Answers To Frequently Asked Questions About The Pentecostal Apostolic Church
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Q.  Why don't Pentecostal Apostolics baptize using the titles Father, Son,
     & Holy Spirit, according to Mt. 28:19?

A.  Mt. 28:19 was a part of the text which makes up the great
     commission.  In this commission the disciples were commanded to
     baptize in the NAME [ singular ] of the Father and the Son and The
     Holy Spirit.  Father is not a name, Neither are Son and Holy Ghost or
     Spirit.  Acts 4:12 states "Neither is there salvation in any other: for   
     there is none other NAME under heaven given among men, whereby
     me must be saved. 
     Jesus is the saving name.  Jesus, in the Gospel according to St. Luke,
     commanded the disciples to preach repentance and remission of sins
     in His Name, to all nations beginning at Jerusalem.  Peter then with
     full knowledge of the appropriate name that should be used and the
     commandment of God baptized everyone who desired it in the Name
     of Jesus Christ.  Without fail, everywhere in scripture where people
     desire salvation, and the salvation act is carried out, baptism is always
     carried out either in the name of the Lord, or in the Name of the Lord     
     Jesus Christ.  Consider this, on the day of Pentecost; which is the
     birthday of the church, if Peter had done anything except what had
     been commanded by God; either the other disciples or God himself 
     would have stopped him.  But instead Acts 2:41 records that 3,000
     souls were added to the church [ the 120 original souls ] on that day.

Q.  What about the sinners prayer?

A.  We believe that where the Bible speaks we speak, what the Bible
     commands we will do.  No-where in the Bible are we commanded to
     save souls through a recited prayer.  There is also no example of
     anyone ever being saved in this manner.  While it may sound nice and     
     it simplifies the salvation process, we must always follow the
     commands and examples of God's word.

Q.  Does everyone who receives the gift of the Holy Spirit need to speak
      in tongues?  I thought tongues were either done away with or was a
      special gift that needed an interpreter.

A.  There are two issues here.  Number one is the gift of the Holy Spirit with the
      initial sign of speaking in tongues, the other is the gift of tongues which is
     either accompanied with the gift of interpretation or requires an interpreter. 
     These should not be confused.  Both are by products of the same Spirit, but
     each has its own function. The Gift of Tongues is for the edification of the
     church and must be accompanied by an interpretation.  This is why the
     Apostole Paul gave instruction in I Cor. 14:27; that "If any man speak in an
     unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course;
     and let one interpretate."

     The Gift of the Holy Ghost [ Spirit ] accomanied by speaking in tongues is 
     quite different in its function. 
     Speaking in tongues at the time of Spirit infilling is simply a sign to the
     individual receiving God's spirit and to all who are present.  This sign
     is to let everyone know that you have truly been filled with the gift of the
     Holy Spirit.  This point is very clearly seen in Peter's handling of Cornelius and
     those who came with Peter to minister to his family.  In the 10th chapter of
     the book of Acts verses 44 to 46 the Bible says;  "While Peter yet spake these
     words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which hard the word.  And they of the
     circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter,
     because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. 
     For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God..."

     Lastly, Tongues have not been done away with.  I will offer for your
     consideraton one very interesting block of scripture.  I Corinthians 13:8-10 
     Thus saith the Word of the Lord.  "Charity never faileth: but whether there be
    prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues they shall cease; whether
    there be knowledge , it shall vanish away.  For we know in part, and we
     prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is
     in part shall be done away..." 

     For tongues to be done away with, that which is perfect [ Christ ] would have
     to have come.  In addition, we cannot take only part of this scripture and
     consider it done away with and not consider the other parts.  For tongues to
     have ceased, so also would prophesies and knowledge also would have to be
     done away with.  Both knowledge and prophecies still exist.  God is still
     speaking words to his people, and tongues still exist.

                                                                        More To Come