What do Pentecostals Believe?

Pentecostals began in the early 1900's. They sprung out of the Baptist and Methodist denominations. There are many splinter groups that refer to themselves as Pentecostals, but lack the criteria to be truly Pentecostal. Even as with other denominations there are some basic key points that must be held to in order to be considered Pentecostal. These basic tenets are referred to as the Pentecostal Pillars.

First, all true Pentecostals hold to the Fundamentals of the Christian Faith. This means that they affirm the Virgin Birth of Jesus Christ, The Deity of Christ, the Authority of the Scriptures, the Trinity, etc. Some groups claiming to be Pentecostal have erred from the way by denying these basic truths and thus are no longer truly Pentecostal or Christian for that matter.

Next, all true Pentecostals hold to Salvation by faith through grace in Jesus Christ. Ephesians 2:8,9. There is no other way to be saved other than by faith in Jesus Christ. John 3:16 Pentecostals believe that each of us by our own will have chosen to sin and are going to hell without salvation. But God in His love sent Jesus to die on the cross for us. Jesus paid the penalty for our sins. There are two lines of teaching within the Pentecostals, one that God chose us in Him before the foundation of the world. Ephesians 1:4 and the other that we by our "free will" can choose to accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior. Both lines of doctrine agree that Jesus is the only way. Baptism, Speaking in tongues, good works, etc. do not save only faith in Jesus Christ and Him alone saves.

Two Ordinances, this doctrine was borrowed from the Baptists primarily. Pentecostals generally believe in believer's immersion and the Lord's Supper. Once someone has accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior they are to be Baptized usually by full immersion. The other ordinance is in memory of the Lord's Supper. Foot washing is sometimes practiced at the Lord's Supper at some Pentecostal churches.

Divine Healing is another tenet of the Pentecostals. Isaiah 53:4-6 Pentecostals and some Baptists and Methodists believe that when Jesus died on the cross, He died not only for our sins, but for our Physical Healing. The verse says "with His stripes we are healed." The Hebrew word is "Rapha" which means Physical Healing. Those who argue against this say, that this was symbolic of the stripes he bore for our sins. Jesus paid for our sins physically and thus heals our soul's diseases only. Those who argue for Divine Healing state that Jesus Paid for both our sins and our healing.

Finally, the Gift of Tongues is a tenet of the Pentecostals. Pentecostals believe that there is a second infilling of the Holy Spirit. Speaking in tongues doesn't save, but sometime after salvation there is a second infilling or Baptism of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2 They say the evidence of the infilling is speaking in 'unknown tongues'. Those who disagree believe that the Biblical gift of tongues was foreign languages or tongues (languages) that we unknown to that individual who was using them. I & II Corinthians They, also, teach that the Holy Spirit fills or baptizes someone at salvation and doesn't need to a second infilling. The third point those who disagree make is that they feel the gift of tongues ceased when the Bible was completed. I Corinthians 13.

These four main points are the basic tenets of the Pentecostals. Pentecostals disagree on many other issues like whether there should be women clergy, foot washing, church governments, etc. But to be a true Pentecostal a person or church must hold to the Fundamentals of the Christian Faith and Four Pentecostal Pillars (basic tenets).

Some churches that do hold to the above for the most part are the Assemblies of God, many Non-denominational churches, and some Churches of God.

Some churches that claim to be Pentecostal but deny the Trinity, a Fundamental of the Christian Faith are the United Pentecostal Church, Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, and all other "Jesus Only" or "oneness" churches. These churches have erred from the faith and are no longer Christian, but by definition a cult.

Some churches that claim to be Pentecostal but have a works based salvation are the so-called holiness groups. They teach that in order to remain saved you can't sin. Every time you sin you lose your salvation. They believe that your salvation hinges on you and not on Jesus. This group is ultra-arminian in doctrine. Pentecostal Holiness Church International is one example of a holiness denomination. Since, the holiness group errs from the faith in that they are wrong on salvation they no longer are truly Pentecostal. A works based salvation is not salvation by grace and thus we will not spend eternity together with them.

John 3 makes it pretty clear.

16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son,
that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

17 For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world,
but that the world might be saved through Him.

18 He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

The word "believe" comes from the word pisteuó meaning persuaded.
One can persuade themselves of something,
Or they can be persuaded by God.

Only context indicates which one.
The context of John 3, is being persuaded by God.

Thus God has already extended grace.

Wouldn’t it be that we chose to believe, but the fact that we can choose to and stick to believe be due to God’s grace?,

absolutely not. That assertion is not scriptural, but solely a concept which springs from the reason of man, and is in fact in opposition to the scripture. This debate goes back at least as far as Pelagius, who asserted that grace is not necessary for salvation. I am glad that you stated it the way you did, as it makes clear the real divide here. Salvation (including the decision to repent and believe) is ALL of grace. It is not a bifurcated mix of our effort -whether that effort is to "keep ourselves in the grace of God"... a biblical command- or to believe initially. Again, the assertion from the bible is that the command to believe and the command to continue in the faith are both predicated on the idea that neither are ultimately to be found in us, but in the grace of God.

If a person later decides he no longer believes, then he doesn’t follow what Jesus prescribed “he that endureth to the end will be saved”

if one reads scripture, what does Jesus say saves us?

Indeed

Your answers below assume that these evidences of grace are causes of grace. i.e, that the grace of God is contingent on the activities of men. This is a false assumption. Our faith, and the evidences of faith in obedience, are solely rooted in the grace of God. It is only if you ignore this clear teaching of the bible itself that you can wrest these passages to teach that faith or the consequent obedience that springs from faith originate in the will of man.

Matt. 24:13 “But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” Matt 25:31-46 “34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.” Jesus says that if you endure to the end you get salvation, that if you helped your fellow man you inherit the kingdom of God (you get salvation) —> note these are HIS own words 1 Pet. 3:20-21: “ It (Baptism )saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ” Note — also in Acts 16:31 we are told to believe and you will be saved — so Faith is definitely one of the things needed, yet as you see above, it is not ONLY faith. Remember — James says “even the demons believe - and shudder” — it is not faith ALONE that saves Jesus said it is not faith ALONE. We are saved by God’s GRACE. Full-stop.

Agreed... and of course

James 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. — it’s never faith ALONE. Note that the faith brings out fruits in us - our “works” can’t save us, but yet those who faith, those with grace, show it in their works. He who believes and is baptized will be saved. (Mk 16:16) [U]nless you repent you will all likewise perish. (Lk 13:3)<,li> [H]e who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. (Jn 6:54) no one is denying that one MUST have faith to be saved by the freely given grace of salvation, however, it is not faith ALONE.

There ain't no such animal. Such "faith" is not saving faith, but rather an intellectual assent, possibly combined with some emotional froth. As the passage in James cited above, even the demons have such "faith"

As shown above, Jesus Himself said that He who believes and is baptized will be saved. (Mk 16:16) [U]nless you repent you will all likewise perish. (Lk 13:3 [H]e who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. (Jn 6:54) So, we have the words of Jesus who said it is faith+ repentance+baptism+the Eucharist+endurance, not any of these in isolation. Of course, these don’t “save us” per se, since it is Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross that grants us our salvation

true
BR> that we can accept or reject

also true, but I refuse to acknowledge that our acceptance or rejection of this is rooted in men. This is where your logic has trumped scripture. You are making an assumption here that ignores the root issue.

The problem happens when one takes one section of the word in isolation.

Indeed. Truer than you know.

It is possible that you are Roman Catholic in your postion and understanding. You should review Augustine and his controversy with Pelagius, and consider that Pelaginansim (essentialy the position you have outlined above, has been declared a heresy by the church itself. It is the re-adoption of this position of heresy, and incorporated into the official teachings of the church at Trent(!) which is the root of the difficulty we have here.

I am an Apostolic Pentecostal. We believe in One God and that Jesus in his Name. I seek not to offend, but to share some tenants of my belief.

(Some Scriptural References) King James Version

One God

• Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is One Lord: Deuteronomy 6:4

The Day of Pentecost and the Holy Ghost

• And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. Acts 2:1
• And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. Acts 2:2
• And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. Acts 2:3
• And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Acts 2:4

Baptism in the Name of Jesus and Salvation

• Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made the same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ Acts 2:36
• Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Acts 2:37
• Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Acts 2:38

Born Again

• There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: John 3:1
• The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. John 3:2
• Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. John 3:3
• Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? John 3:4
• Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. John 3:5

Thank you for your patience and reply.

To your first paragraph - it is scriptural that we choose to believe. But note my assertion that the ability, the fact that we can is due to God’s grace. It is not something we can be proud of, nor that we save ourselves. It is that we choose to hold on to the life-saving ring thrown around us by God (God’s grace being the ring)

This is NOT Pelagian - as I stated clearly, grace is essential for and is how we are saved. We do not save ourselves.

“your answers below...” — no, I pointed out these are evidences of grace given by God, but those that God said we should do as a sign of our grace
Matt 24:12 “endure to the end”
Matt 25 - look after the poor and sick
1 Pet - baptism
Acts 16:31 believe and be saved’

Note that each point it is God’s grace that acts through us, and it is God’s grace that saves us.

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