Our Apostolic Distinctives

GIFT SCRIPTURE STUDIES (Tagalog–English)
📅 September 24, 2025 / 6:30–8:30 PM

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FOREWORD

The main theme of the book by David Bernard (UPCI GS) is how Apostolic Pentecostals should live and how the Apostolic Church should minister in a diverse, postmodern world.

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FIRST SECTION: “DEVELOPING AN APOSTOLIC WORLDVIEW”

(Positions the Apostolic movement against other historical and contemporary Christian movements and identifies the essential elements of an Apostolic worldview.)

Topic: “ANG ATING APOSTOLIKONG KATANGIAN”

(Our Apostolic Distinctives)

What is distinctive about the Apostolic / Oneness Pentecostal movement?
Ano ang mga kaibahan natin sa iba’t ibang grupong Kristiyano?

Makikita ang original Christian church sa New Testament, na binubuo ng apat na bahagi:

1. The Gospels — present Jesus Christ, who laid the foundation of the Church by His life, ministry, death, burial, and resurrection.
2. The Book of Acts — shows the birth and spread of the New Testament Church, including local congregations across the Mediterranean (Asia, Africa, Europe) in the first century.
3. The Epistles — instructions/letters to churches and leaders.
4. The Book of Revelation — a prophetic message to the Church.

Ang 27 aklat na ito ay isinulat noong unang siglo ng mga apostol at kanilang mga kamanggagawa.
Dahil dito, may apostolic authority ang mga ito at nagbibigay ng malinaw na larawan ng Iglesia na itinayo ni Jesus sa pamamagitan ng Kanyang mga apostol.

Sa mga sumunod na siglo, dumaan sa malalaking pagbabago ang Iglesia at ang mundo. Lahat halos ng Christian groups ngayon ay nagnanais ipagpatuloy ang mensahe at misyon ng original Church—ngunit paano pagkatapos ng halos 20 siglo? Tatlong pangunahing pamamaraan ang sinubukan:

1) TRADITION

Ginamit ng Roman Catholicism at Eastern Orthodoxy: pagpapatuloy ng naipasanang tradisyon bilang awtoridad kasama ng Kasulatan.

2) REFORMATION

Sinimulan noong 1517: pagbabalik sa Kasulatan para iwasto ang ilang tradisyon, ngunit kadalasang pinanatili ang ilang makasaysayang inheritance.

3) RESTORATION

Ito ang landas ng mga Pentecostal: hindi lang i-reform ang tradisyon, kundi ipanumbalik ang orihinal na apostolikong mensahe at karanasan ng New Testament Church.

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The Pattern of the Early Church (Acts 2)

Inilalarawan ng Acts 2 ang iglesia sa Jerusalem bilang modelo para sa Church sa kasalukuyan. At least six elements ang dapat i-restore at tularan:

1. Apostolic Experience — outpouring of the Spirit (2:4, 17–18, 41).
2. Apostolic Message (Doctrine) —
   • Identity of Jesus as Lord and God manifested in the flesh (2:21–22, 36).
   • The Gospel: death, burial, resurrection of Christ (2:21–36).
   • Proper response: repentance, water baptism in the name of Jesus Christ, and receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit (2:37–39).
   • Call to a holy life (2:40).
3. Fellowship and Unity — shared life, generosity, and common purpose (2:42–45).
4. Prayer and Praise — vertical relationship with God at the center (2:42, 46–47).
5. Signs and Wonders — spiritual gifts confirming the Word (2:43).
6. Evangelism and Growth — the Lord adding to the Church daily (2:47).

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A First-Century Church in the Twenty-First Century

Ang kultura ngayon ay secular, post-Christian, at postmodern—maraming tao ang itinuturing na relatibo ang katotohanan (truth shaped by context or community).
How should Christians relate to such a culture? Narito ang limang karaniwang contemporary approaches (hindi ito paninira; paglalarawan lamang):

• Fundamentalist — strong on biblical authority, ngunit madalas kulang sa emphasis sa present work of the Spirit.
• Liberal — niyayakap ang secular culture, kadalasang nagre-redefine ng doktrina.
• Charismatic — nagbibigay-diin sa experience with God, ngunit kung minsan mahina ang doctrinal/lifestyle commitments.
• Emergent — nag-aangkop sa postmodernism, kadalasan relativized ang authority at bukas sa kulturang pamamaraan.
• Apostolic — humahanap ng “new wine in new wineskins” (Mark 2:22): parehong katotohanang apostoliko at sariwang karanasan sa Espiritu, na may buhay na kabanalan.

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An Apostolic, Global Worldview

Sa huli, ang Oneness Pentecostals ay may mga distinctive views na bumubuo ng isang kakaibang Apostolic worldview at pamumuhay:

Core Apostolic Beliefs

• One True God — ating Manlilikha at Ama.
• Jesus Christ is the One True God manifested in the flesh to be our Savior. Bilang Anak ng Diyos, Siya ay tunay na Diyos at tunay na Tao (isang Persona, dalawang kalagayan).
• The Bible is the inspired, authoritative Word of God.
• Apostolic authority & restoration — the New Testament apostolic message and practice are the pattern we restore and follow today.
• Salvation by grace through faith includes the new birth per Acts 2:38:
  repentance, water baptism in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and baptism of the Holy Spirit with the initial sign of speaking in tongues.
• Holiness of life through the power of the Holy Spirit — inward and outward, personal and social. We obey the practical New Testament teachings in conduct, relationships, speech, attire, and daily living.
• The Holy Spirit at work today — we walk in the Spirit, be continually filled, bear spiritual fruit, and exercise spiritual gifts.
• Message matched by experience — ang ating patotoo at pamumuhay ay dapat tumugma sa ating mensaheng ipinapangaral.

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Why Distinctives Matter

Hindi para magmayabang, kundi para maging tapat sa orihinal na blueprint ng Church.
Ang layunin ay hindi modernisasyon ng mensahe, kundi pagpapanumbalik at pagpapatuloy ng apostolikong mensahe at karanasan sa ating henerasyon.

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Next Lesson

Second Section: “THE APOSTOLIC CHURCH IN A POSTMODERN WORLD”
Chapter 3 — Working Together in the Church