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The One True God
By B.E. Echols

The Jews of Old Testament times only knew and worshipped one God, except when they apostatized and worshipped idols. Teaching that there were three gods was not to be found in the Old Testament Scriptures; neither is such to be found in the New Testament Scriptures. The. doctrine and teaching of there being three persons in the Godhead did not originate until after the Apostolic Age.

Where Trinitarianism Originated

The Nicene Council, which convened about 325 A. D., accepted and confirmed the belief and teaching of Athanasius, who taught that there were three personalities in the Godhead, equal in power. Most of the Protestant Churches today accept and hold the same view of the Godhead as Athanasius did regardless of what the Bible teaches. The Scriptures positively and plainly state there is only ONE personality in the Godhead  the Lord Jesus Christ. See Col. 2:8-10; 1 John 5:7; John 10:30.

A Very Important Subject

So we come to one of the most important subjects in all the Bible: “The One True God,” or the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ. Many people today are in darkness and doubt concerning the deity of Christ. They are contaminated and deceived by the teaching of the mother of harlots (Rev. 17:1-18). But, thank God, many are beginning to see the truth and discard those old robes of false and deceptive teaching concerning two or three gods, and are coming to the truth as it is in God’s Word. Such a revelation is no longer confined to what is known as the oneness Pentecostal people, but eminent Bible scholars of a number of the Protestant Churches, have discovered this truth. Among these are Rev. C.I. Scofield, author of the Scofield Bible and Dr. John Roach Stratton, a former pastor of Calvary Baptist Church of New York City, which is said to he the largest Baptist church in the world, Then there is Wm. Phillips Hall’s book. “A Remarkable Biblical Discovery,” discussing the deity of Christ and the name of God. Mr. Hall was a Presbyterian, President of the American Tract Society, and vice president of the American Bible Society.

Israel Commanded To Serve One God

It is very significant that the first commandment to the children of Israel was to serve one God and Him only. “Hear 0 Israel: the Lord our God is one Lord,” (Deut. 6:4), and “Thou shalt have no other gods before (or besides) me,” (Ex. 20:3). This commandment stands good for God’s people today. This is a teaching that has been confirmed by the New Testament writers and cannot be refuted by the Scriptures. Jesus said, “If ye love me keep my commandments,” and this is one of his commandments.

The One True God Of The Old Testament

Let us see what God says about it Himself. Will you believe Him and take what He says about it? God, speaking through Isaiah, said: “Ye are My witnesses,’ saith the Lord, `and My servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe Me, and understand that I am He: before Me-there was no God formed, neither shall there be (one formed, born, or created) after me. I, even I, am the Lord; and beside Me there is no Savior (or one who can save),'” (Isa. 43:10,11). Again God says: “Look unto Me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth, for I am God, and there is none else.” The name of Jesus is Jehoshua in Hebrew which means that Jehovah is our Saviour. Compare Isa. 45:20-22 with Matt. 1:21. So the ONE true God of the Old Testament is Jesus Christ of the New (Isa. 9:6; 7:14; Matt. 1:21-23).

Jesus Confirmed The One God Theory

Jesus made Himself equal with God and taught that He was God (John 14: 7-9; 8:56-58; 12:45). He never taught that He and the Father constituted more than one person or God. Over and over He stated and affirmed that He and His Father were One and the same God. “I and My Father are one” were His own words. People who teach that there are DID or THREE gods certainly ignore what Jesus said about it. Such doctrine is not founded on what the Lord Jesus Christ said. Jesus told Phillip, “He that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, `Shew us the Father?”‘ The Jews threatened to stone Jesus upon several occasions because He attributed deity to Himself, and claimed to be their God (John 8:56-59; 10:30-33). So Jesus and all writers of the New and Old Testaments agree that He (Jesus) is the one true God.

The scribes knew there was one God And the scribe said unto Him (Jesus), `Well, Master, thou hast said the truth, for there is (a verb used in the present tense) one God; and there is none other but he,”‘ (Mark 12:32). If Jesus had been another God He would have corrected this scribe right then and there.

No God before or after. Some people try to take Gen. 1:26, where God said, “Let us make man,” and prove that two gods created man, but God, some 2500 years later, states positively that there was “No God with Him” at that time. See Deut. 32:39. We also read in Mal. 2:10, “Have we not all ONE, Father? hath not one God created us?” Then in Isa. 43:10 God declares that there was no God formed before Him, neither would there be one formed after Him. So in the face of these Scriptures, and many others like them, the scribe knew positively that there was but one God.

The One True God Of The New Testament

1. According to Paul’s teaching. According to Paul, Jesus is the one true God of the New Testament. A few of his quotations or sayings will prove the foregoing statement to be true. Paul said that the princes of this world would not have crucified Jesus had they known that He was the Lord of glory the Lord from Heaven, (1 Cor. 2:8).

A great mystery. Paul knew that the deity of Christ was a great mystery to many; nevertheless he said, “God was manifest in the flesh (compare John 1:14, 10), justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.” (I Tim. 3:16) About Whom was he speaking in this statement, if it were not Jesus? It was none other than He who died on the cross of Calvary. Paul knew that “God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself,” (2 Cor. 5:19), and that “In Him (Jesus) dwelleth all, the fulness of the Godhead bodily.” Moffatt translates the last verse: “It is in Christ that the entire fullness of deity has settled  bodily,” (Col. 2:9). Every way Paul looked, it was ONENESS, (Eph. 4:4-6). So he knew and taught that there was but one God. Should we not do the same thing?

2. According to John’s teaching. John was a bosom friend of our Lord, and he should be a good authority concerning His deity. Turning to John 1:1, 14, 10, we read: “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us … He was in the world, and the world was made by Him (Jesus), and the world knew Him not.” Let us ask John a question relative to the true God. John, can you definitely tell us who is the true God, according to your own knowledge of Him? Yes, “We know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding (Compare Luke 24:36,45), that we may know Him that is true, and we are in Him that is true, even in His Son, Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life,” (1 John 5:20). So John tells us that Jesus is the true God.

3. According Jo Thomas’ statement. When Thomas saw Jesus after His resurrection and recognized Him by the nail prints in His hands and the pierced side, he exclaimed, “My Lord and my God,” (John 20;28). You will also notice that Jesus did not censure his statement and tell him that he was mistaken. If Jesus had not been Thomas’ God, He would have told him so.

4. According to Jude’s teaching. “To the only wise God (about Whom are you talking, Jude?) our Saviour.” It is believed by some commentators that this Jude was a brother of our Lord. Again in the fourth verse of Jude, we read: “For certain persons have crept in unnoticed … ungodly men, who pervert the grace of God into immortality, and disown Jesus Christ, our only Sovereign (Supreme Ruler, King, etc.) and Lord,”  Weymouth’s translation. If Jesus is our only Sovereign, He is our only God. That is exactly what Jude thought about it. See again verse 25.

5. According to a devil’s statement. Some might think it strange to quote a devil concerning the deity of Christ; but you must remember that they are fallen angels, and once dwelt in heaven with God; therefore they knew Him and recognized Him when they saw Him. So when Jesus approached a man who was possessed with an unclean spirit, the devil cried out and said, “Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? Art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art; the Holy One, of God.” By turning to Hosea 11:9, you will see that the “Holy One” was none other but God. James stated that the devils believed in One God, and also stated that every one who believed that there was just one God was doing well (James 2:19).

Give God’s Word Priority

If people would only give God’s Word priority in their hearts and minds concerning the “Oneness of God” and the “Deity of Jesus Christ,” they would not be so confused about this truth and doctrine. But so many folks give priority to their own opinions and the ideas of others, in preference to God’s eternal Word.

Be assured again by God’s Word that “There is (present tense) one body (Col. 2:8-10), and one Spirit … one Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and one Father of all,” (Eph. 4:4-6). Compare Mal. 2:10 and Job 31:15 concerning there being “one Father of all,” instead of two or three as some teach.

The One True God of the Old Testament is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ of the New Testament. By substituting Son for “The Word” and Father for “God” in St. John 1:1 you have the following literal and revealing translation of this verse: “In the beginning was the Son and meson was with the Father, and the Son was the Father.” No one can deny the fact that “the Word” in this verse is the Son and “God” is the Father (John 14:
8-9; 10:30; Isa. 9:6).

The Trinity Dogma

It might help some of you to know what the Catholic Folk have to say about THEIR “Dogma of The Trinity.”

Mr. Graham Greene, writing in Life Magazine of Oct. 30, 1950 Vol. 29, No. 18, page 51, to defend the dogma of “The Assumption of Mary,” had this to say: “Our opponents sometimes claim that no belief should be held dogmatically which is not explicitly stated in Scripture … But the Protestant churches have themselves accepted such dogmas as the Trinity for which there is no such precise (exact, definite or positive) authority (to be found) in The Gospels.”

Don’t you think that Mr. Greene’s information concerning the Catholic Church’s “Dogma of The Trinity,” should give us and all our Protestant Trinitarian Friends something to think and pray about?

This article “One True God” written by B. E. Echols is excerpted from

This article may not be written by an Apostolic author, but it contains many excellent principles and concepts that can be adapted to most churches. As the old saying goes, Eat the meat. Throw away the bones.

The Worst Deception In Existence

By The Late Elder B. E. Echols
I cannot think of a deception that could be any more tragic and far reaching than one leaving a person thinking and believing he is saved when he is totally lost. This group today far exceeds them that are saved. Such people are going to face a very serious and shaking-up experience when they come to the end of life’s journey in this condition. Of all things that a person should make sure of, it is his eternal destiny.

The Apostle Peter had this to say about one’s eternal welfare in II Peter 1:10 “GIVE DILIGENCE (or be as careful and painstaking as possible) to make your calling and election SURE” (certain positive unquestionable etc.). One should not be guessing about where he is going to in eternity. Oh God! Help us to be more concerned about our future destiny than about anything else. This is something that should be of vital importance to everyone. (Matt 16:26; Heb 10:31)

The next point for consideration is how can we make sure of “our calling and election?” This is where many people stumble blunder and make serious mistakes. I know God has people who can help us but we should read our Bibles and SEARCH the scriptures for ourselves like the people of Berca did when Paul preached the gospel to them. It is also advisable to do some sincere praying to God, asking Him to help us find the “Bible Plan of Salvation.” When a person becomes serious about his eternal destiny and goes to God about it the Lord will help him find someone who can scripturally show him the ONLY WAY to be saved. (Acts 17:10 11; Luke 11:9-13; 11 Peter 3:9-14)

We should keep in mind that there are “Many deceivers … (that have) entered into the world.” The devil is a master deceiver. He succeeded in beguiling Eve in the garden of Eden and he still employs this same trickery method today. The Apostle Paul warned the Colossian church folk to “BEWARE lest ANY man SPOIL YOU (for heaven) through philosophy (or human reasoning) and VAIN DECEIT or BEGUILE YOU (deceive you with enticing words) ” (11 John 7; Titus 1:10.11; Matt. 24:4,5,11).

Again Paul says “But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse DECEIVING and BEING DECEIVED.” Then James says “If ANY MAN among you (Pentecostals and other church folk) seem to be religious and bridleth NOT his tongue … deceiveth his own heart … (and his) religion is vain,” or worthless. (II Tim 3:13; James 1:26,)

THE ABOVE MATERIAL IS COPYRIGHTED AND MAY BE USED FOR STUDY & RESEARCH PURPOSES ONLY.

Instructions And Questions
By B. E. Echols
Information Concerning Use Of Questions

The two following sets of questions have been prepared in consecutive order to cover the “Four Essentials Unto Salvation,” including chapter two through chapter five. The teacher and student should be able to trace them through all the chapters, for the proper answer, without too much difficulty.

I suggest that before anyone makes use of these questions, for any special study, that they FIRST read the chapter or part to be studied and list such Scriptural references and notations along with each question that will help them to determine the correctness of each answer given; otherwise, some erroneous point of doctrine might be suggested or unintentionally injected. I also think it is best to have the class to recite with closed books. This practice should prompt more studying before class, will very likely increase attention and interest during recitation, and help produce more lasting results.

Both sets of questions are correspondingly divided into equal numbers for each lesson. Therefore, if time permits and the teacher so desires, he may use questions from both groups for the same study without becoming confused. Questions for a final examination may also be selected from among those given in each listing or the teacher can prepare some of his own preference.

There are 162 questions divided into twelve lessons in each group they are divided to constitute twenty-four lessons if only one group is studied at a time, or for twelve lessons if questions are used from both groups for each study.

“The True and False Questions” often prove to be interesting and profitable for adults as well as for youth, or even when both groups are taught together and should provoke more points for discussion than the “General Questions.” The teacher should underscore the point (true or false) that is the correct answer and list Scriptural references and other notations in order to be prepared for such discussions that might arise or for those he might wish to introduce. Then, by asking for Scriptural references or quotations to substantiate the answers given, such would likely give added assurance that they were correct and leave a more lasting impression upon all the students or class.

Finally, the best results are always obtained, from any study of God’s Word, when one prays and implores God’s guidance and blessings upon His efforts. See Proverbs 3 :5, 6 ; Matthew 7:7 ; James 1:5-7 and 4:2.

General Questions

I Chapter 2

1. What is the general theme of Chapter Two?

2. What is the theme for the entire book?

3. What is it an unsaved person can believe in that is the power of God unto salvation”?

4. Who could be classed as a “spiritual pauper”?

5. Is there any hope for people who do not have any faith in God or His word?

6. What attribute of God should always help anyone believe in Him and His Word?

7. What are some good definitions of faith?

8. From what source does all faith, or the ability to believe God, come?

9. What are the three methods by which a man may obtain faith from God?

10. What is the first and only method the unsaved person may resort to, in order to obtain faith from the Lord?

11. How do some folk lose the faith that comes to them by the method of hearing?

12. Why are some folk dead and in eternity without a ray of hope for the future, according to this chapter or point of study?

13. Is there a chance for anyone to be saved AFTER they die?

14. What dangerous situation do some people get into BEFORE they die?

15. How may one who is filled with doubts and fear due to being misinformed about “the way of truth,” obtain faith to be saved?

16. Does seeing with the natural eye often produce faith in one’s heart?

17. How may we Christians help someone to believe for a specific need?

18. What are some good Scriptural admonitions for those who would be proliferous soul-winners?

19. (a) Does the Bible classify unbelief as being sin? (b) If so, give some Scriptural references for proof.

20. How may one, who is corrupted and hindered by unbelief, rid him-self of same?

21. Will believing alone appropriate any of God’s promises?

22. Who is God always ready to save, heal, deliver, or bless in some special way?

23. What, besides God’s Word, is a very powerful weapon with which to fight sin and the devil?

24. What controls and operates the greatest power known to man?

25. What is the BEST and SAFEST thing anyone can do in time of danger, sickness, storms, war, etc.?

26. What seems to be the greatest hinderance for people complying with the gospel of Jesus Christ and being saved, after they begin to believe? (Procrastination).

27. What is generally the hardest step for most people to make in their efforts to be saved? (To believe God and His Word).

28. What terrible and disastrous mistake has some people made when instructing people how to be saved? (That faith alone saves them).

29. To what “works” does Ephesians 2:8 and Titus 3:5 refer?

30. What is some church folk’s answer to Acts 16:30, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved”?

31. Does faith ever produce or accomplish anything before it is put into action?

32. What is that grace one generally needs to put faith into action?

II Chapter 3

1. What is the next step for one who has heard the gospel and believes it?

2. Is it possible for a person to be saved without repenting of his sinful acts?

3. What do you think was the Apostle Paul’s strongest point on repentance?

4. What did the Apostle Peter teach concerning repentance?

5. When does one begin to discover the sinfulness of his sins?

6. What has God declared that every tongue shall do?

7. Who can explain what is meant by confession to whom confession is due?

8. What is one of those often overlooked elements of repentance?

9. Who was the little man that believed in making restitution for any defrauding acts?

10. When seeking salvation for the soul, what is it that one can do that will really touch the heart of God?

11. Who was strong on the message of repentance besides Jesus Christ and His Apostles?

12. What subject should always be preached and greatly emphasized, to the unsaved, besides faith and water baptism?

13. What is a sinner treasuring up against himself when he hardens his heart and refuses to repent?

14. (a) How does the act of repenting often effect the person who is repenting? (b) How may it effect the one to whom we repent?

15. What are some of those good reactions one often feels in his heart after he repents?

16. Does the fact that one has been made happy by repenting of his sins mean he has also been saved, before he has been baptized in water and receives the Holy Ghost?

17. What is it that first produces a tenderizing effect upon a sinner’s heart?

18. What is the danger of one stopping at repentance?

19. Can anyone repent sufficiently who has never been convicted of his sins?

20. What are some of the things that will help one receive that heart-felt conviction he needs to prompt him to repent?

21. Can anyone afford to give up seeking the Lord for the salvation of his soul, under any circumstances or for any reason?

22. (a) Who is classed as a “chronic seeker”? (b) Also, is there any hope for those who have sought the Lord for years to no avail?

23. What are those things that seem to hinder some people the most, and the longest, when seeking the Lord?

24. Does God save anyone because of their moral goodness, honesty, neighborly kindness, good citizenship, etc.?

III Chapter 4

1. What are the three main points for prayerful and Scriptural consideration concerning water baptism?

2. What is meant by some teachings of the Scriptures being a “cardinal doctrine”?

3. Is water baptism, administered in the name of Jesus Christ, essential unto salvation?

4. Does St. John 3:5 refer to water baptism and to one’s receiving the Holy Ghost, as they received it on “The Day of Pentecost”?

5. If Peter did not believe that water baptism was essential unto salvation, why did he command those three thousand converts to be baptized?

6. Whom did Peter command to be baptized after they had received the Holy Ghost?

7. For what purpose did Ananias baptize Saul of Tarsus, who was later known as the Apostle Paul?

8. How soon was the Philippian jailer baptized, after he was converted?

9. What Biblical and historical instance did Peter connect with water baptism in order to emphasize the importance and necessity of same?

10. Is there more than ONE Scriptural way to baptize folk in water, who have repented?

11. What is the only Biblical mode for water baptism?

12. What is the Greek word for “baptize” and what does it mean?

13. How many recordings do we have in the New Testament of where people were sprinkled when baptized?

14. What mode of baptism is suggested by the statement, “We are BURIED with Him by baptism”?

15. Why did John the Baptist baptize his converts in Aenon near Salem?

16. What implies that Philip immersed the Ethiopian eunuch when he baptized him?

17. (a) Is Matthew 28:19 a formula for water baptism? (b) If not, what is it?

18. What is the correct and only Scriptural formula for water baptism?

19. Who are the only church folk who actually baptize their converts “IN THE NAME of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost” as Jesus commanded in Matthew 28:19?

20. Who can explain how Jesus, the Son, could also be the Father and the Holy Ghost?

21. Are people baptized in the name of Jesus when only the titles, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost of Matthew 28:19 are used as the formula when baptizing?

22. How does the marginal rendering of Scofield’s Bible, the translations of Moffatt, Weymouth, Goodspeed, Berkeley, the Amplified New Testament, and the Revised Version render the TITLE “Lord,” of Acts 10:48, as a name?

23. How many references in the “Acts of the Apostles” show that people were baptized in the name of “Jesus Christ” or the “Lord Jesus”?

24. Is there a single reference in the New Testament where the titles Father, Son, and Holy Ghost were ever used as a formula for water baptism?

25. Can the titles “Lord” and “Christ” be Scripturally added to the name Jesus when baptizing?

26. How did the Apostle Paul admonish the church folk of Colosse to do everything they did “in word or deed”?

27. Are we safe in following the teachings and examples of the Apostles concerning the mode and formula for water baptism?

28. Who was entrusted with “the keys… (to) the kingdom of heaven”?

29. Did the Apostle Peter think there was any other name given under heaven whereby a person could be saved, other than the name of Jesus?

30. What did Jesus have to do in order to provide “remission of sins… in his name?”

31. (a) Actually, what is the reason for baptizing anyone — when viewing it from the literal viewpoint, as defined by Webster? (b) Would it be possible for any of us to become the bride of Christ, if we were to refuse His name in water baptism?

32. According to the Apostle John, how are we to obtain spiritual life from Jesus Christ? (“Through His name” St. John 20:31).

IV Chapter 5

1. What is the last thing that is essential unto salvation, that is connected with the plan of salvation?

2. What did Paul think about the man who did not have the Spirit of Christ, the Holy Ghost? (Romans 8:9 and Acts 19:1-7)

3. Does an unsaved person have to do anything besides obey the gospel of Jesus Christ in order to get the blood applied to his soul?

4. What is a very serious mistake and erroneous belief or teaching concerning the blood of Jesus Christ?

5. Had Peter’s converts on the “Day of Pentecost,” and at the home of Cornelius, been “born of the Spirit” prior to those times and places? (There are no Scriptural records to this effect) .

6. Who taught that the “Holy Ghost” baptism was essential unto salvation besides Jesus?

7. What did Jesus liken the Holy Ghost to upon two occasions?

8. What kind of a well did Jesus say His living water would produce in one’s life or soul?

9. If the water Jesus told the Samaritan woman about would produce “everlasting life”, is not the Holy Ghost essential unto salvation?

10. Where is “the water of life” last referred to in the Bible?

11. Excluding money, what is the price of God’s living water?

12. What is it that definitely puts one into God’s Church — after he believes, repents, and is baptized in water into the name of Jesus Christ?

13. Can you tell us how many Scriptural ways there are for one to get into God’s Church?

14. What is it that God seals His people with “unto the day of redemption”?

15. What is going to happen to sinners and church folk who are not “sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,” when this dispensation of grace begins to come to an end?

16. How large will those locust be that are to sting and torment people for five months?

17. How long will those big stinging-locusts torment a man before he dies?

18. How many classes of folk can you name that will be among those that will be tormented for five months by the stinging-locusts?

19. Will people have to get the Holy Ghost and speak with tongues in order to have “the seal of God in their foreheads”? (See Ephesians 1:13, 14 with Acts 19:1-6).

20. Can anyone live a life, free from sin, free from the alluring elements of this ungodly and pleasure-loving world, and free from the cunning trickery of Satan without the power of the Holy Ghost in his life?

21. What was it that enabled Samson to slay the lion, to kill a thousand Philistines with the jawbone of an ass, and to carry the doors and posts of the gate of Gaza about forty miles, to a hill before Hebron?

22. How was Paul enabled to smite a man with blindness, who was trying to turn the deputy away from “the faith”?

23. Can anyone “perform exploits” like Samson and Paul did without the power of the Holy Ghost to help them?

24. Will great learning and oratorical ability enable us to testify of the goodness of God and preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, as we should, without the aid or help of the Holy Ghost?

25. Is it possible for a person to have a strong heart without being filled with the Holy Ghost?

26. What kind of a fix is a person in who has a weak heart, in reference to doing the things he would like to do or not do?

27. Is there any difference between being a Spirit-filled Christian and in just being a nominal Church-member?

28. Are people often inspired by the Lord to sing, pray, testify, and preach before they receive the Holy Ghost?

29. Will the anointing of the Holy Ghost help people to speak in pub, lic gatherings and at church services who are backward, timid, or fearful?

30. How long will a person continue to be anointed of the Lord, after he receives the Holy Ghost?

31. What kind of effect does the anointing of the Lord produce upon the listener or observer?

32. Who is in a much better position to receive divine guidance than anyone else?

33. How often does one need to receive guidance from the Lord?

34. Can God’s people obtain guidance from Him, in reference to material and domestic affairs, the same as for spiritual things if they will ask for such?

35. Will the Holy Ghost ever lead anyone contrary to the teachings of God’s Word?

36. What is a definite sign, as given by the Apostle Paul, that anyone is a son or daughter of the Lord?

37. What else besides Scriptural admonitions might help some folk to forsake the “casting of lots” to obtain divine guidance?

38. How do some people err in “fleecing the Lord” to obtain guidance from the Lord?

39. What is the correct “Scriptural usage” for fleecing the Lord?

40. How should one always fleece the Lord?

41. What is the best means anyone can resort to for a better under-standing of God’s Word?

42. Does the fact, that one has received the Holy Ghost mean that there is no need for him to read and study God’s Word?

43. What places all the good attributes and graces of God in one’s heart?

44. How is one sanctified, according to the Scriptures?

45. What is it that becomes so many things to us, once we have received “it” in our hearts?

46. What is it that a Christian never knows how to properly perform without the aid of the Holy Ghost?

47. What is it that enables one “both” to will and to do of His (the Lord’s) good pleasure?

48. What is it that the carnal mind is never subject to, to the extent it should be?

49. In what way will the Holy Ghost definitely testify when He comes to abide in one’s soul?

50. Are there any New Testament records where anyone ever received the Holy Ghost without speaking with tongues?

51. What is one thing a person always does when he receives the Holy Ghost?

52. Who did Peter say the Holy Ghost was for in Acts 2:38, 39?

53. Do we have any “present-day proof” that the Holy Ghost is still for people today?

54. Is there such a thing as “abiding faith”?

55. For whom is this “abiding faith” reserved?

56. How are “spiritual gifts” bestowed and operated?

57. Can one live an overcoming life before he receives the Holy Ghost?

58. What are some of the things God has promised for the overcomer?

59. Does the Bible say, “There is NO fear in love” and that “perfect love casteth out fear”?

60. What portion of the “fruit of the Spirit” is a counterwork of fear?

61. What do people constantly need to enable them to always be truthful?

62. During this “dispensation of grace”, when does God place our names in “the book of life”?

63. According to the Bible, can a person backslide and commit sin and still have his name in “the book of life”?

64. What is it going to take, besides living a life free from sin, to pre-pare one to be caught up to meet the Lord in the air, when He returns for His bride?

65. How does anyone enter into God’s Church, His mystical body?

66. What is it that makes a person a new creature in Christ Jesus?

67. What happens when one becomes a new creature in Christ, as explained by Paul in II Corinthians 5:17?

68. Will anybody make it to heaven other than according to God’s plan or way? (See St. John 10:1, 14:6 and II Peter 3:9).

69. How are some people trying to get around obeying Acts 2:38?

70. Did Jesus, or any of the apostles He chose, teach differently concerning the plan of salvation for this dispensation?

71. What kind of ministers does God need today to proclaim this “Apostolic Message”?

True Or False Questions

I Chapter 2

1. The gospel of Jesus Christ does not have any power in it to deliver anyone from a life of sin true or false?

2. A person, who has sufficient faith in God, can obtain anything from the Lord if he will only ask for it  true or false?

3. Some people seem to believe in anything and everything except Go  true or false?

4. There is positively no way for a person with an unbelieving heart to rid himself of same  true or false? (See I John 1:9, 7 with I Tim. 1:13, 14).

5. A person who places his hope and confidence in God is sure to be disappointed true or false?

6. There are definitely no Scriptural Methods for obtaining faith from the Lord, it is altogether a ‘hocus-pocus maneuvered affair true or false?

7. There are three methods by which a person can obtain faith from the Lord true or false?

8. One of the hardest and most uncertain ways of obtaining faith from God is by listening to someone read, preach or teach God’s Word true or false?

9. Faith that is obtained by the method of hearing is not an abiding faith and should be exercised promptly true or false?

10. Procrastination is a great enemy of faith that comes by hearing, unless such faith is acted upon immediately true or false?

11. A person cannot obtain any kind of faith from the Lord until after he is saved — true or false?

12. Some folk are dead and in eternity without a ray of hope of ever being saved, because they never did attend church where they could have heard the full gospel preached true or false?

13. There is positively no chance of one’s being saved after death claims his soul true or false?

14. Seeing is one of the best methods known for building up one’s faith true or false?

15. God- is ready to help anyone rid himself of an unbelieving heart, if he will repent and do something about it himself true or false?

16. Faith never profits anyone unless he puts it into action true or false?

17. God’s “unalterable law of receiving” is to believe and ask for what you want — true or false?

18. It is possible for “a man of faith” to fail to obtain the things he may desire of the Lord true or false?

19. A person who does not have any faith can still please the Lord –true or false?

20. One is sure to be lost if he does not (1) believe and (2) obey the Gospel of Jesus Christ true or false?

21. It is possible for one man’s faith to help avoid disaster for a multitude of people — true or false?

22. Faith in God is a very risky and dangerous thing to rely upon when one is sick, in times of storm or trouble of any kind, when threatened with bodily injury or property damage of some kind, when in war or when called to the armed services, etc. We true or false?

23. Some people seem to have more faith in their doubts and fears and in what some people say than they do in God true or false?

24. The Gospel of Jesus Christ, as,-powerful as it is, cannot save men and women who are very wicked — who lie, steal, curse, get drunk, live immoral, gamble, rob banks, persecute God’s people, etc. –true or false?

25. The greatest power known to man is controlled and operated by faith true or false?

26. The greatest mistake one can ever make, pertaining to his salvation, is that of allowing himself to believe that faith ALONE can save him true or false?

27. The works of Ephesians 2:9 and Titus 3:5 do not exclude the necessity of an unsaved person having (1) to repent (2) be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, or (3) tarrying for the Holy Ghost until filled true or false?

28. Gospel perverters will try to make people believe they can be saved by faith only true or false?

29. The Lord Jesus Christ, when he comes to this earth again, is going to punish people in flaming fire” who do not obey his gospel –true or false?

30. Faith never produces anything until it is put into action true or false?

31. One who has faith never needs any courage to go with it — true or false?

32. Peter’s courage failed him when he ventured to walk those boisterous waves to where Jesus was true or false? (It was his faith that failed because he looked at the waves instead of to Jesus) .

II Chapter 3

1. Faith and repentance, with godly sorrow, prepares one for water baptism true or false?

2. There is no Scriptural reason for anyone being baptized unless he has thoroughly repented and is willing to FORSAKE his sinful and ungodly ways true or false?

3. God’s Word demands repentance of EVERY person who desires to be saved true or false?

4. There is no need of anyone confessing his sins if he does not intend to forsake them true or false?

5. The Apostle Peter would baptize folk who had not repented if he could persuade them to do so true or false?

6. A man believeth with his heart unto salvation and confesses with his mouth unto righteousness true or false? (Who can give the correct Scriptural statements for these points?)

7. If one would confess all his sins to God he would never have to confess any of them to anyone else true or false?

8. God will save folk and LET THEM KEEP all those STOLEN chickens, ducks, geese, rabbits, cows, hogs, horses, goats, sheep, guns, watches, money, clothes, suitcases, billfolds, ladies’ purses, knives, fountain pens, carpentry tools, car tools, garden tools, plow tools, tractors, mowing-machines, lawn-mowers, barber tools and equipment, automobile parts and tires, cooking utensils, plumbing fixtures, shaving equipment, household furniture, books, school supplies, building material, etc., which they have taken without per-mission true or false?

9. Jesus informed Zacchaeus that he would NOT have to make any restitutions in order to be saved true or false?

10. One does not have to pay for things he has stolen or killed if the owner of such forgives him true or false?

11. Repentance is a subject that was never referred to in the Old Testament true or false?

12. The Apostles Peter and Paul were NOT POSITIVE that EVERY-BODY had to repent true or false?

13. An unsaved person is not endangering himself when he procrastinates and plans to get saved at some future time true or false?

14. One never gains any favor or mercy from God by repenting of anything wrong he has done true or false?

15. Sometimes, after people have thoroughly repented, they feel such a relief from their load and guilt of sin until they sometimes think they are saved true or false?

16. True repentance often affords one with a measure of joy and heartfelt appreciation for what God has done for him true or false?

17. No one will ever obtain lasting joy and satisfaction by merely repenting, he must be baptized in water and with the Holy Ghost in order to reach that height true or false?

18. If a person stops at repentance he may soon be possessed with more evil spirits than ever true or false?

19. One can repent of his sins, regardless of the fact that he feels no conviction of having done anything wrong, if he will only try true or false?

20. Holy Ghost anointed praying, singing, testifying, preaching, and teaching all have a great tendency to produce conviction in a sinner’s heart — true or false?

21. “Chronic seekers” have been known to receive the Holy Ghost after they had sought the Lord for many years — true or false?

22. Good deeds of charity and self-righteousness do more to hinder some folk than they do to help them, when they begin to seek God true or false?

23. God will save a rascal or scoundrel, if he will repent and obey the gospel, as quickly as He wilt: anybody else true or false? (See Matthew 21:31, 32 with Luke 13:1-5).

24. The “New Birth Route” is the only route to righteousness and true holiness which are acceptable in the sight of God true or false?

III Chapter 4

1. Any candidate for water baptism should be baptized exactly as the Apostles baptized people, in the very beginning of this “Grace Dispensation” true or false?

2. Water baptism is definitely a part of the gospel requirements and is essential unto salvation true or false?

3. The person who cannot be made to believe in the essentiality of water baptism, and is never baptized properly and Scripturally, will be lost — true or false? (See Mark 16:15, 16 with St. John 3:5).

4. The Apostle Peter, on the “Day of Pentecost,” commanded EVERY ONE of those three thousand converts to be baptized “in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins…” true or false?

5. Peter did not think it was necessary for the Gentiles to be baptized in water, since they had received the Holy Ghost BEFORE they were baptized true or false?

6. Ananias merely baptized Paul to identify him with the followers of Christ — true or false?

7. Paul and Silas baptized the Philippian jailer and his household just as soon as they could, after they were convicted of their sins and had repented  true or false?

8. Peter believed, that Noah’s being saved by water emphasized the importance of the people of his day being baptized in order to be saved  true or false?

9. It does not matter which mode is used when baptizing converts, whether you sprinkle or immerse them true or false?

10. There is but ONE mode of baptism that is Scriptural, which is baptism by immersion true or false?

11. Paul’s statement concerning “ONE Lord, ONE faith, (and) ONE baptism” perfectly harmonizes with what Jeremiah had prophesied concerning the Lord giving the people”…ONE heart, and ONE way…, for the good of them, and of their children after them” true or false?

12. The Greek word “baptizo” does not suggest that the correct mode for water baptism is immersion true or false?

13. There is positively no New Testament record of where anyone ever used the “mode of sprinkling” when baptizing anyone true or false?

14. It is unscriptural and contrary to common reasoning to interpret the statement made by Paul, that “…we are BURIED with Him by baptism…” as meaning that baptism should be administered by immersing the candidates true or false?

15. John the Baptist did not need MUCH water to baptize his converts when near Salem true or false?

16. Philip (1) stood near some water (2) while he sprinkled the Ethiopian Eunuch true or false?

17. Matthew 28:19 is a COMMAND concerning how to baptize anyone and is never to be considered as a formula   true or false?

18. The name of Jesus, in the Hebrew language, means “Jehovah
Savior” or Jehovah saves — true or false?

19. THE NAME referred to in Matthew 28:19 is the name of Jesus (English) or Jehoshua in the Hebrew  true or false?

20. A person is never baptized in the name of Jesus, the Son’s name, when the titles Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are used as the formula when baptizing — true or false?

21. Scofield’s Bible (Marginal reference), Goodspeed, Weymouth, Moffatt, Berkeley, and the Revised Version all render “Lord” of Acts 10:48 as referring to the name of Jesus Christ — true or false? (See Acts 9:3, 4 with Luke 13:12-15, 23 where Jesus acknowledges that both the name Jesus and the title “Lord” refers to Himself).

22. There is not a SINGLE reference in the “Acts of the Apostles,” (the Book of Acts) where anyone ever used the titles Father, Son and Holy Ghost as a formula for water baptism when baptizing anyone true or false?

23. The name of Jesus, or “Jehoshua” in the Hebrew, is THE ONLY name of God that has salvation incorporated in it true or false?

24. It is also Scriptural to add the titles “Lord” and “Christ” to the name of Jesus for a formula of water baptism true or false?

25. One will never go wrong or be found in error when following the examples and instructions of the Apostles concerning water baptism or anything else true or false?

26. People who ignore what the Apostles taught and practiced, on any point of doctrine, will certainly build on a faulty and unscriptural foundation — true or false?

27. The ONLY PEOPLE who receive “remission of sins,” according to the Bible, are those who thoroughly repent and are baptized in water in the name of Jesus Christ — true or false? (See Acts 10:43 and 13:37, 38 of Moffatt’s translation with King James of Acts 2:37, 38; 4:10-12 and Luke 24:46,47).

28. The ONLY MEANS by which the name of Jesus can be permanently INVOKED upon anyone is by baptizing them in His name —true or false? (See Gal. 3:27 with Col. 3:17 and Romans 7:4).

29. According to Webster’s Dictionary, to baptize means “to name or GIVE a name unto” — true or false?

30. There is positively no chance whatever to INVOKE the name of Jesus, the Son’s name, upon anyone when Matthew 28:19 is used as a formula for water baptism true or false?

31. According to Isaiah 66: 5, those who hate, cast out, and persecute people (1) who baptize and (2) who are baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, will be PUT TO SHAME when He ( Jesus) appears for His people or bride — true or false?

32. People who have ignored the plain teachings and admonitions of the Scriptures concerning administering water baptism in THE NAME of Jesus Christ should give them a more prayerful and thorough examination, for their own good and the good of those they may baptize — true or false? (See I Tim. 4:13,15,16; II Tim. 3:16-4:4 with Rev. 22:18, 19; Romans 2:16 and II John 9-11).

IV Chapter 5

1. Many people are not aware of their need of the Holy Ghost — true or false?

2. The baptism of the Holy Ghost could be called the crowning act or “finishing touch” of the plan of salvation — true or false?

3. The application of the blood of Christ is taken care of when one thoroughly obeys the gospel — true or false?

4. Jesus informed Nicodemus, ” . . . that unless A MAN is born of .. . the Spirit, he CANNOT enter the kingdom or God” true or false?

5. The “birth of the Spirit,” the “baptism of the Holy Ghost,” and “being filled with the Holy Ghost” are all identical experiences –true or false?

6. Jesus Christ, Peter, and Paul all taught that the baptism of the Holy Ghost was essential unto salvation true or false?

7. The- fact that Jesus compared the Holy Ghost to natural water upon two occasions, and called it “rivers of living water,” is additional proof that it is essential unto salvation true or false?

8. Whosoever will may partake of “the water of life” freely, according to Revelations 22:17, if they will comply with all the requirements of the gospel of Jesus Christ — true or false?

9. People without money, even hoboes or tramps, may partake of God’s living water if they will believe (Rom. 1:16) and meet the conditions Peter gave as recorded in Acts 2:38 — true or false?

10. It takes the baptism of the Holy Ghost in addition to faith, repentance, and water baptism to put one into God’s Church true or false?

11. Actually, there is no other way to get into God’s Church besides obeying Acts 2:38 and being filled with the Holy Ghost — true or false?

12. The Holy Ghost baptism is God’s seal “unto the day of redemption,” if we will not break it by committing sin and partaking of ungodly things — true or false?

13. The disciples of John the Baptist “were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise” “AFTER . . . (they) heard the word of truth, the gospel of … (their) salvation” true or false?

14. The baptism of the Holy Ghost, which is the seal of God, is going to be the only protection from those horrible woes referred to in the ninth chapter of Revelations — true or false?

15. Some locusts as large as horses are going to sting and torment men and women for five months, due to the fact they did not have “the seal of God” in their foreheads A— true or false?

16. The torment of those stinging locust will be so painful until men will be seeking some means to kill themselves in order to get out of such suffering — true or false?

17. All lukewarm and backslidden church folk, along with hypocrites and sinners — in or out of churches, will be among those who will be tormented for five months by those stinging locust true or false?

18. People will have to obey Acts 2:38 and speak in tongues, as they did on the “Day of Pentecost” (Acts 2:1-4) and at the house of Cornelius (Acts 10:44-46), in order to have “the seal of God in their foreheads” — true or false?

19. When people get to suffering from the terrible tormenting stings of those big locust and cannot find a way to commit suicide or escape from those manhandling scorpions, they will then likely wish they had obeyed Acts 2:38 and had been filled with the Holy Ghost — true or false?

20. There is no person living who can live a victorious life over sin, the world, and the devil without Christ in him in the power of the Holy Ghost — true or false?

21. The Spirit of God is so powerful until it enabled Samson to kill a young lion that “roared against him,” to kill one thousand Philistines with the jawbone of an ass and to carry the doors and posts of the gate at Gaza, some forty miles to a hill BEFORE Hebron true or false?

22. Though Paul was “filled with the Holy Ghost” he could not do any-thing with that sorcerer, who was trying to tarn the deputy away from “the faith” he preached true or false?

23. Most anyone could have performed exploits like Samson and Paul did without help from God, by employing some `black art’ of ‘hocus-pocus’ methods true or false?

24. We need the anointing and inspiration of the Holy Ghost at all times to pray, sing, testify, preach and teach true or false?

25. A person who has a weak heart needs a filling or refilling of the Holy Ghost true or false?

26. A weak-hearted person cannot always do the things he would like to do; neither can he always keep from doing the things he knows he. should not do — true or false?

27. It is a reproach to the cause of God for church folk and ministers to be spiritual weaklings — true or false?

28. There is no difference between being a nominal Christian and in beng one filled with the Spirit true.or false?

29. There is a marked difference when anyone is anointed by the Holy Ghost to preach, sing, pray, or testify true or false?

30. The anointing of the Holy Ghost transforms folk who are back-ward and subject to stage-fright into bold witnesses and fluent speakers — true or false?

31. Something has happened to a person who has received the Holy Ghost, when those divine anointings have completely ceased true or false?

32. The anointing of the Holy Ghost makes all our efforts more effective upon those to whom we minister — true or false?

33. The Holy Ghost does not afford one any advantages when it comes to receiving guidance from the Lord — true or false?

34. One seldom ever needs the Lord to help him know what he should do or not do — true or false?

35. The Lord will guide people concerning their material needs and domestic affairs the same as he will for spiritual things — true or false?

36. There is one thing everybody can be assured of, the Holy Ghost will never lead them to do anything contrary to the Scriptures true or false?

37. The “casting of lots” to obtain divine guidance Scripturally ended with the outpouring of the Holy Ghost, on the “day of Pentecost”, and is not an advisable method for anyone to resort to anymore  true or false?

38. “Fleecing the Lord” should never be resorted to as the FIRST means for obtaining divine guidance — true or false?

39. When “Fleecing the Lord” one should always be resolved to abide by such decisions, if in harmony with God’s Word and make all of them in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ  true or false?

40. There is no need of one delaying himself and others to take time to “fleece the Lord” when he already has a definite leading from the Lord, to do or not do certain things  true or false?

41. There is nothing one can resort to or obtain that will give him a better understanding of God’s Word than the Holy Ghost r— true or false? (See I Cor. 2:11-14; Job 32:8 and St. John 16:13).

42. The fact that one is filled with God’s Spirit does not nullify the necessity of his studying God’s Word in order to rightly divide it, and thus meet with God’s approval — true or false

43. The Holy Ghost is an all-around-conditioner and control for God’s people, if they will seek Him sufficiently to remain spiritual — true or false?

44. One is never completely sanctified until after he is saved or filled with the Holy Ghost true or false?

45. The Holy Ghost is that Great Paraclete – the Comforter, Consoler, Advocate, Counselor, Intercessor, Helper, Aide, Sustainer, Supporter, and Keeper — that Jesus promised to send back to His disciples after His departure, which came to dwell in the hearts of God’s people on the “Day of Pentecost” and even unto our day — true or false?

46. No one can ever pray as earnestly and effectively as he should with-out the assistance of the Holy Ghost — true or false?

47. The Holy Ghost works in “two special ways” to help one do God’s will, by (1) supplying one with a decision to that effect and (2) by giving him the grace to perform it — true or false?

48. Definitely a person who is carnal minded and does not have the Holy Ghost to help him control his thinking, can never do God’s will in a manner that will please Him true or false? (See Rom. 8:5-8 and Zech. 4:6).

49. One will not have to guess about being saved or having Christ in his heart, after he has been baptized with the Holy Ghost — true or false?

50. People always speak with tongues as the Spirit gives the utterance, when they.are baptized with the Holy Ghost — true or false? (See Acts 2:1-4, 10:44-47, 19:1-7 with Isaiah 28:11,12 and Mark 16:17).

51. Isaiah prophesied about people speaking with “another tongue” about seven hundred and fifty years before the “day of Pentecost” —true or false?

52. The baptism of the Holy Ghost is for anyone today who will believe and obey Acts 2:38  true or false?

53. We have millions of people in the world today who have received the Holy Ghost and spoke with tongues — true or false?

54. The Holy Ghost supplies one with “abiding faith,” which he can use for himself and for others — true or false?

55. This “abiding faith” is strictly for those who will believe and obey Acts 2:38, and receive the Holy Ghost true or false?

56. Spiritual gifts are always bestowed and operated by the Holy Ghost — true or false?

57. “The righteousness of the law” is only fulfilled in those who have received the Holy Ghost and continues to walk after the Spirit –true or false?

58. The Holy Ghost brings one into an overcoming life of glorious victory, if he will continue to live after the Spirit. true or false?

59. When one has the Holy Ghost in his heart or soul he has more power within himself than the devil ever possessed true or false? (See I John 4:4 and Eph. 3:20).

60. If anyone will get filled and stay filled with the Holy Ghost it will deliver him from all kinds of tormenting fear — true or false? (See II Tim. 1:7 and I John 4:18).

61. The peace of God and fear are never in one’s heart at the same time — true or false?

62. During the “Dispensation of Grace” a person’s name is never placed in God’s family record, the book of life,” until he is born into God’s Royal Family according to St. John 3:5 and Acts 2:38 true or false? (See Psalms 87:5, 6 and Hebrews 12:22, 23).

63. The Lord removes the names of all those who commit sin from His “family record Book”  true or false?

64. Nominal church folk, who have never been saved from a life of sin, do not have their names in “the book of life” — true or false?

65. Sinless church folk will not be raptured or caught up to meet the Lord in the air, unless they are filled with the Holy Ghost — true or false? (See Matt. 25:1-13 with Romans 8:9, 11 ) .

66. No one is ever in God’s Church until he obeys the gospel and receives the Holy Ghost true or false?

67. A person must become a new creature in Christ Jesus or he will never enter God’s heaven   true or false?

68. The only way to become a new creature is by being born of water and of the Spirit according to St. John 3:5 and Acts 2:38 — true or false?

69. The Lord is making all things new; therefore, in order to harmonize with God’s new order of things, one will have to be a new creature according to II Corinthians 5:17 — true or false?

70. It is going to be wonderful to be one of those privileged characters to live with Christ forever, where all things have been made new true or false?

71. Many people are trying to make it to heaven without obeying the gospel and becoming new creatures in Christ Jesus — true or false?

72. People who try to make it to heaven other than the Bible way will be considered as thieves and robbers true or false?

73. Jesus and the Apostles all taught and preached the same plan of salvation — true or false?

74. God is no respecter of persons; therefore, what he demands of one person he will certainly demand of all true or false?

Four Essentials Unto Salvation
By B. E. Echols

I present the contents of this book as a more thorough treatise concerning the things that are absolutely required of all those who are interested in the salvation of their souls; also, for those who want to better acquaint themselves with these essentials, in order that they may be able to thoroughly and positively present the plan of salvation, as preached and taught by our Lord and His disciples. It is for these purposes that I sincerely and prayerfully dedicate this book.

A Serious Situation

There are so many sectarian ideas and gospels devised by men (2 Peter 2:1-3, 17: Galatians 1:6-9) these days that many minds are confused about the requirements for those in search of salvation. Let me warn you that these plans devised by man may seem right to some, from the standpoint of human reasoning, but according to God’s Word “the end thereof are the ways of death” (Proverbs 14:12).

An Exact And Scriptural Approach Intended

The text for this entire book will be the Philippian jailer’s demand of Paul and Silas, as recorded in Acts 16:30: “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” I am going to adhere to the theme and text of this book and Scripturally answer this question, in he chapters to follow, so my hands will be free from the blood of all men who read this message.

This jailer was not concerned about any non-essentials. He wanted to know nothing but what was necessary for him to do in order to be saved and this should be the desire of all who are honestly seeking after salvation. Therefore every minister, gospel worker, and lay-member should take precaution and present everything that is essential to salvation, and nothing that is not essential. If we do not do this, we will confuse and corrupt the minds of those honest seekers (after salvation) and hinder some of them from ever going all the way with the Lord. Thus we shall become an instrument of damnation to them, instead of a gospel instructor,

Therefore, I am setting forth these four essentials of the gospel in four separate chapters; and dealing with each point or step in its proper sequence, as outlined in the Bible, for I sincerely desire that all who are seeking deliverance from a life of sin may know definitely what is required of them by the Lord, and just how to proceed in complying with the demands of the gospel.

A Qualified Presentation

I am sure of what I have written concerning the four essentials to salvation, as presented in this book. I have searched the Scriptures and preached the gospel of Jesus Christ by God’s grace, for the last thirty-nine years (reckoning backwards from 1962 A.D.), and have witnessed the work of God’s grace in the lives of many people. I have seen how the gospel has delivered people from all kinds of habits, sin, and worldliness. They would then become new creatures in Christ, to the extent that old things passed away; (and) behold, all things are become new (II Corinthians 5:17). I hope and pray that as you read further in this book your soul will be enlightened and made hungry for such a deliverance as this, so that you will meet the requirements of the gospel of Jesus Christ and be a participant of God’s grace and salvation.

Something I Personally Experienced

Then, I have obeyed the Scriptures and complied with these four requirements of the gospel myself, just as I am introducing them to you, and have experienced a glorious change in my life, and a deliverance from the bondage and guilt of sin. I had sought for a satisfying assurance among a certain established church several times, only to meet with failure and disappointment. I had about given up hope of ever finding the satisfaction and deliverance that my heart and soul were longing for and needed. But, as God kept dealing with my heart, I was finally brought into the light of the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ, as preached and taught by the apostles of our Lord. It is a strange fact, but the gospel is hid to all those who are lost (II Corinthians 4:3), until they find dome person or preacher who can show them God’s plan of salvation. See Acts 8:30-35 and Romans 10:14-15.

After complying with these essentials of the gospel, I found that deliverance and satisfying portion my soul had been seeking and longing for. Oh, Hallelujah, what a change it has wrought in my life and soul! It has given me a hope that has became an anchor to my soul, which nothing can shake or disturb. So I am presenting to you something that I know by experience (as well as from a study of God’s Word) will deliver your soul from fear, worry, sin, etc, and give you a right to the tree of life.

I am so sure of what I am presenting, in the four chapter of this book, as being the gospel of Jesus Christ unto salvation that I have based all my hope for eternal life upon these very things. Read them prayerfully, with an open heart and unbiased mind, and the Lord will certainly help you see just what it is going to take to give you such a hope and deliverance.

My friend, the same experience that the one hundred and twenty, including the apostles and the mother of our Lord, received on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 1:12-15; 2:1-4) is for you and your children today (Acts 2:37-41). There have been an estimated eight to ten million people within the past sixty years (dating back from 1962) who have sought and experienced this glorious deliverance and salvation, which Jesus died to purchase for us.

Many people of most all our denominational churches today, including both laymen and ministers, are receiving the Baptism of the Holy Ghost evidenced by speaking in tongues as the Spirit of God gives the utterance (Acts 2:1-4; 10:44-46; and 19:1-6). This experience is for all those who will obey the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Acts 2:37-39, 41), as set forth or preached and taught by those whom Jesus chose (the twelve apostles) to be the foundation of the New Testament Church the Church of the First-born which are written in heaven (Hebrews 12:22-23 with Psalms 87:5-6).

You, too, may experience this Climaxing Experience of the Gospel of Jesus Christ the baptism of the Holy Ghost, evidenced with speaking with tongues if you will only comply with the Essential Requirements for the receiving, as Scripturally set forth in this book.

You may think that you would not be interested in being saved and thereby receive power from God to be a personal witness (Acts 1:8) of the saving grace of Jesus Christ, which enables one to live a life free from sin and the entanglements of this evil and ungodly age. But once saved, you would never regret it and, when once established in the faith, you would feel as Paul did concerning it as described in Romans 1:15-16 and 8:38-39.

David the Sweet Psalmist of Israel” invites you along with us to “taste and see that the Lord (and all His ways and blessings) (are) good ” You will also find, that “In (God’s) presence is fullness of joy; (and) at (His) right hand there are pleasures evermore,” or continually (Psalms 16:11).

This article Four Essentials Unto Salvation written by B. E. Echols is excerpted from Four Essentials Unto Salvation written by B. E. Echols chapter 1.

The Eternal God is Yet Alive
By the Late Elder B. E. Echols

There are some “Living Fools” these days that are saying, “There is NO God” or that “He is dead!” But, thanks be unto God, He is “ALIVE for evermore,” (Revelations 1:18).

There are many people living who can definitely say with Job, “I KNOW that my redeemer LIVETH,” They are those who have passed from death unto live, as per II Corinthians 5:17 with acts 19:1-7, and St. John 14:20.These folk have experienced that “New Birth” which is referred to in St. John 3:5,3-7 and Acts 2:37-40.

Some people, who believe that God IS ALIVE, actually do not know this to be a fact. However, if they would (1) repent of their sins (see Acts 2:37-40 with Acts 17:30 and II Peter 3:9), (2) be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the REMISSION of their sins (Acts 22:12-16; 4:10-12 and Hebrews 9:22) and (3) receive the Holy Ghost–evidenced by speaking with tongues, AS THE SPIRIT gives the utterance (Acts 2:1-4 and Acts 10:44-46 with 11:13-8) they would know beyond a shadow of a doubt that God, or Jesus, is still ALIVE (St. John 10:30 with 14:8,9).

A NEW Way Of Life

There are hundreds of thousands, yea, millions of people today who have become recipients of this “born again experience”–as per St. John 3:5-7 and Acts 2:38, 1-4, and KNOW assuredly that their Redeemer LIVETH. What a wonderful experience and “new way of life” it is. There is nothing comparable or equal to it. One may belong to any “religious order” or church he prefers, but none of them will afford him an assurance that God is still alive–with that POSITIVE hope for that glorious life that awaits the redeemed. It is yours for the believing (Hebrews 11:6), asking (Luke 11:10,14 with James 4:2,3) and obeying (Acts 5:32 with Isaiah 1:19). Thank the Lord! God is STILL ALIVE and filling people with His Holy Spirit, as per Acts 2:1-4; 10:44-46 and 19:1-7.

We are living in a day of uncertainty such as the world has never known or seen. Everyone needs an experience with God that will give them stability and A HOPE that is scriptural, dependable and sure–in these days when principalities and powerful nations are collapsing and that hour of judgment is coming, which John wrote about in Revelations 6:12-17 and 16:1-21. Thank God, this writer obtained such an experience from the Lord over 61-years ago! It still holds good today and lets me KNOW daily that I am ready to meet the Lord at any moment and that God is STILL ALIVE! Praise His wonderful name, the name of Jesus!

THE ABOVE MATERIAL IS COPYRIGHTED AND MAY BE USED FOR STUDY & RESEARCH PURPOSES ONLY.

Water Baptism
B.E. Echols

We shall now deal with another essential scriptural element of the gospel of Jesus Christ, which is: “water baptism by immersion” administered in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. There are three main points to consider in this chapter: (1) the essentially, (2) mode, and (3) formula of water baptism. If the reader has an open heart and mind to accept the plain teachings of God’s holy Word concerning these fundamental points pertaining to water baptism, and has already thoroughly repented of his sins he is a candidate for scriptural baptism as taught and administered by the apostles and their associated ministers which you will find recorded in the “Acts of The Apostles.”

I. The Essentiality of Water Baptism

Water baptism administered in the proper mode and formula is one of those “life and death messages” of the Bible and a “cardinal doctrine” of the Scriptures. For, “He that believeth (the gospel of Jesus Christ, when he hears it preached or taught) and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not (the gospel and does not obey it) shall be damned” (Mark 16:16). Compare II Thessalonians 1:7-9 and II Peter 3:9.

Again we read in John 3:4-5, and 7 (Weymouth’s translation): “‘How is it possible,’ Nicodemus asked, ‘for a man to be born when he is old? Can he a second time enter his mother’s womb and be born?’ In very truth I tell you,’ replied Jesus, ‘that unless a man is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter the kingdom of God’ . . . ‘Do not be astonished at my telling you (Nicodemus), You must all (no one left out) be born anew . . . of water and of the Spirit;'” for he who thus fails to enter God’s kingdom here on this earth, or during his lifetime, will never enter it in the world to come.

What did the man to whom Jesus gave “the keys of the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 16:18-19) say concerning the essentiality of water baptism? “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you.” Definitely, the apostle Peter understood and taught that every person should be properly (or scripturally) baptized in water. (See Acts 2:37-38 and 10:44-48.) There would have been no reason for Peter commanding the Gentiles, who assembled at the house of Cornelius, to be baptized after they had received the Holy Ghost had it not been essential to their salvation. Remember, Jesus put the same stress on being “born of water” as He did “of the Spirit.” They are both equally essential to one’s eternal salvation.

According to Paul’s testimony, concerning his own need of being baptized in water after he had been repenting with fasting and prayers for three days and nights, Ananias said to him: “And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins” (Acts 22:16). We will explain more thoroughly when dealing with “the formula of water baptism” further in this chapter, one must be baptized in water in the name of Jesus Christ in order to obtain remission of his sins. (See Acts 2:38 with Luke 24:46-47.) This point makes it essential for one to be scripturally baptized in water.

We have the instance where Paul and Silas baptized the Philippian jailer and all that were in his house, the same hour of the night they heard and believed the gospel message as it was preached to them: “And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night . . . and was baptized, he and all his, straightway” without any further delay (Acts 16:32-33). Remember, this preaching and baptizing took place as the consequence of the jailer’s conviction concerning “what (he) must . . . do (and could not avoid, in order) to be saved.” This jailer was only concerned about knowing and doing those things that were essential to his present and future salvation.

Finally, the apostle Peter had this to say about the essentially of water baptism, by way of comparison, according to Weymouth’s translation of I Peter 3:20-21, which reads as follows: “God’s longsuffering patiently waited in the days of Noah during the building of the Ark, in which a few persons eight in number were brought safely through the water (‘were saved by water’ King James’ translation), and, corresponding to that figure, baptism now saves you.” There are many other types and figures recorded in the Scriptures that show the importance of water baptism as pertaining to our spiritual welfare and eternal life. There is no natural life to be had by man, beast, fowl, fish, insect, vegetation, or anything else that lives unless they can obtain a sufficient amount of water. So why should we think it strange that God has so ordained it that water baptism is essential to our obtaining spiritual life?

II. The Mode For Water Baptism

The Bible teaches us that there is only one way to be baptized. The teaching that a man can choose “the mode” he prefers and use “any formula” he likes has no biblical foundation. The apostle Paul declared in Ephesians 4:5 that there is “one Lord, one faith, (and) one baptism.” This agrees with Jeremiah’s prophecy of Jeremiah 32:39: “And I will give them one heart, and one way, that they may fear me forever, for the good of them, and of their children after them.” Please read and compare Acts 2:3739, 41.

The word “baptize” comes from the Greek word baptizo, which means to immerse, plunge into, to dip, bury, or immerse. The original Greek word baptizo, and the English word as well, has no meaning that suggests sprinkling as a mode of baptism. Furthermore, we have no New Testament records where anyone used the “mode of sprinkling” for baptism they are all to the contrary.

The apostle Peter commanded both Jews and Gentiles to “be baptized” immersed (Acts 2:38 and 10:48). Ananias of Damascus likewise commanded Saul of Tarsus to “arise, and be baptized (immersed), and (to thus) wash away (his) sins.” How could one “wash away” his sins with a few drops of water, as used when sprinkling folk to baptize them? Paul explained the mode of baptism in this manner: “We are buried with him by baptism (immersion) into death” (Romans 6:4). So all these references set forth immersion as the scriptural mode for water baptism.

John the Baptist baptized his converts “in AEnon near to Salim, because there was much water there.” Much water is not needed when sprinkling a convert. A multitude of people could be sprinkled with a few cups of water. Jesus was baptized of John in Jordan (a river) and straightway came up and out of the water (Mark 1:9-10). John did not take Jesus out into the river Jordan in order to sprinkle Him.

In Acts 8:36-39 we have another record of a baptismal service where Philip the evangelist baptized (immersed) the Ethiopian eunuch. By closely observing every statement as you read this reference, you will notice that they both went down into the water, and afterwards came up out of it exactly as Jesus and John had done. There should be no argument as to the mode of baptism they used. It was immersion and nothing else. So we conclude that the mode for water baptism is immersion and not sprinkling.

III. The Bible Formula For Baptism

What is the correct and “scriptural formula” to be used when baptizing? Is it Matthew 28:19? The answer is no, for Matthew 28:19 is merely “a command” that informs us what to do and not what to say. Do I believe in baptizing according to Matthew 28:19? Most assuredly, I do! Oneness, Jesus Name Pentecostals as well as a few other ministers and churches baptize converts in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ; they are the only people who baptize “in the name (singular) of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” The name of the Son is Jesus, which we all understand, but the names of Father and the Holy Ghost are not given. Since the “name” is singular, we can conclude that the common name to use is the name of Jesus.

Did not Jesus say, “I am come in my Father’s name” (John 5:43), and that the “Father” would send the Holy Ghost “in my name” in the name of Jesus (John 14:26)? The name of Jesus, in the Hebrew language, is Yehoshua, meaning “Jehovah Saviour” or “Jehovah has become our salvation.” This is exactly what Isaiah prophesied concerning the Lord (Jehovah) that He would be our only Savior. (See Isaiah 43:10-11 and 45:20-22.) So the name, Jesus, is the apparent name of Matthew 28:19 and the name referred to by all three of the titles Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. (See Acts 7:59; II Corinthians 5:19; I Timothy 3:16 and I John 2:1 for Jesus being “the Father” or God.)

How many readers of this book have been baptized in the Son’s name, saying nothing of the other two titles of Matthew 28:19? This was not accomplished if Matthew 28:19 was used as a formula. The preacher only promised that he would baptize you in the Son’s name and immersed (or sprinkled) you without invoking any of God’s names upon you. He just repeated the “three titles” of Matthew 28:19 (“Father, Son, and Holy Ghost”) and let it go at that, for being baptized. You should take another look at Acts 2:37-41; 8:12-16; 10:42-48 and 19:1-5. These four references are the only accounts of water baptismal services recorded in “The Acts of The Apostles,” where the formula of baptism is given or the name used is stated. The title “Lord,” in Acts 10:48, is rendered as being “Jesus Christ” by Moffatt’s, Weymouth’s, Berkeley’s, Goodspeed’s, The Amplified New Testament, and the Revised Version’s translation; they all agree on it, as does Scofield in the marginal reference of his Bible.

Of all the names of God, the name of Jesus, or Yehoshua (Hebrew), is the only name of God that has salvation incorporated into it right into its meaning. That is why the apostle Peter said, “Neither is there salvation in any other (name): for there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Read Acts 4:7-12 with Matthew 1:21 and Colossians 3:17. Knowing these facts, the apostle Paul gave the following instructions to the church folk at Colosse: “And whatsoever (meaning anything and everything) ye do in word or deed (and both of these terms will apply to the act of baptizing), do all in the name of the Lord Jesus.” The name or title “Christ” could be added to the foregoing wording, “the Lord Jesus,” and still be scriptural (Acts 2:38 and 4:12). Do not get confused here, for “God hath made (Him) that same Jesus . . . both Lord and Christ” (Acts 2:36). (See also Matthew 16:13, 16, 20.)

Dear souls, you probably know as well as I do that the Son’s name is Jesus. Then, why not ask some “Oneness apostolic preacher” to baptize you in His name according to Acts 2:38? You will not find one instance in the Book of “The Acts of The Apostles” or in all the New Testament where any of the apostles or any other preachers baptized anyone using the titles “Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,” as listed in Matthew 28:19. So why hang on to such traditions of men and churches? Paul warned of the danger here, by saying: “Take heed lest there be anyone who leads you away as prisoners (from the plain teaching of God’s Word) by means of his (or their) philosophy and idle fancies, following human traditions and the world’s crude notions instead of following Christ” (and His instructions) Weymouth’s translation of Colossians 2:8.

The Question of Apostolic Authority

Are we safe in following the teachings and examples of the apostles, whom our Lord chose to propagate His gospel, in the matter of the mode and formula of water baptism when baptizing or being baptized in water for the remission of sins? Most assuredly we are! (See Matthew 28:20; 16:18-19 with Romans 2:16.) One will never go wrong or be found in error being baptized as the apostles baptized their converts in the name of Jesus with either or both titles (Lord or Christ) added. These apostles whom our Lord chose and ordained make up a principal part of the foundation of the New Testament church. Read Ephesians 2:19-22 and see for yourself. If we ignore what they taught and practiced, we will certainly build on a faulty and unscriptural foundation. If the man who was entrusted with “the keys of the kingdom” did not know what he was doing when he obeyed the command (not formula) of Matthew 28:19 and baptized those three thousand converts on the Day of Pentecost “in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins” (See Acts 2:37-41), then what are we to go by unless we accept the trinitarian method and baptize in the titles Father, Son and the Holy Ghost?

The Question of Remission of Sins

Did you know that the name of Jesus Christ is the only name given in heaven or earth that will remit your sins, save you, and give you eternal life? Quoting in part from Weymouth’s translation of Acts 4:11-12 we read:

“This Jesus is the stone treated with contempt by you, the builders, and in no other is salvation to be found; for, indeed, there is no second name under heaven . . . through which we are to be saved.” That being the case, we must be baptized in His name in order to be saved.

Precious hearts, again we affirm that the name of Jesus is the only name of God that has salvation and the remission of sins incorporated in it. (See Matthew 1:21 and Acts 2:38 with John 20:31.) You do not have to take my word for this, or merely the scriptural references just listed.

For further proof, read the following quotations from the Bible, and see for yourself.

“Thus it is written, and thus it behoved (or was necessary for) Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: and (why all this?) that repentance and remission of sins should be preached (`must be preached’  Weymouth’s and Berkeley’s translations) in his name (in the name of Jesus, if you please) among all nations” (Luke 24:46-47).

“Now when they had heard this (Peter’s sermon, as recorded in Acts 2:14-36), 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 (how?) in the name of Jesus Christ (what for?) for the remission of sins” (“of your sins”: Weymouth, Moffatt and Berkeley).

Are you still not convinced that remission of sins must come to you through the name of Jesus Christ? If so, we will quote some other scriptural references, as found in Moffatt’s translations of Acts 10:43 and 13:3738, as follows: “all the prophets testify to it that everyone who believes in Him (Jesus) is to receive remission of sins (how?) through His name . . . But He whom God raised did not suffer decay. So you must understand (for there is no way around it), my brothers, that remission of sins is proclaimed to you through Him” (Jesus) or “through His name” as stated in verse 43 of chapter 10 (Moffatt’s translation).

This brings us face to face again with the necessity of being baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. For there is no other means or ceremony by which the name of Jesus can be permanently invoked upon us (Acts 15:14-17) for our deliverance from past sins or the “sins that are past” (Romans 3:23-25). We must be baptized in water, in the name of Jesus Christ, in order to take upon us His name and thereby receive remission of sins. “For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Galatians 3:27), “have clothed yourselves with Christ” Weymouth’s and Berkeley’s translations.

Webster, in one of his definitions concerning water baptism, says, “To baptize means to name or give a name unto.” There is not a chance of invoking the name of Jesus Christ upon anyone when using Matthew 28:19 as written for a formula of baptism. Neither the name of Jesus nor the titles Christ and Lord are mentioned in Matthew 28:19. How any sane person or preacher could baptize anyone using Matthew 28:19 as an exact wording or formula for his baptismal ceremony, and then think or say he had baptized anyone in the Son’s name, is more than I can comprehend.

I have already mentioned in this chapter that eternal life was incorporated in the name of Jesus Christ. Here is what the apostle John had to say about that: “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing (and of course, by obeying the instructions of His Word Acts 5:32 and Isaiah 1:19) ye might have life through his name” (John 20:31). Please compare John 10:1; 14:6 with Acts 4:10-12.

Then, according to Isaiah 66:5, those who hate, cast out, and persecute the people who have been baptized “in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins” (Acts 2:38) will miss the rapture of the church and be put to open shame. I do not want to see this happen! Honestly and truly, how could any woman expect to be the wife of a man if she refused to be called by his name? (See Acts 15:13-17 with Romans 7:4.)

My brethren and church friends of all other denominations who have not been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I plead with you to give this matter of being baptized in the name of Him who bled and died for you some serious and prayerful consideration before you face God and eternity; before you cast aside the plain teaching of God’s Word upon such an important subject and doctrine that has to do with your soul’s salvation and your eternal destiny.

As one writer has said, “We Oneness Pentecostals have been accused . . . of making a needless issue of the importance of the name of Jesus.” How could that be when “there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:10-12; 2:37-40 and 19:1-5)? I also believe, as this same writer does, that “in time to come this name (of Jesus) will be the deciding factor between truth and deception and that it is God’s legal name in the world today. Surely God does business in no other name.” That is why most everyone who prays for the sick anoints them with oil in the name of Jesus Christ, or the Lord Jesus Christ. It is the name in which all power in heaven and earth is invested or incorporated. (See Philippians 2:9-11 and Matthew 28:18 with John 14:13-14.)

The Trinity Dogma

It might help some of you to know what the Catholic folk say about their “Dogma of the Trinity” and the deity of Christ. Please read the following information prayerfully and consider it in the light of folk being baptized in the titles of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost in order to receive salvation.

Mr. Graham Greene, writing in Life Magazine of October 30, 1950 volume 29, No. 18, page 51 to defend “The Dogma of the Assumption of Mary,” had this to say: “Our opponents sometimes claim that no belief should be held dogmatically which is not explicitly stated in Scripture (the Bible). But the ‘Protestant Churches’ have themselves accepted such dogmas as ‘The Trinity’ for which there is no such precise (meaning exact, definite or positive) authority in the gospels” (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) right where most all our Protestant friends and trinitarian Pentecostals obtain their formula (Matthew 28:19) for water baptism.

Then, Mr. Greene goes on to quote Newman as saying, “When once we have mastered the idea that Mary (the mother of Jesus) bore, suckled, and handled the eternal (right in her hands) in the form of a child, what limit is conceivable to the rush and flood of thoughts which such a (fact or) doctrine involves?”

Such statements as these give us and all our “trinitarian friends and brethren” something to seriously think and pray about concerning the correct scriptural formula for water baptism, and our teachings pertaining to the deity of Jesus Christ.

Since water baptism is essential unto salvation (Mark 16:15-16 with John 3:1-5) and must be administered in the name of Jesus Christ or the Lord Jesus (see Colossians 3:17 with Acts 2:37-38; 4:10-12 and 19:1-5) and you may have been baptized in some name other than in the name of “Jesus Christ” (Acts 2:38) you might run into a little hindrance about being re baptized, either in your own mind or by the opinion and statements of others. The apostle Paul did not hesitate to re-baptize some of John the Baptist’s converts “in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Acts 19:5 and 1-7). So it matters not how many times one has been baptized; he still needs to be baptized (immersed) in the name of Jesus adding a title “Lord” (Acts 8:16 and 19:5) or “Christ” (Acts 2:38), or both (Acts 2:36 and 16:31). This is the only scriptural way to be baptized.

Check the scriptural references concerning water baptism and be convinced yourself before you are baptized, even in the name of Jesus. You will not find that the apostles or any of the early Christians were baptized any other way. Remember, “the keys of the kingdom of heaven” were given unto the apostle Peter by the Lord Himself in person (Matthew 16:18-19) and that we “are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone.” (See Ephesians 2:19-22 with Luke 24:36-37, 44-48.) So be sure that the name of Jesus is used in the formula of baptism when you are immersed or baptized exactly as the apostles of Jesus Christ taught and practiced, as recorded in “The Acts of The Apostles.”

The above article, Water Baptism was written by B. E. Echols. The article was excerpted from Echol’s book Four Essentials Unto Salvation.

The material is copyrighted and should not be reprinted under any other name or author. However, this material may be freely used for personal study or research purposes.

The Third Essential: Water Baptism
By B. E. Echols

We shall now deal with another essential Scriptural element of the gospel of Jesus Christ which is: “water baptism by immersion” administered in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. There are three main points to consider in this chapter, namely: (1) the essentiality, (2) mode, and (3) formula of water baptism. If the reader has an open heart and mind to accept the plain teachings of God’s Holy Word, concerning these fundamental points pertaining to water baptism, and has already thoroughly repented of all his sins he should be a good candidate for Scriptural baptism, as taught and administered by the apostles and their associated ministers which you will find recorded in the “Acts of The Apostles.”

The Essentiality Of Water Baptism

Water baptism, administered in the proper mode and formula, is one of those “life and death messages” of the Bible and a “cardinal doctrine” of the Scriptures. For, “He that believeth (the gospel of Jesus Christ, when he hears it preached or taught) and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not (the gospel and does not obey it) shall be damned” (Mark 16:16). Compare 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9 and 2 Peter 3:9.

Again we read in St. John 3:4, 5 and 7 (Weymouth’s translation), “`How is it possible,’ Nicodemus asked, `for a man to be born when he is old? Can he a second time enter his mother’s womb and be born? In very truth I tell you,’ replied Jesus, `that unless a man is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter the kingdom of God’… `Do not be astonished at my telling you (Nicodemus), You must all (no one left out) be born anew of water and of the Spirit;” for he who thus fails to enter God’s kingdom here on this earth, or during his lifetime, will never enter it in the world to come.

Well, what does the man say to whom Jesus gave “the keys of the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 16:18, 19), concerning the essentiality of water baptism? “Then Peter said unto them, `Repent, and be baptized every one of you… “Definitely, the Apostle Peter understood and taught that every body should be properly (or Scripturally) baptized in water. See Acts 2:37, 38 and 10:44-48. There would have been no reason for Peter commanding the Gentiles, when assembled at the house of Cornelius, to be baptized after they had received the Holy Ghost had it not been something essential to their salvation. Remember, Jesus put the same stress on being “born of water” as He did “of the Spirit.” They are both equally essential to one’s eternal salvation.

According to Paul’s testimony, concerning his own need of being baptized in water after he had been repenting, with fasting and prayers for three days and nights, Ananias had said unto him: “And now, why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins,… ” (Acts 22:16). As we will explain more thoroughly, when dealing with “the formula of water baptism” further on in this chapter, one must be baptized in water in the name of Jesus Christ in order to obtain remission of his sins (Acts 2:38 with Luke 24 :46, 47). This point also makes it essential for one to be Scripturally baptized in water.

Then, we have the instance where Paul and Silas baptized the Philippian jailer, and all that were in his house, the same hour of the night they heard and believed the gospel message, as they had heard it preached to them. “And they spoke unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night,… and was baptized, he and all his, straightway”�without any further delay (Acts 16:32, 33). Remember, all this preaching and baptizing took place as the consequence of the jailer’s conviction concerning “what (he) must… do (and could not avoid, in order) to be saved.” This jailer was only concerned about knowing and doing those things that were essential to his present and future salvation.

Finally, the Apostle Peter had this say about the essentially of water baptism, by way of comparison, according to Weymouth’s translation of I Peter 3:20, 21, which reads as follows: “God’s longsuffering patiently waited in the days of Noah during the building of the Ark, in which a few persons eight in number were brought safely through the water (“were saved by water”King James’ translation), And, corresponding to that figure, baptism now saves you saves you nowadays” (Berkeley). There are many other types and figures recorded in the Scriptures that show the importance of water baptism, as pertaining to our spiritual welfare and eternal life. There is no natural life to be had by man, beast, fowl, fish, insect, vegetation, or anything else that lives unless they can obtain a sufficient amount of water. So why should we think it so strange, after God has so ordained it, that water baptism is essential to our obtaining spiritual life?

The Mode For Water Baptism

The Bible teaches us that there is only one way to be baptized. This teaching that you can choose “the mode” you refer and use “any formula” you like has no Biblical foundation whatever. The Apostle Paul declares, in Ephesians 4:5, that there is but “One Lord, one faith, (and) one baptism.” This agrees with Jeremiah’s prophecy of Jeremiah 32:39, “And I will give them one heart, and one way, that they may fear Me forever, for the good of them, and of their children after them.” Now please read and compare Acts 2:37-39, 41.

The word “baptize” comes from the Greek word “baptizo,” which means to immerse, plunge into, to dip, bury, or immerge. The original Greek word “baptizo,” and the English word as well, has no meaning whatever that suggests sprinkling for the mode of baptism. Furthermore, we have no New Testament records where any one ever used the “mode of sprinkling” for baptism they are all to the contrary.

The Apostle Peter commanded both Jews and Gentiles to “be baptized” immersed (Acts 2:38 and 10:48). Ananias of Damascus likewise commanded Saul of Tarsus to “arise and be baptized (immersed) and (to thus) wash away… (his) sins,… ” How could one “wash away” his sins with a few drops of water, as used when sprinkling folk to baptize them ? Paul explained the mode of baptism in this manner, in Romans 6:4, “We are buried with Him by baptism (immersion) into death… “So all these references unquestionably set forth `immersion’ as the Scriptural mode for water baptism.

John the Baptist baptized his converts “in AEnon near to Salem, because there was much water there… ” Much water is not needed when sprinkling folk. A multitude of people could be sprinkled with a few cups of water. Jesus was baptized of John in Jordan (a river) and straightway came up and out of the water (Mark 1:9, 10). Do you believe John took Jesus out in the river Jordan in order to sprinkle Him? Surely, you do not!

In Acts 8:36-39 we have another record of a baptismal service where Philip the evangelist baptized (immersed) the Ethiopian Eunuch. By closely observing every statement, as you read this reference, you will notice that they both went down into the water, and afterwards came up out of it exactly as Jesus and John did. There is no argument as to the mode of baptism they used; it was immersion and nothing else. So we must conclude that the only mode for water baptism is immersion and not sprinkling.

The Bible Formula For Baptism

What is the correct and “Scriptural Formula” to be used when baptizing? Is it Matthew 28:19? How could it be, when Matthew 28:19 is “a command” that only informs us what to do and not what to say? Do I believe in baptizing according to Matthew 28:19? Most assuredly, I do! We “Oneness Jesus Name Pentecostals” and a few other ministers and churches, who baptize our converts in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, are the ONLY church folk who actually baptize “in the Name (singular) of the Father, and of the Son (who most every one knows is Jesus, even if they do not know or under-stand who the other two titles refer to), and of the Holy Ghost.”

Did not Jesus say, “I am come in My Father’s name” (St John 5:43), and that the “Father” would send the Holy Ghost “in My name” in the name of Jesus (St. John 14:26)? The name of Jesus, in the Hebrew language, is Jehoshua, meaning “Jehovah Savior.” or “Jehovah has become our salvation.” And, this is exactly what Isaiah prophesied concerning the Lord (Jehovah) that He would be our only Savior. See Isaiah 43:10, 11 and 45:20-22. So the name, Jesus, is “The Name” of Matthew 28:19, referred to by all three of the titles Father, Son, and the Holy Ghost. See Acts 7:58; II Corinthians 5:19; I Timothy 3:16 and I John 2:1 for Jesus being “the Father” or God.

How many of you have been baptized in the son’s Name, saying nothing of the other two titles of Matthew 28:19? This was not accomplished if Matthew 28:19 was used as a formula. The preacher only promised you he would baptize you in the Son’s name and immersed (or sprinkled) you with-out invoking any of God’s names upon you. He just repeated these “three titles” of Matthew 28:19 (“Father… Son, and Holy Ghost”) and let you go at that, for being baptized. You had better take another look at Acts 2:37-40; 8:1242; 10:42-48 and 19:1-5, These four references are the only ac-counts of water baptismal services recorded in “The Acts of The Apostles,” where the formula of baptism is given or the name used is stated. The title “Lord,” in Acts 10:48, is rendered as being “Jesus Christ” by Moffatt’s, Weymouth’s, Berkeley’s, Goodspeed’s, The Amplified New Testament’s, and the Revised Version’s translation. They all agree on it, so does Scofield, in the marginal reference of His Bible.

Of all the names of God, the name of Jesus, or Jehoshua (Hebrew), is the only name of God that has salvation incorporated in it right into its meaning. That is why the Apostle Peter said, “Neither is there salvation in any other (name): for there is none other name under heaven given among men (whether in or out of the Bible), whereby we must be saved.” Read Acts 4:7-12 with Matthew 1:21 and Colossians 3:17. Knowing these facts, the Apostle Paul gave the following instructions to the church folk at Colosse, “And whatsoever (meaning anything and everything) we do in word or deed (and both of these terms will apply to the act of baptizing), do all in the name of the Lord Jesus…” The name or title “Christ” could be added to the foregoing wording, “the Lord Jesus,” and still be Scriptural (Acts 2:38 and 4:12), Don’t get confused here, for “God hath made (Him) that same Jesus… both Lord and Christ” (Acts 2:36). See also Matthew 16:13, 16, 20.

Dear Souls, you probably know as well as I do, that the Son’s name is Jesus. Then, why don’t you have some “Oneness Apostolic Preacher” to baptize you in His name according to Acts 2:38? You will not find one instance in the book of “The Acts of The Apostles” or in all the New Testament, where any of the apostles or any other preachers ever baptized anyone using the titles “Father… Son, and… Holy Ghost,” as listed in Matthew 28:19. So why hang on to such traditions of men and churches? Paul warns of the danger here, by saying: “Take heed lest there be anyone who leads you away as prisoners (from the plain teaching of God’s Word) by means of his (or their) philosophy and idle fancies, following human traditions and the world’s crude notions in-stead of following Christ” (and His instructions). Weymouth’s translation of Colossians 2:8.

The Question Of Apostolic Authority

Are we safe in following the teachings and examples of the apostles, whom our Lord chose to propagate His gospel, in the matter of the mode and formula of water baptism when baptizing or being baptized in water for the remission of sins? Most assuredly we are! See Matthew 28:20; 16:18, 19 with Romans 2:16. One will never go wrong or be found in error, being baptized as they baptized their converts, in the name of Jesus with either or both titles (Lord or Christ) added. These apostles our Lord chose and ordained, make up a principle part of the foundation of the New Testament Church. Read Ephesians 2:19-22 and see for yourself. If we ignore what they taught and practiced we will certainly build on a faulty and unscriptural foundation. If the man who was entrusted with “The Keys of the Kingdom” did not know what he was doing when he obeyed the command (not formula) of Matthew 28:19 and baptized those three thousand converts on the day of Pentecost “in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins” (See Acts 2 :37-41) , then what are we to go by unless we accept the “Dogma of the Trinity” and baptize in the titles, Father, Son and the Holy. Ghost, for which they (the Catholics) admit that they have no Scriptural authority for using when administering water baptism?

The Question Of Remission Of Sins

Did you know that the name of Jesus Christ is the only name given in heaven or earth that will remit your sins, save you, and give you eternal life? Quoting in part, from Weymouth’s translation of Acts 4:11, 12 we read: “This Jesus is the stone treated with contempt by you, the builders… And in no other is salvation to be found, for, indeed, there is no second name under heaven… through which we are to be saved.” That being the case, we must be baptized in His name in order to be saved.

Precious hearts, again we affirm that the name of Jesus is the only name of God that has salvation and the remission of sins incorporated in it. See Matthew 1:21, any translation, and Acts 2:38 with St. John 20:31. You don’t have to take my word for this, or merely the scriptural references just listed. For further proof, read the following quotations, from the Bible, and see for yourself.

“Thus it is written, and thus it behooved (or was necessary for) Christ to suffer, and rise from the dead the third day and (why all this?) that repentance and remission of sins should be preached (“must be preached”Weymouth’s and Berkeley’s translations) in his Name (in the name of Jesus, if you please) among all nations, … “(Luke 24:46, 47).
“Now when they had heard this (Peter’s sermon, as recorded in Acts 2:14-39), they were pricked in their hearts, and said unto Peter and 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 (how?) in the Name of Jesus Christ (what for?) for the remission of sins'” (“of your sins”: Weymouth, Moffatt and Berkeley).

Are you still not convinced that “remission of sins” must come to you through the name of Jesus Christ? If so, we will quote some other Scriptural references, as found in Moffatt’s translations of Acts 10:43 and 13:37, 38, as follows: “all the prophets testify to it that everyone who believes in Him (Jesus) is to receive remission of sins (how?) through His Name”… “But He whom God raised did not suffer decay. So you must understand (for there is no way around it), my brothers, that remission of sins is pro-claimed to you through Him” (Jesus) or “through His name”as stated in verse 43 of chapter ten (Moffatt’s translation).

This brings us face to face again with the necessity of being baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. For, there is no other means or ceremony by which the name of Jesus can be permanently invoked upon us (Acts 15:14-17) for our deliverance from past sins or the “sins that are past” (Romans 3:23-25). We must be baptized in water, in the name of Jesus Christ, in order to take upon us His name and thereby receive “remission of sins.” for as many of you as have been baptism into Christ have put on Christ (Galatians 3:27), have clothed yourselves with Christ Weymouth’s and Berkley’s translations.

Webster, in one of his definitions concerning water baptism says, To baptize means to name or give a name unto. There is not a single chance of invoking the Name of Jesus Christ upon anyone, when using Matthew 28:19 as written, for a formula of baptism. Neither the Name of Jesus, nor the titles Christ and Lord, are mentioned in Matthew 28:19. How any sane person or preacher could baptize anyone, using Matthew 28:19 as an exact wording or formula for his baptismal ceremony, and then think or say he had baptized anyone in the Son’s name, is more than I can comprehend.

I have made mention already, in this chapter, of the fact that eternal life was incorporated in the name of Jesus Christ. Here is what the Apostle John had to say about that, But these are written, t hat ye might believe Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing (and of course, by obeying the instructions of His Word Acts 5:32 and Isaiah 1:19) ye might have life through His Name (St. John 20:31). Please compare St. John10:1 with Acts 4:10-12.

Then, according to Isaiah 66:5, those who hate, cast out, and persecutes the people who have been baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38) will miss the rapture of the church and be put to open shame. I do not want to see this happen! Honestly and truly, how could any woman expect to be the wife of a man if she refused to be called by his name? See Acts 15:13-17 with Romans 7:4.

My brethren and church friends of all other denominations, who have not been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I plead with you to give this matter of being baptized in the Name of Him who bled and died for you some serious and prayerful consideration before you face God and eternity; also, before you cast aside the plain teaching of God’s Word upon such an important subject and doctrine that has to do with your soul’s salvation and your eternal destiny.

As one writer has said, “We (Oneness Pentecostals) have been accused… of making a needless issue of the importance of the name of Jesus.” How could that be, when “there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:10-12, 2:37-40 and 19:1-5)? I also believe, as this same writer does, that “in time to come this name (of Jesus) will be the deciding factor between Truth and deception (and that), it is God’s legal name in the world today. (Surely) “God does business in no other name.” That is why most every one who prays for the sick anoints them with oil in the name of Jesus Christ, or the Lord Jesus Christ. It is the name in which all power in heaven and earth is invested or incorporated. See Philippians 2:9-11 and Matthew 28:18 with St. John 14:13, 14.

The Trinity Dogma

It might help some of you to know what the Catholic folk say about their “Dogma of the Trinity” and the deity of Christ. Please read the following information prayerfully and consider it in the light of folk being baptized in the titles Father, Son, and Holy Ghost in order to merit salvation from three Gods or personalities in the Godhead, as they state it.

Mr. Graham Greene, writing in Life Magazine of October 30th, 1950 value 29, No. 18, page 51 to defend “The Dogma of the Assumption of Mary,” had this to say: “Our opponents sometimes claim that NO belief should be held dogmatically which is not explicitly stated in Scripture (the Bible)… But the `Protestant Churches’ have themselves accepted such dogmas as `The Trinity’ for which there is no such precise (meaning exact, definite or positive) authority in the gospels” (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) right where most all our Protestant Friends and Trinitarian Pentecostals obtain their formula (Matthew 28:19) for water baptism.

Then, Mr. Greene goes on to quote Newman as saying, “When once we have mastered the idea that Mary (the mother of Jesus) bore, suckled, and handled the eternal (right in her hands) in the form of a child, what limits is conceivable to the rush and flood of thoughts which such a (fact or) doctrine involves?

Such statements as these give us, and all our “Trinitarian Friends and brethren,” something to seriously think and pray about concerning the correct Scriptural formula for water baptism, and our teachings pertaining to the deity of Jesus Christ.

Since water baptism is essential unto salvation (Mark 16:15,16 with St. John 3:1-5) and must be administered in the name of “Jesus Christ” or the “Lord Jesus” (see Col. 3:17 with Acts 2 :37, 38 ; 4:10-12 and 19:1-5) and you may have been baptized in some name other than in the Name of “Jesus Christ” (Acts 2 :38) you might run into a little hindrance about being re-baptized, either in your own mind or by the opinion and statements of others. The Apostle Paul did not hesitate to re-baptize some of John the Baptist’s converts “in the Name of the Lord Jesus” (Acts 19:5 and 1-7). So it matters not how many times one has been. baptized otherwise he still needs to be baptized (immersed) in the Name of Jesus adding a title “Lord” (Acts 8 :16 and 19:5) or “Christ” (Acts 2:38), or both (Acts 2:36 and 16:31). This is the only Scriptural way to be baptized.

Check the Scriptural references concerning water baptism and be convinced yourself before you are baptized, even in the name of Jesus. You will not find that the apostles or any of the early Christians were baptized any other way. Remember, “the keys of the kingdom of heaven” were given unto the Apostle Peter by the Lord Himself, in person (Matthew 16:18, 19) and that we “…are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone.” See Ephesians 2:19-22 with Luke 24:36, 37, 44-48); So be sure that the name of Jesus is used in the formula of baptism when you are immersed or baptized, exactly as the apostles of Jesus Christ taught and practiced, as recorded in “The Acts of The Apostles.”

This article The Third Essential: Water Baptism written by B. E. Echols is excerpted from Four Essentials Unto Salvation written by B. E. Echols