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.

Thank you for your patience and reply.BR> Rather, thank YOU for your irenic and gracious replies

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.

I could respond here in a number of ways, but I had rather focus on the areas which unite us rather than the areas (serious as I am convinced they are!) which divide.... as I am convinced you are, as well.

I believe I could shake your hand as a true brother in Christ, although we might go at it hammer and tongs over the innate ability of men to obey God in faith and obedience AT ALL, and yet I see you stating that even the ability to repent and believe (and persevere) are in fact rooted solely in the gift of God to us, even as God does not believe FOR is (it is truly my faith which saves me), but enables saving faith in me.

Over the years, I have come to believe that the issue is whether regeneration (the new birth) PROCEEDS FROM faith or in fact PRODUCES faith. That is, is a man (or woman) "born again" as a result of faith, or does one have faith as a result of God making us alive, so that faith is both "natural" and irresistible?

So called "Calvinists" (so I have been called! :) ) believe we are in the true tradition of Augustine (and Aquinas, as enamored with Human reason as he was!!!), and that the Roman church took a terrible turn at Trent, should step back, and return to a more theocentric understanding of the mechanics of salvation.

However, if we are honest with ourselves, we will admit (at least among ourselves, ha ha!) that issues concerning human responsibility and divine sovereignty are/may not be as easily quantifiable as Louis Berkhof (one of our favorite modern guys) may seem to imply.

I myself tend to be insistent to the point of obnoxiousness that salvation is ALL of God. Humans contribute NOTHING.... and yet it is also clearly true that our activities DO confirm, strengthen, and enable faith..., and again, it is MY faith which saves me although, again,that faith is the gift of God.

I am not smart enough to parse all this out, though, and while some of your comments do disturb me (I think them in error), I "get" where you are coming from.

Hope that long rant was not just blabber, but thought it important to say it anyway.

I once had a rather long discussion with a United Pentecostal preacher who was a modalist (he denied the plurality of the Godhead). He did not know the scriptures very well and our conversation increasingly became one of “the bible says...” vs “ this does not make rational sense.”

At one point he said “WHERE IS YOUR BRAIN, MAN?” at which I responded “it is in subjection to the revealed Word of God... which by the way, is where yours should be!”

I wish I could say I won the man, rather than just the argument....

Yes, many Pentecostals are deniers of the plurality of persons in the Godhead, which is a serious heresy.

The thing which gets me is that the Trinity is logical if one says Jesus was/is God.

If we say
1. Jesus was/is God
2. There is only one God

Then we have a conundrum.

One can say Adoptionism or that Jesus was (hey, these aren’t my positions, I’m recounting older heresies which tried to explain this) possessed by the spirit of God, but they all fail the numerous accounts where Jesus forgives sins against God, calls Himself I am etc.

The rejection of the Trinity leads to Universal unitarianism and we know where THAT leads

we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity; neither confounding the Persons, nor dividing the Essence. For there is one Person of the Father; another of the Son; and another of the Holy Ghost. But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, is all one; the Glory equal, the Majesty coeternal. Such as the Father is; such is the Son; and such is the Holy Ghost. The Father uncreated; the Son uncreated; and the Holy Ghost uncreated. The Father unlimited; the Son unlimited; and the Holy Ghost unlimited. The Father eternal; the Son eternal; and the Holy Ghost eternal. And yet they are not three eternals; but one eternal. As also there are not three uncreated; nor three infinites, but one uncreated; and one infinite. So likewise the Father is Almighty; the Son Almighty; and the Holy Ghost Almighty. And yet they are not three Almighties; but one Almighty. So the Father is God; the Son is God; and the Holy Ghost is God. And yet they are not three Gods; but one God. So likewise the Father is Lord; the Son Lord; and the Holy Ghost Lord. And yet not three Lords; but one Lord. For like as we are compelled by the Christian verity; to acknowledge every Person by himself to be God and Lord; So are we forbidden by the catholic religion; to say, There are three Gods, or three Lords. The Father is made of none; neither created, nor begotten. The Son is of the Father alone; not made, nor created; but begotten. The Holy Ghost is of the Father and of the Son; neither made, nor created, nor begotten; but proceeding. So there is one Father, not three Fathers; one Son, not three Sons; one Holy Ghost, not three Holy Ghosts. And in this Trinity none is before, or after another; none is greater, or less than another. But the whole three Persons are coeternal, and coequal. So that in all things, as aforesaid; the Unity in Trinity, and the Trinity in Unity, is to be worshipped. He therefore that will be saved, let him thus think of the Trinity.

Good Morning Cronos:

Thanks for your reply! It was very well reasoned. I have provided some scriptures for your review.

One God

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

• Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. Luke 24:39

• In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1

• And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. John 1:14

• God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. John 4:24

• I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive. John 5:43

• I and my Father are one John 10:30

• Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father? John 14:9

• But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. John 14:26

• Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. Acts 4:12

• One Lord, one faith, one baptism Ephesians 4:5

• Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name Philippians 2:9

• That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; Philippians 2:10

• And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:11

• For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. Colossians 2:9

• Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever. Hebrews 13:8

• For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. 1 John 5:7

• And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. 1 John 5:8

Thank You F105-D Thunderchief

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