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Ministers of Jesus Christ
Church of The Lord Jesus Christ
Assemblies of The Apostolic Faith
Atlanta, Georgia - USA
Apostle Dennis G. Smith, Pastor and Spiritual Overseer
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To all the
Saints of God,
Grace and
peace be unto all the Saints of God around the World. As this Coronavirus
Pandemic continues, we are continually reminding the Saints of God that we
are obeying the magistrates and following the guideline of the health and
governmental authorities for the safety of all people.
Health
authorities and
governmental officials continue to strongly encourage people to wear face
coverings in public and use social distancing, wash your hands, and get
tested with or without symptoms. In
some places wearing face mask is mandatory in all indoor and outdoor public
spaces.
Health
authorities are indicating that the covid-19 infection data for the City of
Atlanta, Georgia is improving. At
this present time the city remains under phase 1. When the City moves to
phase 2, we are planning to restart limited in-person services to assist us
with virtue online service at different locations wearing face covering and
using social distancing which limits small gathering of no more than 10
people with mask and social distancing. The medically fragile are advised to
continue to shelter in place.
As we obey the Magistrates, we have complete faith that God will
continue to hear our prayers and provide a way for us through these
uncertain times.
Romans 13:2-4
Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but
of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
TITUS 3:1-2
Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey
magistrates, to be ready to every good work, To speak evil of no man, to be
no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.
This
week’s encouraging words of growth focuses on:
“THE TRINITY
CONTROVERSY” part II
By Apostle
Dennis G. Smith
Before we continue with this known public discussion and sometimes heated
religious disagreement, it is important that you understand the meaning of
the word heresy and orthodox. Many Christians believers today who follow
the Apostle’s Doctrine in the Bible also face forms of persecution in some
countries around the world as reported by various organizations such as
Voice of the Martyrs. You must be fully aware that people are not always
what they appear to be but can be wolves in sheep clothing and servants of
the devil. And you will know them by their fruit. They will not function
or discuss the Bible peacefully with patience, gentleness, long suffering,
and kindness, but may become physically aggressive. They may even be a
Church member who serve the congregation with musical songs or feed the
hungry on the streets with a pious appearance who are in complete opposition
to the Apostle’s Doctrine and fully know that it is in the Bible. But they
do pious works to be seen of men. It is this type of spirit that killed
many Bible translators who gave their lives to deliver the word of God to
all Mankind for the salvation of the human family. Remembers always that
the tree is known by its fruit.
Matthew 12:32 - 34 And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it
shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it
shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to
come. Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree
corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit. O
generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of
the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
Luke 6:43 - 45 For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither
doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. For every tree is known by his
own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush
gather they grapes. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart
bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure
of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the
heart his mouth speaketh.
Matthew 23:5 - 7 But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they
make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,
And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the
synagogues, And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi,
Rabbi.
Orthodoxy means to believe and obey correct or accepted creeds or statements
of what a Church believes to be true. This means that many people believe
that the doctrine of three separate and distinct persons in the Godhead is
correct or orthodox doctrine because they believe that the Roman Emperor
Constantine’s Ecumenical Church Council which proclaimed this doctrine had
power over the Church even though it is not taught by the Lord Jesus Christ,
or any biblical Apostle or Prophet. Jesus Christ is the head of the Church
not any organization of man. This also means that they consider their
interpretation to be the correct teaching even though there are no proof
text in the Bible. This is what the Lord Jesus Christ warns us about and
Apostle Paul warns Titus about when speaking of people who honor God with
their mouth and fair speeches but teach for doctrine commandments of men
usually based on their own interpretation, traditions, and customs.
Matthew 15:7 - 9 Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,
This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with
their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me,
teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
Titus1:12 - 14 One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The
Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies. This witness is true.
Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; Not
giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the
truth.
Many Churches understand Heresy to be
denial of the core doctrine of the Christian faith as defined by Christian
Church councils. Oneness Apostolic believers understand that heresy is
deviation from the Apostle’s Doctrine. Apostasy means
total abandonment of the Christian faith as taught by the Apostle’s
Doctrine. And schism means the formal
separation or division of a Church due to doctrinal and other differences
and deliberate breach of Christian unity and charity.
In other words, deliberately causing division in the Church not
considering the love of the Brethren and the command to love one another.
From these definitions you can see that many false brethren will cause
division, label true Saints as heretics based on disagreement with their
view of Godhead even if it is not found in the Bible. Apostle Paul
continuously reminded the Church to follow only the Apostle’s Doctrine.
II Corinthians 11:3 - 4 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent
beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from
the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another
Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye
have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might
well bear with him.
Galatians 1:6 – 8 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called
you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another;
but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you
than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
The term anathema became
the common method of cutting off heretics and meant a complete separation of
the subject from the Church. Excommunication entailed
cutting off a person or group from the rite of Eucharist( The Lord Supper
or Communion Service ) and attendance at worship.
By understanding that disagreement with what ungodly men have dictated
as truth is what they call heresy we can see false heresy or false
accusation by people calling the truth a lie, and a lie the truth. This
should motivate all people to examine themselves and what they have been
taught to see whether or not they are in the Christian faith and following
the Apostle’s Doctrine. Therefore, it should be clear to all people that
when ungodly men label those who obey what Apostle Peter said in the Book of
Acts as heretics, they are wrong. When the ungodly men label the Saints of
God as heretics who do not follow or teach what the Roman Emperor
Constantine’s Church council deemed as truth, they are wrong. Those who accuse
the brethren of error who follow the example of the baptism on the day of
Pentecost are not the Universal Church of the Lord Jesus Christ but are a
backslidden false Church.
Acts 2:37 - 40 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart,
and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what
shall we do? 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. For the
promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off,
even as many as the Lord our God shall call. And with many other words did
he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward
generation.
Most of us who believe in the Apostle’s Doctrine also follow the teaching
that no scripture is for private interpretation therefore we measure or
examine all statements by what the Apostle’s taught in the Bible as our
measuring rod. Any teaching that deviate from the Apostle’s doctrine is
truly heresy.
2Peter 1:20 - 21 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of
any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the
will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
Let us review the Nicene Creed or Roman Catholic Statement of faith
concerning the gospel of salvation and Godhead which many Churches follow.
Nicene Creed
I believe in one God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, And of
all things visible and invisible: And in one Lord Jesus Christ,
the
only-begotten Son of God, Begotten of his Father before all worlds, God of
God, Light of Light, Very God of very God,
Begotten, not made, Being of one
substance with the Father, By whom all things were made;
Who for us men, and for our salvation came down from heaven, And was
incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary,
And was made man, And was
crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate.
He suffered and was buried, And the third day he rose again according to the
Scriptures, And ascended into heaven, And sitteth on the right hand of the
Father.
And he shall come again with glory to judge both the quick and the
dead: Whose kingdom shall have no end.
And I believe in the Holy Ghost, The Lord and giver of life, Who proceedeth
from the Father and the Son,
Who
with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified, Who
spake by the Prophets.
And I believe in one Catholic and Apostolic Church.
I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins.
And I look for the
Resurrection of the dead, And the life of the world to come. Amen.
The underlined portion of the Nicene Creed above is where you will find the
proof of the controversy of the Trinity. The implication in this portion of
the creedal statement which says plainly that the Holy Ghost is to be
worshiped with the Father and the Son which implies three Gods and caused
many people to see three Gods who were to be worshiped. Many people were so
confused that they were afraid to give the son to much honor and praise
because he was seen as a lesser God than the Father. Some even developed a
big daddy God and little boy God mind set or philosophy which is false
doctrine. Some declared that the Son was not God because the beginning
statement was one God the Father. You who are bible readers recognize how
the Nicene Creeds summarizes the scriptures with various true statements
then mix a lying untrue statement in it which makes the whole thing not
wholesome because a fly is in the soup.
And when Godly men spoke of Godhead according to what the Apostle Paul
delivered in 1st Timothy 3:16 and his other
epistles, the Nicene council of the Roman Emperor Constantine labeled them
heretics, and some were killed or exiled as a result of this sometimes false
label. These are the false ungodly men you follow when you reject the
Apostle’s Doctrine. Many so-called protestant Churches also referred to the
backslidden Church as the Anti-Christ beast and false prophet of Revelation
that was already in the world during their lifetime and gaining strength.
Nevertheless, the Gates of hell shall not prevail against the True Church of
the Lord Jesus Christ. The Apostle’s doctrine declare that the Lord Jesus
Christ is the one and only God almighty.
1Corinthians 8:5 - 6 For though there be that are called gods, whether in
heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) But to us
there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and
one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.
Ephesians 4:4 - 6 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called
in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God
and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
1Corinthians 12:3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking
by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus
is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.
Titus 2:13 - 15 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious
appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who
gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify
unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. These things speak,
and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.
Now take an examination of the Apostolic Faith Oneness Doctrine of the
Bible, Salvation, Godhead which is the Apostle’s Doctrine. Oneness in
simplicity mean that God is one being and one person who reveals himself in
various ways successively (one after the other) or simultaneously (different
forms seen or experienced at the same time). We see successive forms in the
ascension of the risen Christ and the return of the Holy Ghost on the Day of
Pentecost. We see simultaneous forms at the Baptism of Christ by John the
Baptist with the voice from heaven, the descent of the Holy Ghost in the
Bodily form of a dove, and Jesus Christ present in Natural human form. This
is what the bible actually reveals without trying to appease the debating
minds of ungodly and unbelieving men.
About the Bible: The
Bible is the infallible Word of God and the authority for salvation and
Christian living.
II Timothy 3:15-17 And that from a child thou hast known the holy
scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith
which is in Christ. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is
profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in
righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto
all good works.
About God: There
is one God, who has revealed Himself as our Father, in His Son Jesus Christ,
and as the Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ is the one God Almighty manifested in
flesh. He is both God and man. (See Deuteronomy 6:4; Ephesians 4:4-6;
Colossians 2:9; I Timothy 3:16.)
About Sin and Salvation: Everyone
has sinned and needs salvation. Salvation comes by grace through faith based
on the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. (See Romans 3:23-25; 6:23;
Ephesians 2:8-9.)
About the Gospel: The
saving gospel is the good news that Jesus died for our sins, was buried, and
rose again. We obey the gospel (II Thessalonians 1:8; I Peter 4:17) by
repentance (death to sin), water baptism in the name of Jesus Christ
(burial), and the baptism of the Holy Spirit with the initial sign of
speaking in tongues as the Spirit gives the utterance (resurrection). (See I
Corinthians 15:1-4; Acts 2:4, 37-39; Romans 6:3-4.)
About Christian Living: As
Christians we are to love God and others. We should live a holy life
inwardly and outwardly, and worship God joyfully. The supernatural gifts of
the Spirit, including healing, are for the church today. (See Mark 12:28-31;
II Corinthians 7:1; Hebrews 12:14; I Corinthians 12:8-10.)
About the Future: Jesus
Christ is coming again to catch away His church. In the end will be the
final resurrection and the final judgment. The righteous will inherit
eternal life, and the unrighteous eternal death. (See I Thessalonians
4:16-17; Revelation 20:11-15.)
Notice that a true statement is made based on what the Apostle’s taught then
a biblical proof text is given to refer you to the Bible our measuring rod
for truth. This is how we examine and prove all things that are said and
written.
Why is it so hard for some to see what the Apostles taught? It may be
because that many people are not looking at the biblical Apostles at all. In some
cases, it is the fear of what is seen as the loosing and binding power of
the Church Councils called the infallibility
of the Church. The infallibility
of the Church is the belief that the Holy Spirit
preserves the Christian Church from errors that would contradict its
essential doctrines and that the Church will remain the Institution of
Salvation, founded by Christ, until the end of the world. While it is true
that the gates of hell will not prevail against the Church as promised by
Jesus Christ, from this definition you can clearly see that some do not see
the Church as the believing Holy Ghost filled people of God, guided by the
Holy Spirit of Jesus Christ the true head of the Church but as some
institution of ruling men other than the Saints of God.
The doctrine of infallibility is taught, because many people see the
authority that Jesus granted to the Apostles to "bind and loose” recorded in
Matthew 18:18; John 20:23 and in particular the promises to Peter recorded
in Mat 16:16–20; Luke 22:32 as the power to determine the outcome of
anyone’s salvation, which they believe is now in the hands of the Pope or
other Church leaders as papal infallibility. When the Pope or the Church
leaders give a teaching or decree, such decrees often have an attached
anathema which means a penalty of excommunication, against those who refuse
to believe the teaching. In other words, you will be punished and put out
of the Church if you do not believe and obey their teachings even if it is
not what the Biblical Apostles taught.
The doctrine of papal
infallibility states that when the Pope teaches, his
teachings are infallible and irreformable, contains no errors and cannot be
changed or corrected. The Eastern Orthodox Churches also believe in
apostolic succession the
uninterrupted transmission of spiritual
authority from the Apostles through successive popes
and bishops, taught by the Roman Catholic Church but denied by most
Protestant Churches through which they believed that Christ promised to
preserve the Church from teaching error. This implies that they believe the
Pope in power can set doctrine with the same authority as the Biblical
Apostles. Which is clearly a deviation from what the Apostle Paul said to
the Galatians.
Galatians 1:8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other
gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be
accursed.
A common defining belief of Protestant denominations or Churches who
are not Roman Catholic is a rejection of the idea that any church leader
(popes, bishops, priests, elders, deacons etc.…) cannot teach error, or make
a mistake in their interpretations of Scripture, and that believers are not
therefore obligated to accept teaching by Church leaders claiming that their
view points are “infallible” doctrines which they, in good conscience, do
not believe are supported by Scripture. In
simple terms, the first thing that all people must realize is that Church
leaders do make errors and especially when they try to add their own words
or traditions to the Bible.
You can clearly see that Oneness Apostolic Pentecostal believers look to the
Bible as the infallible authority not Emperor Constantine’s Church Council.
The doctrine of Trinity begins with the statement that there is one
God, one divine nature, and one being. All can clearly see that the
doctrine of the Trinity begins with the same statement as the Oneness
doctrine of the Godhead. The phrase one being is what most dictionaries
call one person since the word being and person is the same thing in most
people minds. The difference between a finite limited human being and the
infinite unlimited being of God is that he can be seen or revealed in
different forms containing different titles and still be one being or one
person. Therefore, if God’s different forms are called persons then you will
be teaching three separate beings or three Gods which is false doctrine.
This was clearly delivered by Apostle Paul to the Colossians.
Colossians 2:8 - 10 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and
vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world,
and not after Christ. For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead
bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality
and power:
This one scripture reference or proof text establishes the Nicene council
doctrine as error in that the bodily presence or manifestation of Jesus
Christ in bodily form contained all the fullness of the Godhead and was
the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost in Bodily form. This is what God revealed
to me in a vision of the Godhead and is proven by the teaching of Apostle
Paul delivering the Apostle’s Doctrine. This is also what Jesus Christ said
about his bodily presence.
John 10:30 I and my Father are one. The
“I” meaning the flesh body and human spirit you see before you and “my
father” being the Divine Spirit within the body indwelling the human body
and spirit. Multiple facets of one infinite being and person. This is why
the people who heard him make this statement understood that he was claiming
to be God in the flesh and his statement was true for he was God Almighty
even though they did not believe him and labeled his statement and claim as
blasphemy.
John 10:31 - 33 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. Jesus
answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which
of those works do ye stone me? The Jews answered him, saying, For a good
work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and
because that thou, being a
man, makest thyself God.
John 14:8 - 11 Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it
sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and
yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the
Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? Believest thou not
that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto
you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the
works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else
believe me for the very works’ sake.
The Trinity refers to the idea that there is one God who can be
experienced in three different Persons. The word ‘trinity’ comes from the
word ‘tri’ meaning ‘three’ and ‘unity’ meaning ‘one’.
Catholics believe that there are three distinct Persons to this one God and
that these three Persons form a unity. This belief is what Oneness calls the
false doctrine of the Trinity because the Father and the Holy Ghost is the
same Spirit spoken of by relational titles Father referring to creation of
all things and Holy Ghost referring to his action or indwelling power, both
titles referring to the one Spirit.
Notice that the doctrine of trinity refers to the titles in the same
way as Oneness but inserts a fly in the soup using the words three separate
and distinct persons to deceive people into believing three Gods. This is
clearly the work of that clever deceptive devil who deceived Eve in the
beginning. Can you now see the need for the love of all the Brethren in the
world because we are not wrestling with flesh and blood but clever powers of
darkness, the kingdom of Satan himself? Examine the statements of trinity….
• God the Father - the creator and sustainer of all things
• God the Son - the incarnation of God as a human being, Jesus
Christ, on Earth
• God the Holy Spirit - the power of God, which is active in the
world, drawing people towards God
When we speak of three manifestations of One God, many oneness believers
call it a trinity of manifestations. This is what some call Sabellianism
or modalist Monarchianism. This was considered to be a prominent teaching in
the Catholic Church by the Catholic Bishop Sabellius and others before the
acceptance of the three separate and distinct teaching of the Nicene Church
council. While it is true that some Oneness Churches do not use the word
trinity at all, the word itself is not the issue because Bishop Sabellius is
said to have used the word, but separate and distinct persons is the cause
of the controversy leading to a non-biblical and an incorrect formula for
Baptism. This is the reason some feel the need to quote Matthew 28:19 at
baptism rather than using the name Jesus Christ as recorded in the Book of
Acts 2:38 the way the biblical Apostles baptized.
Sabellianism,
did not teach three separate and distinct persons in the Godhead, and denied
the pre-existence of the Son of God as a distinct person before the
incarnation. Incarnation is a non-biblical word used to describe the birth
of Jesus Christ in the natural flesh and blood body through the virgin Mary.
The union between the divine and human natures in Christ or the uniting of
the eternal Divine Spirit of God and the natural flesh and blood body from
Mary was held to be but temporary.
Because historians do not have the actual works of Bishop Sabellius
because they were destroyed, and we have
only the statements of his critics, we can see from the bible itself that
the natural flesh and blood life of Christ was temporary or he would not
have been able to shed his blood on the cross and die for our sins if it was
eternal. The Sabellian teachings held that the Trinity is only one of
manifestation and not three separate and distinct persons. Sabellius taught
that God was a single and indivisible being, with Father, Son, and Holy
Spirit being three modes or manifestations of one divine Person. The
scriptural doctrine that the One God successively and simultaneously
revealed Himself to man throughout time as the Father in Creation; the Son
in Redemption; and the Holy Ghost in Sanctification and Regeneration in the
Church is the simple statement of Godhead seen as modalism or Sabellianism
which the Roman Emperor Constantine’s Church Council labeled as heresy
because they were not in agreement with their own viewpoint. Because of
this focus on God's revelation of himself to man, Modalism is
often seen as a form of trinity called economic Trinitarianism. Or which
many see as the simple way of understanding the trinity of titles recorded
in Matthew 28:19.
This is the Faith of our baptism that teaches us to believe in the Name
of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit which is Jesus Christ as
carried out in Acts on the Day of Pentecost. Jesus Christ is the one and
only name given for salvation and is the above all other names describing
the power and attributes of God Almighty. According to the Christian Faith
there is one God, who is one Being, and one person who name is Jesus Christ
who has revealed himself and is known as Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Matthew 28:19 indicates that the command to baptize in the Name of the One
God known as Father, Son, and Holy Ghost was not a baptismal formula from
the birthday of the Church on the Day of Pentecost but is a command and
commission to teach and baptize all nations only.
Therefore, Oneness Apostolic
Pentecostals do not use a Trinitarian formula for baptism and emphasize
baptism ‘in the name of Jesus Christ’ the original apostolic formula and
focus on the baptisms in the book of Acts.
At the end of the controversy all true Christians believe that there is
only one God, one divine nature and one being and should focus on this point
in love for each other until we come to the Unity of the Faith. We should
never forget that many so-called Christians killed other true Brethren
trying to enforce or force upon them their own erroneous viewpoint when the
true Brethren held steadfast and continued in the Biblical Apostle’s
Doctrine. Because of Religious turmoil and persecution history records that
many Christians left their homeland and eventually help form the country
known as the United States of America in the hopes of religious freedom from
the tyranny of evil men and the powers of darkness from the kingdom of
Satan. And of course, the evil men came to the United States also promoting
their evil ways and incorrect viewpoints because the country was established
for freedom.
We continue with the message from Apostle S. C. Johnson taped and written
during his lifetime and still played in many Churches today………...
By Bishop S. C.
Johnson
One day, you will understand. What is the purpose of your education? Great
educators will take an individual in the water and use titles and leave off
the name. Let us look at this scripture again: "Go ye therefore, and teach
all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and
of the Holy Ghost" (Matthew 28:19) Jesus is "Father". Why? Because He made
the world before He was born in the flesh.
At that time, he was spirit without a body. After we sinned, he had to
plan for us that we might be saved. Jesus is the one that had the plan all
prepared before the foundation of the world. When we sinned and came short
of the glory of God and needed salvation, no one could save us but Jesus
Christ. So, Jesus came on down and made himself a human body from Mary's
body. Jesus, in this body, died on the cross. He was "Son" in redemption
because He shed blood. Before he died and was buried the eternal Spirit had
left the body. On the third day, He returned and glorified His body, giving
it the same glorification, the Spirit had before the world began. According
to John 20 :28, He was called "Lord and God." He ascended on high. On the
Day of Pentecost, that same Jesus returned in the Spirit and filled His
church. This was the Holy Ghost.
So, then, Jesus had three titles: "Father" in creation; "Son" in
redemption and "Holy Ghost" in the church. What is the name of the Father,
Son and Holy Ghost? Peter used this name in Acts 2:38.
The preachers today are afraid to go through the process of
questioning. Why? Because they are out of the way. You ask some people how
they were baptized. They will answer you in a smart way: "Of course, I was
baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost."
They do not know what they are talking about. I am not rejoicing about your
destruction in hell, because I am doing all within my power to save you
before it is too late.
The Bible plainly states, "One
Lord One Faith. One Baptism." (Ephesians 4: 5) Yet
there are people coming along with the wrong spirit and originating all
kinds of faiths and religious beliefs. What these people believe is not
backed up by the Bible. When you meet God with something the Bible does not
substantiate, the next move is for everyone to be thrown into the lake of
fire. For this cause, I am laboring and toiling to save your soul. I do not
indulge in pleasure like other people. I am just a slave and vagabond for
God. We are spending thousands of dollars a month to save souls. We have
paid as high as fifty thousand dollars a month for our radio broadcast. Why?
To warn you and keep you from going to hell.
"But they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of
the way, the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they
are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they
err in vision, they stumble in judgment." (Isaiah 28:7)
The
world is boiling inside. But you had better take the lid off and let the
steam come out. Preachers tell you to bow your heads and accept Christ where
you are. They err in their vision. That is why they tell you that there are
three distinct persons in the Godhead. Something is wrong with their vision
because they "see" three gods instead of One. If you are really interested
in knowing the truth about God, keep tuned to our broadcast. It might sound
strange at first and you will think something is wrong with me. But keep
tuned and wait awhile. You will begin to see it. Check behind me with
Bible. Once a gentleman wrote from Georgia saying, "Preacher, you're wrong!
You say that Jesus Christ is God and He is not God." Well, I continued
preaching the Word of God. After a while, I received another letter from the
same man, who wrote, "Preacher, I owe you an apology.
Jesus Christ is God you see, when I open my mouth to say a thing, that is
it. I am speaking according to the oracle of God. I have no other
alternative but to back up what I preach. The world is against me and if I
were to be proved wrong, they would swallow me up. But glory to God, I am
too big for their throat. "
For all tables are full of vomit and filthiness, so that there is no place
clean." (Isaiah 28:8).
1Timothy
6:3 - 5 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even
the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according
to godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and
strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,
Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth,
supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
You are cleaned through the Word, now. "Now
ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. " (John 15:3) The
Word of God will make you clean. But when you refuse this Gospel, you are
like a buzzard that cleans up the filth of the earth.
The words of our Lord Jesus Christ say that you have to be baptized in water
in the name of Jesus Christ and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
You should now see that the end of the controversy is the correct Baptism in
the Name of Jesus Christ opening
the eyes of the world to see that the
baptism in the titles Father, Son and Holy Ghost is
a false baptism and not the teaching of the Apostle's Doctrine. And that the
name of the one God is Jesus Christ.
For those who may have
questions concerning what is commonly called the Johannine Comma in 1John 5:
7- 8 speaking of the three that bear record in Heaven that are one, or a
trinity of records in heaven of one God and the three that bear witness in
Earth that agree in one, or a trinity of witnesses on earth of one God, we
can clearly see that they speak of the One and Only God in six different
ways not six different persons. The One God is known in heaven as the
Father the maker of all things, by his Spoken Word which he also spoke when
he became flesh and blood in the body from Mary, and by his indwelling
Spirit and on earth they witnessed, saw and heard his voice from heaven, the
descent of the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove, the baptism of his bodily
presence by John the Baptist, and his shedding Blood on the Cross for the
sins of all believers. This was not considered a part of the Nicene Church
Council in A. D. 325 and was not added to the trinity discussion until about
1500 according to Church historians over 1000 years later. Most
scholars do not considered this context as verifying separate and distinct
persons because it speaks in clear understandable words of records and
witnesses only. Twisting it to mean persons would be a undeniable
attempt at false doctrine to deceive people.
1John 5:7- 8 For there are three that bear
record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three
are one. And there are three that bear witness in earth, the spirit,
and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.
May the Lord
Bless you and Keep you and eternally hold you in the center of his will, may
he open your understanding that you will come to know that you must repent
of your sins and be baptized by immersion in water in the Name of Jesus
Christ for the remission of your sins, then continue in prayer, tarrying
until you receive the gift of the Holy Ghost with the sign following
speaking with other tongues as the spirit gives you utterances. Then you
must leave the principles of the doctrine and go on to perfection overcoming
the love of the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the
pride of life and continue steadfastly in the Apostle’s Doctrine remembering
always that he that endures until the End, the same shall be saved. In the
name of the Lord Jesus Christ who is God Almighty. Amen
With perfect love,
Apostle Dennis G. Smith
In the first outbreak of COVID-19 traced to a place of worship in
Philadelphia, a dozen congregants at a church in the Northeast have tested
positive for the virus, the city’s health department said Thursday. After
restricting services to online-only since March, City Reach Philly in Tacony
resumed in-person worship in July. Within less than a month, a church member
began exhibiting symptoms, health officials said. City Reach halted
in-person services again on Aug. 13, 2020. The Pastor declined multiple
interview requests, saying he did not trust reporters to accurately quote
him. Parishioners contacted on social media, some of whom posted about being
sick with COVID-19, did not respond to requests for comment. In a prayer
meeting streamed on Facebook Live on Thursday night, church leaders
acknowledged the unwelcome attention. Soon after that early August
diagnosis, contact tracers from the health department noticed a cluster of
positive COVID-19 tests in the church’s zip code, and eventually traced the
outbreak to City Reach. Besides the 12 congregants who have contracted the
virus, 14 people have been identified as having come into contact with them.
The 12 live in seven households.
-
Stay home except for
essential trips
-
Wear face coverings
in public
-
Frequent hand
washing
-
Social distancing
followed and enforced where practical
-
To-go and delivery
orders from restaurants
-
Continue practicing
teleworking
-
Frequent cleaning of
public and high touch areas
Social
Distancing guidelines:
-
Social
distancing means staying away from close contact in public spaces. It
includes actions like staying out of places where lots of people gather and
maintaining distance — approximately 6 feet — from others.
-
Social
distancing also includes minimizing contact with people by avoiding public
transportation when possible, limiting nonessential travel, working from
home, and skipping social gatherings.
-
All
people should practice social distancing — not just those who are seriously
ill or at high risk.
-
Social
distancing is a proven way to slow the spread of pandemics.
When to
Wear a Mask:
Those who are
staying home and have no close contact with people who are infected with
COIVID-19 do not need a mask most of the time. However, wearing a nonmedical
or homemade mask may be helpful in certain situations or for certain
populations. Wear a Mask when:
-
Shopping
at essential businesses, like grocery stores or pharmacies.
-
While
visiting your health care provider.
-
Traveling
on public transportation.
-
Interacting
with customers/clients at essential businesses.
-
When
feeling sick, coughing, or sneezing.
-
In
all public spaces indoors and outdoors.
Because
homemade masks protect everyone else from the droplets created by the
wearer, it is important that as many people as possible wear these masks
when leaving their homes. This helps prevent those who may be infectious but
are only mildly symptomatic or not symptomatic from spreading the virus to
others in the community.
Everyone
should remember the phrase: “My mask protects you; your mask protects me.”
By increasing the overall number of people who are containing their coughs,
sneezes, and other droplets, it will help us control the overall spread of
the virus.
Present
Guidelines for Individuals and Businesses in Phase 2:
-
Stay home except for
essential trips
-
Wear face coverings
in public
-
Frequent hand
washing
-
Social distancing
followed and enforced where practical
· Small,
private gatherings of no more than 10 people, with social distancing
-
To-go and delivery
orders from restaurants
-
Continue practicing
teleworking
-
Frequent cleaning of
public and high touch areas