During what became known as the Great Commission, Jesus commanded his apostles to make new disciples from all nations and baptize them in the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. They obeyed Jesus’s commandment the book of Acts. This book became known as the Acts of the Apostles because it recorded their practical ministry in action. The only name mentioned throughout the entire book was/is the name of Jesus Christ. The singular name in Matthew 28:19 (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) is what they understood as Jesus Christ. All instances of water baptism recorded in the New Testament after Christ’s ascension is the only name given among humanity whereby one can be saved.
Author: Dr. Powell,
Dr. Powell earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Bible and Theology, and a Master of Arts in Theological Studies. He also has a second Bachelor (BS) and second Masters (MS) degree in non-theological related disciplines. Dr. Powell also earned his Ph.D. in Bible Exposition (comprehension, interpretation, and application). He enjoys reading and writing “Bible and Theology,” leading congregations, preaching and teaching, traveling with his family, and having long Bible discussions with people. His favorite subjects are on the Second Temple period, New Testament Epistles, and the afterlife (not explicitly limited to eschatology). He does lots of research and investigation on the subjects of heaven and hell.
Business Correspondence,
Bethesda House of Faith
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http://necessarytruth.org
“Oneness Pentecostalism” and the “Trinity”
Which View is Correct, Oneness Pentecostalism or the Trinity?
The reaching of a correct perspective on the doctrines of Oneness Pentecostalism and the Trinity is crucial because these teachings shape how the Church understands the identity of God, the person of Jesus Christ, and the nature of salvation itself. If the church misunderstands who God is, whether by confusing the relationship between the Father, Son, and Spirit or by oversimplifying divine unity, it risks distorting the Gospel, misrepresenting Christ, and forming believers with an incomplete or inaccurate vision of God. At the same time, careful theological clarity promotes unity without sacrificing truth, guards the Church from doctrinal error, and ensures that worship, preaching, and discipleship are grounded in a faithful understanding of the biblical revelation of God.
Perspective of Pastor Steve Waldron
Do you agree or Disagree? Make your comment to this posting by letting us know where you are and what you think.
Water Baptism (Purpose of)
The New Testament presents at least two primary purposes for water baptism. According to Romans 6:3, when a person is baptized into Christ (invoking Jesus’s name over the person), their old sinful life is put to death through participation in Christ’s death. Likewise, on the Day of Pentecost, Peter proclaimed that repentance and baptism in the name of Jesus Christ are necessary for the removal (or remission) of sins. Therefore, water baptism functions as a means of identifying with Christ’s death and the remission of sins. For this reason, the name of Jesus is invoked when the person being baptized is fully immersed in water, affirming that salvation is grounded in Christ alone, whose sacrificial death and cleansing blood provide the only basis for taking away of humanity’s sins.
“What Color was Jesus,” and the Danger of Lies!
Jesus was a first-century Hebraic-Jewish man from a region that would have had a Middle Eastern appearance, likely brown skin, dark hair, and dark eyes. By people misrepresenting his ethnicity is not a trivial issue but a theological and moral one. We present half-truths by writing the truth of Scripture and lying about him in our iconography. When Jesus is reshaped to fit cultural ideals, it subtly turns him into a reflection of human power, race, or ideology rather than a Savior. This distortion can reinforce prejudice, justify injustice, promote racial superiority, and obscure the universal scope of the Gospel. Truth about Jesus’ humanity matters because lies about his identity are not simply harmless images. They shape how people understand salvation, humanity, and the worth of others. Lies about Jesus places a stumbling before the Gospel that leads some ethnic groups to reject Christ because of misrepresentations about Him.
“Speaking in Tongues,” is it still Necessary Today?
Speaking in Tongues
In biblical hermeneutics, when a phrase or practice appears repeatedly in Scripture, it functions as a sign of that which is normative. From the Day of Pentecost onward, speaking in tongues has been understood as a sign that a person has received or been filled with the Holy Spirit. The New Testament describes tongues in two primary instances: first, as an initial manifestation accompanying the reception of the Holy Spirit and second, as a spiritual gift identified by Paul in 1 Corinthians 12 as “various kinds of tongues.” Paul distinguishes these two expressions in 1 Corinthians 13:1 by referring to those “tongues” of human origin (xenos) and those tongues of heavenly origin (glossa). These two manifestations become inappropriately confused, particularly by those who conflate Acts 2:1–4 and 1 Corinthains chapters 12 – 14 together. The phenomenon has not ceased, as Christians continue to speak in tongues by the inner working of the Holy Spirit in their life today.
“Salvation”
Salvation, from the Greek term Soter, means save, deliver, or set-free. It is a byproduct of redemption Jesus paid on the cross for all humanity. It is not something a person can earn, or can anyone give to you. It is something that only Jesus can give to a person, in accordance to their obedience to His Word. A person’s response to the Gospel message of Salvation comes from he or she hearing the Gospel; and placing their personal faith in Him as their one and only savior of their soul. The Gospel message of Salvation was proclaimed by the Apostle Peter on the Day of Pentecost. It was/is specifically based on Acts 2:38, and not Romans 10:9-10. Biblical faith has always been associated with a person doing something. Simply believing something mentally is not faith. Doing what you believe is faith. For example, Noah believed God and his faith moved him to build an Ark. If he would have just believed God’s Word mentally and not build the ark, he would have died in the flood. Abraham believed God and attempted to offer up Isaac as a burnt offering to God. The angel then said to Abraham, “Now I know you believe God…” The presence of faith has always been, and will always be associated with the actions of the individual. A person’s actions justify the measure of their faith. In regards to Romans 10:9-10, it is not possible to simply confess with your mouth and believe in your heart in the absence of Repentance from sin, Water and Spirit baptism. A person cannot simply save you by telling you to repeat words that they say (and then supposedly after a person repeated your words they have then been granted salvation). While many churches are telling people to believe in their heart and confess Jesus with their mouth – and viola, welcome to the Kingdom of God! Jesus said, “Unless a person is born again, he or she cannot see the His kingdom. And unless you are born of Water and the Spirit, you cannot enter His Kingdom” (Jn. 3:3-5). Peter took Jesus’ Words and preached them on the day of Pentecost – Repentance, Water Baptism, and the Baptism of the Holy Ghost – which all equal Salvation. The Blood, Water, and Spirit all agree in One. Salvation requires a made up mind and commitment to turn away from sin in repentance to Jesus Christ. The message of salvation proclaimed by Jesus and preached by the Apostle Peter on the day of Pentecost is mostly foreign to many so-called Bible believing churches in the world. These movements claim to be Bible believing but they, in essence, don’t believe in the Bible; nor do they preach it or teach it to people. It is because many false prophets have entered the churches and planted false doctrines while so-called pastors are still counting their money, and working so hard to please people. The Gospel comes before an Epistle. A person has to come through the Gospel before being instructed in the Word as a believer. And if you are living a life of sin, you are on your way straight to hell; regardless of what you claim to confess.
– Blessings to all of you.
“Prayer”
Prayer is a divine gift through which God graciously and gracefully invites humanity into a real living fellowship with him, bridging the distance between earth and heaven and drawing finite creatures into communion with the eternal Creator. Scripture consistently affirms that God ALONE is the object of prayer. Jesus taught his disciples to pray, “Our Father in heaven” (Matt 6:9), one psalmist declared, “O you who hear prayer, to you shall all flesh come” (Ps 65:2), and 1 Thessalonians 5:17 commands believers to “pray without ceasing.” God does not command nor call people to pray if he did not intend to respond. He assures them that he hears and answers, saying, “Call to me and I will answer you” (Jer 33:3) and “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find” (Matt 7:7). In calling people to prayer, God reveals not only his sovereignty but also his desire for relationship with people. He therefore invites people to participate in his purposes, to align their wills with his will, and experience the transforming reality of his presence and power in their lives that come by prayer.
“Politics and the Church”
We all need to vote. This is our civil/civic responsibility, as citizens of this country; just as paying taxes is our civic duty. I learned that many people, especially Christians, do not vote. There are some who never vote but complain about the candidates in office. In 1st Timothy 2:2, the Apostle Paul admonished believers in Ephesus to “Pray for all who are in authority that they may lead a quiet and peaceable life.” This is also a true saying for us today. The practice of praying and ‘not doing’ is not a practice approved by the Bible. If we have it in our power or ability to do something – we need to do it and stop putting everything on God to do; and especially, stop blaming the devil for everything. We need to learn to take personal responsibility and accountability for our lives and actions. We need to learn how to solve problems when we have it in our ability to do so; what if Dr. Martin Luther King (to name one) took on many of the lazy attitudes we see in people today? Would there had been a civil rights movement for the civil rights for everyone? Probably not! So listen to the candidates that are running for public office, and research their backgrounds; to make sure the person you are voting for is the right candidate you are helping to put in office. Don’t vote for someone based on their ethnicity, gender, or because the candidate belongs to the same political party you favor. But vote for people who will do the right things by people and by this country. As a republic, this is the reason we vote candidates into office – not to represent themselves, but to represent us.
– Blessings to all of you.
“Discussions about the Bible.” What’s on Your Mind?
Throughout history, biblical skepticism has persisted, often seeking to undermine the authority and coherence of Scripture. The apostle Peter observed that some who are “ignorant and unstable” distort the writings of Paul and the rest of Scripture, bringing destruction upon themselves (2 Pet 3:16). Also in his second epistle, Peter identifies such individuals as false teachers, comparable to the false prophets of earlier generations, whose judgment is certain and whose influence is destructive (2 Pet 2:1–3). In contrast to these distortions, the Bible stands as a reliable and trustworthy revelation from God, given by divine inspiration for the instruction and blessing of humanity. Through Scripture, God discloses his will, reveals his character, and guides people into a genuine relationship with him, making the Bible not merely a historical document but the authoritative witness to God’s saving purposes.
Post any comment(s) about the Bible that you would like to discuss and/or have more clarification.
“The Holy Spirit”
In John 14, Jesus assured his disciples that although he would depart, he would return to them and would not leave them without comfort. This promise referred to the coming of the Holy Spirit, whom the disciples received on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1–4). The Holy Spirit is essential to salvation because it is through the Spirit that Christ guides believers into understanding and obeying his will. When the disciples received the Holy Spirit, they spoke in tongues as an outward sign of that reception. Therefore, the Holy Spirit is indispensable to salvation, just as the water and the blood are likewise integral to God’s saving work.
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