Development of ACOP Doctrine

[Celestine]

Acts 4:13 describes Peter and John’s boldness and authority, despite being ordinary men without formal training. This verse aptly describes early Pentecostals, who were often marginalized and lacked formal theological education. Yet, they were empowered by the Holy Spirit, demonstrating boldness, passion, and effectiveness in sharing the Gospel.

This verse can still describe Pentecostals today who are filled with the Spirit and empowered to witness and serve. However, it’s essential to recognize that many modern Pentecostals have received formal theological training and education.

Regarding Baptism in the Spirit, my understanding aligns with the ACOP statement of faith, which emphasizes the experience as subsequent to salvation, evidenced by speaking in tongues (Acts 2, 10, 19). This experience empowers believers for ministry, witness, and a deeper relationship with God.

The video presentation has reinforced my understanding of the importance of Baptism in the Spirit and its role in empowering believers for effective ministry and witness.

[Kevin]

Early pentecostals were similar to Peter & John, because they had no formal training and were simply equipped for their ministry by the Holy Spirit and connection to Jesus. I think it still applies to pentecostals today, but on different levels. I’m sure some of them would still be considered has having no formal training in the Scriptures, but still be able to minister powerfully, but more than that, I would hope that our effectiveness is ministry, while grounded in solid Biblical understanding, is rooted more in our personal relationship and connection with Jesus than in any head knowledge.

I think it generally lines up, in that the Baptism of the Spirit is a distinct experience from salvation — though no less free — and empowers us to minister more effectively, and provides us access to the gifts of the spirit.

• This reply was modified 2 days, 2 hours ago by  Kevin.

[Anna]

• In the early church, and then throughout history, the Holy Spirit made Jesus known through ordinary believers by empowering them with boldness and signs and wonders. In many parts of the world, believers still stand out in a crowd as “having been with Jesus”, however I do believe that we could stand to see more boldness, signs and wonders in Canada. I think Pentecostals today have narrowed their focus a little too much by focussing on speaking in tongues. The early church relied heavily on the Holy Spirit – not the gift of tongues – when out in ministry and the Holy Spirit gave them what they needed when they needed it.
• My understanding of the baptism of the Holy Spirit is that upon baptism, the believer is filled with the Spirit of Jesus, able to hear and to act according to His plans and purposes. That’s where the boldness comes in. The speaking on tongues was a sign to those on the outside of what was going on on the inside of a person. I don’t think my theology quite lines up with what was presented in the video because I don’t believe we should be baptize in the Holy Spirit so we can speak in tongues. I believe we should be baptized in the Holy Spirit so we can walk in the power of God, to show a very hurting world who Jesus is by speaking and living with boldness and with signs and wonders. Being joyful in all situations, rejoicing in trials and tribulations, not afraid of the Gospel or of people.

[Zach]

The label “ordinary men with no special training, but they had been with Jesus,” would aptly sum up large parts of the Pentecostal movement in the US and also Wales in the same time frame. People with no education, no schooling were seeking God and finding him, and the Holy Spirit was being poured out. It is no surprise to me that schools and Bible colleges came later, as the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth who leads us into all truth, would have certainly been pushing people on into greater depths of clarity and articulation of what they had seen and heard. For me, the baptism of the Holy Spirit, as an experience subsequent to salvation, is not only often evidenced by speaking in tongues, but brings with it a passion and clarity to give witness to who Jesus is and what He has done. This of course doesn’t always lead to formal training, but the unction and passion that accompany this experience often makes articulating Jesus’s work and presence in our lives much more powerful and relevant than without it.