BIBLICAL AND APOSTOLIC DOCTRINES
The handling of the Bible and its systematic study have been the source of victory
for millions of servants of God. Investigating the prophecies, observing their
fulfillment, discerning the spiritual riches of its proverbs and its
parables, its allegories and its promises is more than a useful pastime, it is
a sacred duty, a beneficial occupation that improves the spirit in this
existence and enables it for eternal life.
In this time when emotion takes over and sets the tone for the worship of
many evangelicals, God calls the attention of His people to rational worship,
that is, worship with understanding and revelation of the mysteries of His Word. Yes,
dear reader, in this time of open departure from obedience to
biblical and apostolic doctrines, God is restoring His Church, is
adorning it as a bride for the great and glorious day of His rapture.
God makes Himself known in this time by His NAME and reveals Himself as the
ONLY AND TRUE GOD.
The hour has come! We are already close to the rapture of the Church and
therefore two paths present themselves to each one of us. One is God's
plan for His Church in this time and the other is apostasy.
Outside of God's plan for this time, that is, the RESTORATION OF THE
CHURCH, one falls into apostasy. Restoration is sanctification and this comes through
obedience to the doctrines that had been forgotten through the centuries.
Apostasy is the departure from biblical and apostolic doctrines, it is to follow
the plan of human wisdom, fulfilling what was predicted by the apostle
Paul in I Timothy 4.1 and 2 -II Timothy 4.3 and 4.
JESUS THE TRUE GOD
There is only one God, one only true God.
There are more than fifty passages in the Scriptures that teach that God is
unique and that there is no other. No other truth in the Bible receives more
importance than the Oneness of God.
Deuteronomy: 6:4 "Hear Israel: The Lord our God is the only Lord".
Isaiah: 44:8: "Is there another besides me? There is no other God that I know".
I Timothy 2:5 "There is one God, and one mediator between God and men,
Jesus Christ man".
James 2: 19 "You believe there is one God: you do well. Even the demons believe and tremble".
More references: Isaiah 45:5. I Corinthians 8:4, Revelation 4:2, Isaiah 46:9 and
Mark 12:32.
Only one conclusion is possible, if Jesus were not God, we would all be lost, because only God forgives sins; and, if He is God, He cannot be another, but the great God of the old testament, whose name was secret (Isaiah 52:6). The Bible is emphatic in affirming the existence of one unique GOD.
It is well to remember that our Lord Jesus said: " If you do not believe that
I AM you will die in your sins" (John 8.24). The expression I AM is the same used in the past when Moses inquired about the name of the Lord (Exodus 3.14) to inform the children of Israel. God said: "Thus you shall say to the children of Israel: I AM sent me to you". This expression means: I am God, and that is why the Jews wanted to stone Him, because they clearly understood that Jesus declared Himself divine. The Jews knew
Deuteronomy 6.4 "Hear, Israel, the LORD, our God is the oly
LORD" and thought that Jesus was saying He was another God or a second God
as many people still think in our days. In this end time,
God reveals Himself as the only and true God, whose name is Jesus.
The Bible teaches the existence of ONE UNIQUE GOD who manifested Himself in
the past as FATHER creating all things; as SON when He took
human form; and, as HOLY SPIRIT or COMFORTER from
the days of Pentecost onward. We have ONE great and eternal God (unique) who made Himself
known through three great manifestations. However, many confuse
thinking that it is THREE in ONE and from there forth seek to justify their
contradiction.
CHRIST WAS A MAN
When the apostles were preaching about Him, they proclaimed that He
was a man.
Acts 2:22 "Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth is a
man approved by God among us by miracles" ... When Jesus spoke of Himself He declared that He was a man, to the Jews who had death in their hearts: "But now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth" (John 8:40).
THIS MAN WAS ALSO GOD
But suppose that at this point, I should close my Bible and say "Behold
Jesus", I would commit a grave error, because it is not enough to say that Christ was a
man. There is no lie that is so dangerous as a half truth and it is
only a half truth about Jesus to say that He was man. If you
say that He was a man and that is all you have to say about
Him, then you will have said something false about Jesus. Listen friend, here is the profound, and yet, simple truth. This man was also God. He was as genuinely God as genuinely Man. "John 1 :1 ... "And the word was God".
Hebrews 1:8 "But about the Son He said: Your throne, O God, is forever and ever". .
John 20:28 "My Lord, and my God!" It was not an expression of amazement
of Thomas, but a confession of faith: and Jesus accepted this confession and worship
of Thomas.
Romans 9:5 "God blessed forever and ever".
Titus 2:13 "The great God and our Lord Jesus Christ".
I John 5:20 "This is the true God and eternal life".
II Corinthians 5:19 "God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself".
The Bible reveals to us a dual nature, the mystery of the eternal and true God who became man and did not cease to be divine.
CHRIST IS THE SON
In Luke 2:40 The Son grew and became strong
In John 17: 1 The Son prayed
In John 3: 16 The only begotten Son
In Mark 13:32 The Son did not know
In John 14:28 The Son is less than the Father
In I John 1:7 The Son had blood
In Galatians 2:20 The Son died!
Galatians 4:4 His Son born of a woman.
All of this shows that as Son, Christ was man.
MATTHEW 28:19
Go therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the
Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
FATHER.............................TITLE
SON........................TITLE JESUS, SINGULAR NAME
HOLY SPIRIT....TITLE
Jesus did not tell His disciples to baptize, repeating the words Father,
Son and Holy Spirit. He told them to baptize in the NAME of the Father, of the Son and
of the Holy Spirit.
The words Father, Son and Holy Spirit are not names, but titles that
indicate a person who has ONE NAME and this NAME IS JESUS.
Not knowing the opposition to THE TRUTH, we will give some reasons
why we should baptize in the NAME OF JESUS. .
Peter had just heard the words of Matthew (28:19), spoken a few days
before. He had just received the Holy Spirit who was to guide Him into all
truth. Would it be possible that he made an error? No, never!
a) - Remission of sins, is in the NAME OF JESUS Luke 24:47.
b) - There is no other NAME by which we can be saved Acts 4: 12.
c)- The family name is Jesus. If we are His children we take His NAME-
Ephesians 3: 15.
d)-The Bride (Church) always takes the NAME of the husband - Ephesians 5:23.
e)- Whatever we do, in word or actions we do them in the NAME OF
JESUS, water baptism is word and action- Colossians 3:17.
f) - In water baptism we identify the death, burial and
resurrection - Romans 6:3 - 5.
What is the name of the One who died, was buried and is alive?
The apostles had the revelation (Luke 24:45; Galatians 1: 12) and therefore, in
fulfillment of Matthew 28:19, they baptized using the NAME of the Father and of the Son and
of the Holy Spirit, as we see in: Acts 2:38 - Acts 8:14 - 16 - Acts 10:48-
Acts 19:1-7 and Acts 22:16.
We conclude then, that Jesus Christ came to manifest the name of God to men.
- - "I have manifested Thy name". John 17:6;
- - "I have made known to them Thy Name", John 17:26;
- - "I have come in the Name of my Father", John 5:43;
- - "The Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in My Name". John 14:26.
- - "WHAT IS ENOUGH FOR US" John 14:8
Do not fail to observe that the revelation of the name of Jesus is a promise to "
as many as the Lord our God will call (Acts 2.39)". "Therefore, my
people shall know my name (Isaiah 52.6)".
The Bible affirms that there is one baptism (Ephesians 4:5) and that the entire primitive Church
baptized in the name of Jesus, in our days it cannot be different,
because the Word affirms the divinity of Jesus and that this name is the name of the Father,
DOCTRINE – A MATTER OF GREAT IMPORTANCE IN THE CHURCH
Doctrine is teaching or instruction, therefore biblical and
apostolic doctrines are the doctrines (teachings) found in the Holy Bible, which
were ministered by the apostles for the Church of Jesus, in all times
and in all places. It is common nowadays to find preachers who cannot bear to speak of doctrines and therefore seek to reduce everything to customs, traditions and teachings of men. They encourage a dubious freedom, for this does not sanctify nor generate true intimacy with God. In such it is fulfilled the word of God, II Timothy 3.13 "they will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived".
Paul, the apostle, prophesied that after his departure cruel wolves would enter among the flock, who would not spare the flock (Acts 20.29). The prophecy was fulfilled and the Church was led into a departure from apostolic doctrine.
However, another prophecy is being fulfilled in our days (Acts 3.21) and this speaks of times
of restoration and, therefore it is that God is leading His flock to
obedience to the doctrines that had been forgotten.
Check the texts: Acts 2.42 "And they continued steadfast in the apostles' doctrine ... "
I Timothy 4.13 "Continue in reading, exhortation and teaching ... " I Timothy 4.16 "Take heed
to yourself and to the doctrine ... " I Timothy 5.17 " ... especially those who
labor in the word and in doctrine". I Timothy 6.3,4 and 5 "If anyone teaches
any other doctrine ... is arrogant and knows nothing, but delirious ... keep away from such"
II Timothy 3.16 "All Scripture is divinely inspired and profitable for
teaching ... instruction ... " II Timothy 4.2 "Preach the word ... exhort with all
longsuffering and doctrine". II John VS. 9 "Whoever transgresses and does not
continue in the doctrine of Christ, does not have God;" II John VS. 10 "If anyone
comes to you, and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him in your house, nor
bid him Godspeed".
THE LORD'S SUPPER
The Lord's Supper that every church should participate in has as its elements: Bread
and Wine. And by ordinance it should be UNLEAVENED BREAD, that is, without yeast. Never
leavened BREAD was used by the Jews in the celebration of Passover, Leviticus 23:4-
5. Read also II Chronicles 35:17 and Ezra 6:22, if this were enough our brother
Paul would not say that Christ our Passover, was sacrificed for us, without leaven,
I Corinthians 5:6 to 8, the same Bread was used by Jesus in the celebration of Passover,
and soon after in the institution of the SUPPER, that is, the First SUPPER of the Lord,
Matthew 26:17 and Luke 22:1,7 to 20. I Corinthians 11:23-33.
From the reading and analysis of the biblical texts it is very clear to us that the Lord's Supper is practiced by His Church, annually, as it is in remembrance of the death of the Lord and the equivalent of the Jewish Passover which was never celebrated monthly or bimonthly, but at the appointed time (Leviticus 23:4).
THE FOOT WASHING
It is an ordinance given by the Lord Jesus Christ.
The basic text is in John 13:1 to 17.
Practiced by the Lord Jesus and ordered by Him Himself: "Now if I, the Lord and Master, have washed your feet, YOU SHOULD also wash one another's feet", John 13:14: "I have set you an example so that, as I have done, YOU DO likewise", John 13:15.
"If she washed the saints' feet, I Timothy 5:1O."
In the context of Christ's order we have a clarifying dialogue. The apostle
Peter refused, did not want the Master to wash his feet and retorted with
vehemence: "You shall never wash my feet". But when Christ said that it was
necessary to have part with Him, then he changed his mind and said: Master, not
only my feet, but also my hands and my head. To which the Master
answered: "He who has already bathed does not need to wash, except his feet" .
. It is evident that this is not about custom or tradition. We have here a simple,
direct order and a clarifying dialogue. We ask, is it easier to contend
than to obey? To fail to practice is more sublime, is it more spiritual?
THE VEIL
The doctrine of the veil has biblical basis in the New Testament, I Corinthians 11:1 to 16
In verses 5 and 6, we read: "Every woman who prays with her head uncovered
or prophesies without a veil, dishonors her own head, because it is as if
she were shaved".
Therefore if the woman does not cover herself with the veil, in that case let her shave her
hair. But if it is shameful for the woman to have her hair cut or shaved
SHE SHOULD WEAR A VEIL. .
This Scripture makes it clear that it is disobedience for a woman to pray without a veil,
the word says: she dishonors her own head. Besides directly dishonoring her head, indirectly
she is dishonoring her husband (Ephesians 5:23) that is why there is no more respect, nor the due goodwill of one toward the other, all because of disobedience to the Word. In verse 10, note the importance "TO WEAR THE VEIL" if the hair is a veil there is no need to wear it, for it is already on the
head, there is no possibility of forgetting, even more: "that she put on a veil", for if the hair
is a veil, why put it on? The word says: that she put it on, because of the angels and not because of man. The Bible does not affirm that the veil can be substituted by the hair.
Perhaps the dear reader has even heard a story, in fact, some have even
included it in the footnote of some biblical version. Such a story tells that
Corinth was a port city and there were many prostitutes and that they
shaved their heads; when then they converted the apostle Paul
told them to wear a veil, until their hair grew and that,
therefore, the commandment was only for the Church in Corinth.
Now, the page footnote and other notes are not divinely inspired and
can never annul the sacred text. This story about prostitutes with shaved heads
has no support from the Scriptures, being nothing more than a trick, manipulation by those who twist the Word of God for their own condemnation, if we see it this way:
Paul commands to wear the veil because of the angels, they argue that it was because
of prostitutes. Would it be possible to confuse angels with prostitutes?
The apostle says that the letter is addressed to "all who in every place
call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ ... " (I Corinthians 1.2). Now, if
it is for everyone in every place, how can they want to sustain that it was only for
Corinth?
THE BEARING OF THE CHRISTIAN WOMAN
The Christian woman should, in all things, distinguish herself from the woman of the world. "Their adornment should NOT be external, in the braiding of the hair, in the wearing of gold jewelry, in the arrangement of clothing". Vanity, pride and sensuality should not be found, not even slightly in the bearing of the Christian woman. In her manner of living in the home, in the Church and in society, she is sober and humble (I Peter 3: 1-6).
She should be honest and faithful in all things (I Timothy - 2:9); subject to her husband
(Colossians 3:18); hospitable, demonstrate modesty and be honored for her
good works (Romans 16: 1-2). She should cover herself with the veil to worship God (I
Corinthians 11 :6); remain silent in the Church, in the sense of not having the word of leadership
or authority (I Corinthians 14:34-35) and rejoice in the mission of motherhood (I
Timothy 2:15 and Psalms 128:3-4).
It is worth remembering that modesty indicates shame at displaying parts of the body that
provoke sensuality. Is it that in the current way of dressing verified in the world and in "churches" modesty is present? Or are only exhibitionist fashions of "toned" bodies for sin present?
It is time for decision or one walks toward sanctification through the restoration of
apostolic doctrines (God's plan for His Church) or one will walk toward
apostasy, following the course of the world, its customs and its fashions.
THE GREETING WITH THE HOLY KISS
The saints should greet one another, with the peace of the Lord Jesus and with a Holy
Kiss. The apostle of the Lord, greeting the Church in Rome, "greet one another
with a Holy Kiss. The Churches of Christ greet you".
Examine the texts:
Romans 16:16 -I Thessalonians 5:26 -I Corinthians16:20 -I Peter 5:14 -II
Corinthians 13:12.
In four letters of Paul and one of Peter this glorious
commandment is taught for the Church.
In none of these passages do we find restriction as to sex for obedience to this commandment, that is, sisters greeting only sisters, and brothers greeting only brothers. To make such a separation is to confess the existence of malice.
The Lord has revealed to us that the Holy Kiss is the
Biblical greeting that comes to be practiced again in the Times of Restoration: Jesus accepted the greeting from
the woman at His feet. Are we better than the Master who ordered by His
Spirit that we do thus? Jesus Himself demanded this greeting
from Simon: Read Luke 7:45.
Many argue: "it is of no value to greet with a kiss if there is no love".
But the truth is that if there were true love there would be no difficulty
whatsoever in obeying the commandment of the Word of God.
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