Church of God a cult?

[graceforme]

God's Way vs. the ways of man


As to the 'laying on of hands' to receive the Holy Spirit, is this Biblical or logical? How is it that a mere human, a fallen creature, can impart the Holy Spirit to another fallen creature? It is God alone who grants the Holy Spirit's indwelling at the moment of conversion. God is sovereign over the entire process: God woos the sinner to the beauty of Christ, with an irresistible pull; The sinner surrenders acknowledging sin state and need for Savior; the sinner is born again and the Father, Son and Holy Spirit come in and 'sup with him'. Salvation is an act of God's Sovereignty as it takes an incredible amount of power to convert a sinner. The requirement of someone lay their hands on me to either 'baptize me by fire'/'baptize me into the Holy Spirit' just sounds too afar from Scriptures for my comfort.

Denominations are a man made system of division that has caused the simplicity of the first century church to be lost. Would that we all believed only the Bible, minus tradition and ritual. What power we could display to the Glory of God if we only stood on the Bible.


Great words! Denominations have been the downfall of the church as Jesus Christ intended it to be. Division, conflict, confusion and in many cases, hard feelings and offense. Tongues or no tongues? Baptism or not? I'll be posting some words concerning baptism in a new post within the next couple of days.

As to the laying on of hands to impart the Holy Spirit - I totally agree with you. I attended Pentecostal churches for several years, and I've seen some pretty bizarre things take place while trying to "help" someone receive the baptism in the Holy Ghost. The goal, of course, was for the person to speak in tongues, therefore demonstrating that they had received the gifts of the Holy Spirit. They teach that if a person does not speak in tongues, they have not been baptized in the Spirit, and can't make it to heaven.

If man would just step aside, and allow the Word to teach what God really taught, salvation wouldn't have become such a confusing issue. God certainly did His part in making it simple - man has made it complicated. So complicated, in fact, that some turn away simply because they feel they can't "measure up" to what MAN says they must do.

I wonder who will be responsibl for some of those souls.

[firstlove]

God's Way vs. the ways of man




Great words! Denominations have been the downfall of the church as Jesus Christ intended it to be. Division, conflict, confusion and in many cases, hard feelings and offense. Tongues or no tongues? Baptism or not? I'll be posting some words concerning baptism in a new post within the next couple of days.

As to the laying on of hands to impart the Holy Spirit - I totally agree with you. I attended Pentecostal churches for several years, and I've seen some pretty bizarre things take place while trying to "help" someone receive the baptism in the Holy Ghost. The goal, of course, was for the person to speak in tongues, therefore demonstrating that they had received the gifts of the Holy Spirit. They teach that if a person does not speak in tongues, they have not been baptized in the Spirit, and can't make it to heaven.

If man would just step aside, and allow the Word to teach what God really taught, salvation wouldn't have become such a confusing issue. God certainly did His part in making it simple - man has made it complicated. So complicated, in fact, that some turn away simply because they feel they can't "measure up" to what MAN says they must do.

I wonder who will be responsibl for some of those souls.



I attend a Pentecostal church and you have misrepresented what we believe-tongues are the evidence the Bible gives for the baptism in the Spirit-but they are NOT required for salvation. We are saved by clinging to, trusting in, and relying on Jesus Christ and His sacrafice for our sin.

From our website...

Salvation is deliverance from spiritual death and enslavement by sin. God provides salvation for all who believe and accept His free offer of forgiveness. Mankind’s only hope of redemption from the fallen sinful state is through the blood of Jesus Christ, God’s Son–blood that was shed as Jesus died on the cross. [The account of the crucifixion of Jesus is recounted by four of His contemporaries: Matthew (chapter 27), Mark (chapter 15), Luke (chapter 23), and John (chapter 19).] (Luke 24:47; John 3:3,16,17; Rom. 8:16; 10:13-15; Ephesians 2:8,9; 4:24; Titus 2:11-12; 3:5-7)

All believers are entitled to receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit, and therefore should expect and earnestly seek the promise of the Father, according to the command of our Lord Jesus Christ. This was the normal experience of all believers in the early Christian church. With the experience comes the provision of power for victorious Christian living and productive service. It also provides believers with specific spiritual gifts for more effective ministry. The baptism of Christians in the Holy Spirit is accompanied by the initial physical sign of speaking in other tongues (unlearned languages) as the Spirit of God gives them audible expression. (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4,8; 2:4; 8:12-17; 10:44-46; 11:14-16; 15:7-9; 1 Cor. 12:1-31)



http://ag.org/top/Beliefs/index.cfm

[CountryBumpkin]

All believers are entitled to receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit, and therefore should expect and earnestly seek the promise of the Father, according to the command of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4,8; 2:4; 8:12-17; 10:44-46; 11:14-16; 15:7-9; 1 Cor. 12:1-31)



http://ag.org/top/Beliefs/index.cfm


1Cr 12:13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free--and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.

Scripture does not tell me that we are entitled to receive the HS. Scripture tells me that we ALL receive and are baptized by the Spirit into one body- at the moment of salvation - we are sealed. I prefer to believe what the Bible says and not how man twists scripture to prove himself right. Your persistance on this matter is quite tiresome.

[firstlove]

1Cr 12:13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free--and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.

Scripture does not tell me that we are entitled to receive the HS. Scripture tells me that we ALL receive and are baptized by the Spirit into one body- at the moment of salvation - we are sealed. I prefer to believe what the Bible says and not how man twists scripture to prove himself right. Your persistance on this matter is quite tiresome.

Then you are not reading the Word of God-for the Bible tells us differently-For Jesus told the disciples to not even begin their earthly ministry until they received this promise from the Father.

First of all
1 Corinthians 12:13 is speaking plainly-for BY ONE SPIRIT-we were all baptised into one body---The Holy Spirit baptises us into the body of Christ at the moment of salvation.

We do receive the Spirit at salvation-but scripture plainly shows that there is more....for example...the disciples-saved, received the Spirit in John 20-yet did not receive this baptism till Acts 2--and when they did, they ALL spoke in tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

The Ephesians in Acts 19-Paul asked the believers "Have you received the Holy Spirit since you believed? And when they did-they spoke in tongues.

The Samaratians in Acts 8-saved and even baptised in water-before they were baptised in the Spirit..

My persistance in this matter may be "quite tiresome" to you-but I am standing on the Word-and I'm not tired at all.

[Tenbear2808]

I am in agreement with you first love. It is a gift not required for salvation. I speak in tongues but was raised Southern Baptist and was saved since I was 11 and I didnt not speak in tongues then and for a great many years.

There is much scriptural evidence for it and it certainly didnt pass away as God said not one Jot or tittle would pass.

[TheWorkman]

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[Palooka]

Okay, I did not have time to read all the reply's. I grew up in the AOG church. My parents were church hoppers. They did discover "church of God."

It was a small church and they were really happy. they did love all the older people that they met and freindly folks. My mother has dealt with depression from time to time. This is really when it gets crazy.

LEGALISM.....Mucho!!! My x husband preached at that church. My dad told me that he could not attend anymore (even though my mom was happy there) because basically.. it did not say Assembly Of God from the Roof!!! He took my mom from there even though she felt at home.

We do have relatives that do dress like that and never cut their hair. Legal stuggle once again. I think there is some good people in the COG, maybe. lol

I really just laugh because I was confussed much growing up.

[Tenbear2808]

I call myself a full gospel person and true believer. So many "labels" have been hijacked that I dont claim them anymore.

[LindaLee]

Basically and for all times, I am a follower of Jesus Christ...I am a Christian. What the Bible says, which is the divine word of God, is what I follow. Anything else added to or taken from it is in error.

[Loyal2Him]

I was at a car dealership last week having my car serviced and I saw a magazine call The Philadelphia Trumpet there. It looks like a legitimate magazine but I thought I would ask anyone who reads this post, if they have heard of it and what they think. I guess it was started by a guy named Herbert W. Armstrong and is affiliated with The Philadelphia Church of God. That is about all I know. I have looked at their website and it looks okay but I am no expert at this stuff so I thought I would put it out there for discussion. Thanks.