The Bible says in John 14:6 "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." Kind of sounds like a "Jesus Only" statement to me. Again in Hebrews 7:24-25 "But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them." The United Pentecostal Church has been accused on numerous occasions of being Jesus Only. While I am a licenced minister of the UPC (United Pentecostal Church) I don't believe that it is the only group one can belong to to be saved. Having said that let me say that I do believe in it's doctrinal stand.
What is the UPC's doctrinal stand? I'm glad you asked. (My tongue is in my cheek) The basic and fundamental belief of the UPCI is as follows:
"The basic and fundamental doctrine of this organization shall be the Bible standard of full salvation, which is repentance, baptism in water by immersion in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and the baptism of the Holy Ghost with the initial sign of speaking with other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance. We shall endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit until we all come into the unity of the faith, at the same time admonishing all brethren that they shall not contend for their different views to the disunity of the body."
This is the preamble to the Articles of Faith of the UPCI.
Full salvation? Is there a partial salvation? I think not. What the Apostle Peter said on the Day of Pentecost in answer to his Jewish hearers is found in Acts 2:38, "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." If you consider yourself a Christian you must accede to Peter's statement. The apostles when called on the carpet for preaching Jesus Christ to the multitudes said in Acts 4:12, "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." It sure sounds like the apostles were pretty sure of themselves.
Full salvation? Is there a partial salvation? I think not. What the Apostle Peter said on the Day of Pentecost in answer to his Jewish hearers is found in Acts 2:38, "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." If you consider yourself a Christian you must accede to Peter's statement. The apostles when called on the carpet for preaching Jesus Christ to the multitudes said in Acts 4:12, "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." It sure sounds like the apostles were pretty sure of themselves.
Christ, in the Greek language that was used that day according to Strong's Hebrew-Greek dictionary means, "Christos (pronounced) khris-tos' From G5548; anointed, that is, the Messiah, an epithet of Jesus: - Christ." Jesus Christ is God's only Messiah that will ever be. Jesus only? We believe all the Bible! Including those scriptures such as Matthew 16:15-16 where the Lord Jesus asked the disciples, "...But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." or in 2nd Peter 1:17 where Peter wrote, "For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." These scriptures and many others like them in no way suggest that there is more than One God who is called the Father.
We simply take all the scripture at it's word. That one God has chosen to manifest Himself only in Jesus Christ. In Colossians 2:9-10 the Bible says, " For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power..." That word "dwelleth," again according to Dr. Strong is, "katoikeō (pronounced) kat-oy-keh'-o
From G2596 and G3611; to house permanently, that is, reside (literally or figuratively): - dwell (-er), inhabitant (-ter)." Apostle Paul was speaking of Jesus Christ here. And in 1st Timothy 3:16 the apostle was more emphatic when he said, "And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory." Paul wasn't referring to a second person of the Godhead but to the, "...only wise God our Saviour..." (See Jude 1:25)
So if you must, go ahead and refer to us as those Jesus only folks, but know this that one day God will bring us all to the judgment seat of Christ and we will have to give account for the deeds done in the body. (See Romans 14:10 and 2nd Corinthian 5:10) One last thing before I go, in Malachi 3:18 the Bible says, "Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not."
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