephesians 4:14). These disasters were satanic in their application and vile in their orchestration.

81. Reformation leaders and churches made many attempts to engender a more unified and deeper understanding of the responsibilities that lay in the role of a called minister. From their enlightened efforts, many educational institutions were birthed to teach and train men to be more adept in their ministry. These tertiary platforms became the place men entered before they launched out into the deep (Luke 5:4) waters of guiding believers and saving their souls.

82. Regrettably, the prestige gained from these colleges often blurred the minds of believers as it placed a mantel of highly educated on the graduates. Hardly ever was any discussion focused on these learned men’s personal relationship with Jesus Christ. These graduates were highly esteemed because they had an education. Unfortunately, the arduous task of laboring for years in an educational institution to be equipped with religious intellect appeared to be more valuable to them than revelation and spiritual endowment from God Himself.

83. However, it must be stated that many men understood the challenge of pursuing non-religious intellectual studies while at the same time remaining committed to strengthening their relationship with Jesus Christ and to receiving revelation from the Holy Spirit. The church is indebted to these men who understood this dichotomy and achieved the victory and were able to keep their eyes on the author and finisher of [their] faith (Hebrews 12:2).

84. The church today must recognize the battles and struggles those believers have faced and endured to keep the faith intact throughout the centuries, and must acknowledge men who were prepared to do what Apostle Paul did and step away from tradition and ritual, men who were determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified (1 Corinthians 2:2 NKJV).

85. Even with the advancement of higher education for the clergy, continuous denominational strife and splits remained. This splintering slowed in the nineteenth century, and the church settled into an era of steady growth. While this continued, the Holy Spirit began to move in a miraculous way amongst believers.

86. Temptation and misplaced values arise when religious movements, born in revival and enthusiasm, feel the need for intellectual sophistication in the eyes of the world. Many church leaders have been deceived by this pride in human wisdom. It spurns the wisdom of God (1 Corinthians 1:26-28). Divine wisdom in church government is not simply human knowledge and educational fortitude or know-how. Divine wisdom is a spiritual receiving and understanding of the will of God. When present, it brings a unity of the faith and decency and order (1 Corinthians 14:40). It comes from above (James 3:17) and is easily applied to all aspects of the church’s functions.

87. Toward the end of the nineteenth century, the wind of the Holy Spirit began to blow on members who were seeking a deeper and closer walk with the Lord. Their desire was to experience a spiritual relationship Spirit to spirit. Simultaneously, the wind of the Spirit moved over England and the United States as the Pentecostal experience was manifested amongst seeking believers. This was the beginning of a new chapter in the church.

88. Gordon Weeks in his book A History of the Apostolic Church gives an account of the first few steps the Spirit-filled church took in 1900: "On the outskirts of Topeka, Kansas, U.S.A. the reverend Charles F. Parham is probably the first leader of the modern Pentecostal Revival who disseminated his convictions by means of a magazine called The Apostolic Faith. He used no textbook but the Bible." Parham’s ministry led to a number of people receiving the baptism with the Holy Spirit, and soon many in the area experienced this as well.

89. What took place in the United Sates also happened at the same time across the ocean in Wales where there were men who were desirous of a deeper walk with God. After the Holy Spirit led men such as Evan Roberts to preach the gospel that flamed the Welsh Revival, many wanted more than they were getting from their churches. This fire spread across denominational lines; and people from various churches gathered in homes, fields, and town halls to hear and be involved in the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

90. Thus, the Pentecostal movement spread simultaneously through the United States and the United Kingdom. It moved northwards from the United Kingdom to Norway and soon Denmark and Switzerland. By 1904 mainline church denominations in Europe also had heard and experienced the Holy Spirit’s define influence. They were rattled, and not knowing how to handle the changes resulted in many condemning these exuberant worshippers and banishing them from their congregations.

91. So many believers who had received the baptism with the Holy Spirit left their denominations as the first Spirit-filled churches started from 1904. They were first called Apostolic Churches and then later Pentecostal Churches. The main differences that caused these early church members to leave their denominations were the refusal by the members of the mainline denominations to accept the gifts of the Holy Spirit being operational, and the exuberant praise and worship the Spirit-filled believers demonstrated. Many Spirit-filled believers were dubbed Hallelujah people; and as such, they were rejected and were refused membership in the more reserved factions of protestant and reformed worship.

92. In the United States, the Holy Spirit moved from Kansas to Texas and then across to California where the saved were baptized with the Holy Spirit in a place known as Azusa Street, Los Angeles. Many came from all over the United States to hear about their witness, and then personally experience the baptism with the Holy Spirit.

93. This movement of the Holy Spirit throughout the world was described by many as the great awakening. The church, released in the fifteenth century from the Roman Catholic stronghold and became known as the Reformation, in the early twentieth century, had experienced another divine outpouring personally directed by the Godhead.

94. What is of great interest to believers is that the outpouring of the Holy Spirit was not confined to a particular local assembly or denomination. It spread across all barriers and borders and burst the bonds of tradition and rigid human control of spiritual things. It touched lives that were incarcerated in many denominations’ legalism and unbiblical practices.

95. In contrast to the progression of the Pentecostal movement, there was a movement started by Edward Irving in 1831. While this endeavor manifested many of the Holy Spirit’s works, similar to those of the Welsh and United States revivals, this movement did not spread throughout the church nor across denominational barriers. It was, to a degree, confined to the work Irving initiated. Gordon Weeks says, The movement gradually developed a very elaborate, mechanical and complicated liturgy. This can be traced back in its beginnings when they maintain they received revelation regarding the ‘Mystery of the Tabernacle’.

96. About Irving’s church, Weeks continues, The Catholic Apostolic Church began in the right spiritual and scriptural lines, but it evolved into an unrecognizable monstrosity. Within thirty years the gift of tongues ceased to be heard. Error and ritualism took the place of the power of God. Today it is but a memory.

97. The most striking testimony of the start of the Holy Spirit’s movement from 1901 is its missionary works and the enormous spreading of the gospel throughout the known world. Not only did the Holy Spirit move triumphantly through the United States, which is by contrast with the British Isles a much larger country to reach, but the message also spread to virtually every corner of the globe. T.N. Turnbull in his book What God has Wrought records that the Apostolic Church, after fifty years of missionary work excluding the United States, had established more than nineteen hundred local assemblies worldwide.

The Splintering

98. What has more recently transpired amongst the Pentecostal denominations is the splintering of these Spirit-filled churches. Similar to the reformation that had its difficulties when its reformers became divided over small issues, the Spirit-filled churches are experiencing the same measures. The result is a plethora of Spirit-filled churches declaring that they are Independent. They conform to ninety percent of the Spirit-filled church’s doctrinal tenets and differ on small and trivial points such as titles and the operation of the Gifts of the Spirit.

99. In the midst of this splintering, there is a call from the Holy Spirit to bring decency and order to His divine work. Because so many are seeking answers as to why so many Spirit-filled believers differ on so many fundamental issues, the Holy Spirit is again drawing Spirit-filled leaders to focus on the Holy Writ and work accordingly.

100. This church age will soon close, and Jesus Christ will return to this earth. Accordingly, it behooves Spirit-filled church leaders to make only one decision-to return to the blueprint of the church as declared by the head of the church, Jesus Christ. The call is to conform to His instructions, His purpose for the church’s existence, and to implement His revealed truths. His Word must be obeyed precept upon precept (Isaiah 28:10).

PART 1

DOCTRINE – Introduction

Reference is made to the Statements of Faith (Nicene Creed) and the foundation of the various doctrines.

DOCTRINE -- It references the importance of the PLACE doctrine, its PURPOSE in the church, and the PROTECTION it has of the church.

DOCTRINE – The essence and nucleus of doctrine explains the meaning of sound doctrine based on God who is love.

DOCTRINE – Intrinsic doctrinal beliefs – where doctrinal beliefs began.

CHAPTER 2

Doctrine – Introduction

Statements of Faith

1. The Godhead’s fullest intention when creating the church is that every born-again believer and Spirit-filled believer all conform to the same principles and standards found in the Word of God. God’s purpose for the church is that every believer come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting (Ephesians 4:13-14 NKJV).

2. Every doctrinal tenet and principle and belief must be rooted in the Word of God. The building of the church is the work of Jesus Christ who said, I will build my church (Matthew 16:18). In so doing everything that is taught in churches today must conform to the doctrine of Christ (Hebrews 6:1) and the only foundation for every tenet, namely, the Word of God.

3. The doctrine of Christ which Jesus taught to His apostles is recorded in the New Testament. Every aspect of the church from the very beginning was rooted in the doctrinal tenets of the perfect will of God. Those of the church in its infancy were guided by doctrine. From the outset they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine (Acts 2:42).

4. The growth of the church was phenomenal. Members came from Jewish and gentile nations. Cultural differences were also experienced as the gospel began spreading throughout various nations. The apostles took with them the doctrinal teachings of Jesus and shared them with every nation in which they preached the gospel.

5. In A.D. 100 Apostle John passed away, the last of the twelve apostles. He and Apostle Paul were regarded by many as the Apostolic Fathers of the church. Their passing ushered in a period that leaned heavily on the apostles and prophets of the second century who became the custodians of the foundations laid by the twelve apostles on the doctrine of Christ known as the apostles’ doctrine (Acts 2:42).

6. Philip Schaff in his book History of the Christian Church Volume ll makes this statement on the transition from the Apostolic Fathers to their successors: While far inferior in originality, purity, energy, and freshness, it is distinguished for conscientious fidelity in preserving and propagating the sacred writings and traditions of the apostles, and for untiring zeal in imitating their holy lives amidst the greatest difficulties and dangers, when the religion of Christ was prohibited by law and the profession of it punished as a political crime.

7. The church did not stop growing during this period. It continued to share the love of God converting even the heathens and pagan worshippers to Christianity. Schaff continues, The church of this period appears poor in earthly possessions and honors, but rich in heavenly grace, in world-conquering faith, love, and hope; unpopular, even outlawed, hated, and persecuted, yet far more vigorous an expansion than even the philosophers of Greece or the empire of Rome.

8. The church grew in vast numbers throughout the known world. When emperor Constantine became a Christian in A.D. 316, he decreed that Christianity would be a recognized religion in the world, and that all persecution and rejection of Christian doctrine would be forthwith dispensed. One can only imagine what this did for the religious world during that time. Untold thousands denounced their pagan worship as they adopted the Christian faith that was acknowledged and supported by their emperor.

9. Not only did Constantine’s actins open many doors for the gospel to be preached with fervor, but they also provided Christians support from the ruling emperor. They began occupying all the deserted pagan temples and buildings converting them into sanctuaries and dedicating them to God. However, this huge influx of members converting to Christianity posed an enormous problem for church leaders.

10. With most nations of the known world experiencing a rise in Christian converts, one can only imagine the vast cultural differences among them at that time. Even though the message was the same, the adoption of Christian principles and beliefs was overshadowed by cultural habits and social tendencies.

11. Cultural differences among Christians were evidenced even in the early days of the church. This was witnessed when Apostle Paul was called by Jesus Christ to preach to the gentiles in A.D. 40. The Jewish converts to Christianity took umbrage with the gentile converts who, amongst a few other cultural differences, were uncircumcised. A council of church leaders was called, and differences were acknowledged, and decisions were made to accommodate the variances (Acts 15:1-35).

12. The cultural differences were dealt with in a way that left the leaders with no ambiguity or self-acclaim. The church is the body of Christ, and it is Christ’s prerogative to build it according to His purposes. Therefore, when the decisions were finally made, the Holy Spirit’s presence and utterance were willingly adopted. The Bible says, For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well (Acts 15:28-29 NKJV).

13. The differences that were tabled at that council meeting were like deep furrows in the hearts of most of the Jewish converts: They had thousands of years vested in their traditions. They were the first to accept Jesus as their Savior. They flaunted the fact that Jesus was also a Jew and that He was circumcised and that He abstained from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from things strangled, and from blood. For Moses has had throughout many generations those who preach him in every city, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath (Acts 15:20-21 NKJV).

14. All these cultural and religious reasons were valid in the eyes of the Jewish converts. However, when James, a Jewish convert to Christianity, stood up and proclaimed to the whole council consisting of Jewish converts and those who had preached amongst the gentiles, Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God (Acts 15:19), this convinced them to adopt the cultural differences within the nations.

15. And, so, the first creed was reduced to writing when the council wrote this letter:

The apostles, the elders, and the brethren,

To the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia:

Greetings.

Since we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, You must be circumcised and keep the law—to whom we gave no such commandment— it seemed good to us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who will also report the same things by word of mouth. For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well.

Farewell (Acts 15:23-29 NKJV).

16. The church grew and became a movement that embraced more than Jews who converted to Christianity. Throughout the known world, gentiles turned from their pagan worship to accepting and following Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. As with all cultural barriers, over the next two hundred years, there were undoubtably many practices that at times skewed the doctrinal and biblical principles and beliefs.

17. With the decree from Emperor Constantine to formulate Christianity as the accepted religion, the winds of confusion began to seep into the church’s doctrine. A rift began to develop when Arius sowed confusion about the Godhead and was opposed by Alexander from Alexandra, Egypt. Arius’ doctrinal beliefs created the Arian movement which Alexander wanted to expose as false teachings and bring it to naught. Becoming weary of conflict and division within religious organizations and desiring to settle the rift, Constantine called for a universal council of church leaders to establish a statement of faith. He then commissioned a council meeting to establish the fundamental doctrinal statements of Christianity and chose Nicaea for the venue.

18. The original statement of faith came from the twelve apostles who taught the divine doctrines of the church. There is, however, no record of their teachings being reduced to writing from those early days. Therefore, the New Testament writings that were scattered amongst various churches became the source of the church’s doctrine. To unify these writings, Constantine called for a universal creed that sealed the church’s doctrine in simple terms for all to understand.

19. Many believers in those early years could neither read nor write, so they needed a summary of the Christian teachings which could be committed to memory. Irenaeus of Lyons (A.D. 140-202), one of the earliest leaders, summarized the basic principles and beliefs enabling believers to easily remember them. Most creedal teachings were, therefore, memorized by believers. The earliest historical church records indicates that these teachings were confessed by believers as a statement of faith immediately before they were baptized.

20. In the general introduction included in volume one in the five volumes titled Ancient Christian Doctrine, the focus is the origin of the Nicene Creed (A.D. 325). Series editor, Thomas Oden, gives this synopsis for the reason the creed had to be recited at baptisms: Because the church was consistently being persecuted, it was unsafe to write it down. More reliable was the quiet tradition faithfully passed on verbally from the [first century] apostles. The apostles’ primary task was to maintain accurate apostolic teaching without addition or subtraction. They, and the elders under their guidance, were charged with carefully guarding and defending the apostolic rule of faith for the eternal destiny and spiritual benefit of believers.

21. Thomas Oden then explains the need for the creed, The orderly teaching of early Christian doctrine arose out of a concrete and practical need: instructing those seeking Christian baptism in the basics of Christian doctrine. This teaching sought to express the commonly shared understanding of the unified meaning of the whole gist of Scripture.

22. During the Council of Nicaea (A.D. 325) church leaders wanted to give a statement of faith that incorporated fundamental Christian doctrine and principles. They based the creed on the early apostles’ teaching as well as various other church leaders who shared the fundamentals of the Christian faith.

23. A few thoughts about the Council at Nicaea need to be considered. First, the ruler of the known world, Emperor Constantine, called for the meeting. Second, the communication process inviting church leaders from the known world was effective to say the least. He was able to draw worldwide representation of all church leaders from the known synods who oversaw the churches in their dioceses. Third, Constantine took center stage on the first day and addressed the church leaders for most of the day. Fourth, the work then began in earnest to establish a statement of faith for all of Christianity. Fifth, the Arian schism between faithful apostolic leaders and Arius was rectified. The council decreed Arianism to be heresy and forbade the teaching to be included in the church’s doctrine.

24. Some church leaders had frameworks for the creed; and as these were presented, the council gradually moved towards a unanimous decision