2013 IA Truth Research Committee Meeting Resolutions Adapted by WDC

I. Does the Sacrament of Foot Washing Have a Cleansing Effect? 

Resolution: 

1. Maintain our Basic Beliefs which emphasizes “having a part in the Lord.” (1997, 2003)

2. Continue to preach the teachings of the sacrament of Foot Washing as outlined in the sixth Article of Faith. (1997)

3. We are cleansed through the blood of the Lord. Thus, the sacrament of Foot Washing is not meant to have a cleansing effect at the time of washing. (2013)

II. In the New Testament, one must first receive the Holy Spirit before one can pursue being filled by the Holy Spirit.

 Do water baptism and the receiving of the Holy Spirit happen at the same time? The verses below require accurate interpretations:

•  John 3:5-6

•  1 Corinthians 12:13

•  1 Corinthians 6:18-19

•  Ephesians 1:23

•  Romans 8:9

Resolution:

1. After receiving water baptism, we receive the remission of sins and become the children of God. We must also receive the Holy Spirit of promise as the guarantee of our heavenly inheritance. Receiving the Holy Spirit is determined by speaking in tongues (Acts 2:4; Eph 1:13-14).

2. ‟Receiving the Holy Spirit” implies that the Holy Spirit is poured out on one who then speaks in tongues. This is known as ‟the Holy Spirit of promise” (Acts 2:4).

3. However, before one receives the Holy Spirit, one can receive ‟the promise of the Holy Spirit” through faith (Gal 3:14) and one will surely receive the Holy Spirit of promise which will be poured out in a manner that can be seen and heard (Acts 2:33). This is because receiving the promise of the Holy Spirit is what God wants to give to those who come to the Lord (Jn 7:37-38); they are those whom He has chosen (Acts 2:39). Therefore, Peter called upon those who were cut to the heart by what they heard to repent and be baptized, so that they would receive the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38). It can be clearly seen that one who has yet to receive the Holy Spirit will receive the promise of the Holy Spirit after receiving water baptism, which is the promise of receiving the Holy Spirit in the future.

4. Therefore, receiving the Holy Spirit and the beginning of speaking in tongues demarcates “the Holy Spirit of promise” from ‟the promise of the Holy Spirit.”

5. Thus, it can be clearly seen that receiving water baptism and receiving the Holy Spirit are two different things. The Holy Spirit can be received before baptism, during baptism or after baptism.

If after baptism a member exhibits love, joy, peace, and so forth, or is zealous in serving in the church but has yet to utter in tongues, has this member received the Holy Spirit?

Resolution:

After believing in the Lord, one is to pursue the works of faith (Jas 2:22), love, joy, peace, and so forth. The Lord Jesus said, ‟I am the true vine… Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit” (Jn 15:1-2).

Cornelius was a devout man even before he received the Holy Spirit. His entire family feared God, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always. His righteous deeds bear resemblance to the fruit of the Spirit and were remembered by God. He, however, did not have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit; he lacked the knowledge of the Lord and had yet to be baptized for the remission of truth and then received the Holy Spirit (Acts 10).

The Samaritans received baptism because they believed in the word that Philip had preached to them. After they were baptized, they had great joy. And yet, two apostles were sent from Jerusalem to lay hands on them, so that they might receive the Holy Spirit (Acts 8).

It is illogical to claim that someone who demonstrates good behavior resembling the fruit of the Spirit has received the Holy Spirit. If a baptized believer demonstrates good behavior but has yet to speak in tongues, it is because the believer is moved by the Holy Spirit to bear good fruit.

What is being filled by the Holy Spirit? What is the difference between being filled by the Holy Spirit in the New and Old Testaments?

Resolution:

One who is filled by the Holy Spirit (full of the Holy Spirit) is someone who has already received the Holy Spirit, speaks in tongues, relies on the Holy Spirit to live and act, and is full of the fruit of the Holy Spirit. Examples include the seven who were chosen to serve (Acts 6:5) and Barnabas (Acts 11:24). Stephen was also described as one who was full of the Holy Spirit.

The reality of being filled by the Holy Spirit has occurred in the Old Testament and New Testament. In the Old Testament, one was filled with the Holy Spirit to do what the Holy Spirit wanted someone to do. For example, Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied (Lk 1:67). After his prophecy however, the Holy Spirit did not remain with him eternally. In the New Testament, Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit and stood before the Sanhedrin to testify of the salvation of the Lord Jesus (Acts 4:8). After testifying, the Holy Spirit continued to remain in him because this is the Holy Spirit that lives within him eternally. In sending out the 12 disciples, the Lord Jesus prophesied to them, ‟But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you” (Mt 10:19-20). Therefore, Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke, stirred up by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. After he had spoken, the Holy Spirit continued to remain in him because this is the indwelling Holy Spirit promised by the Lord. The fullness of the Holy Spirit in this case is perpetual; it differs from the cases in the Old Testament where people were moved by the Holy Spirit to accomplish a particular task.

The promised Holy Spirit was not yet given before the Lord Jesus ascended to heaven (Jn 7:39, 16:7). The Holy Spirit would come upon or descend upon men temporarily. For example, Balaam, Othniel, Gideon, Jephthah, Samson, Saul and David, Amasa, Joseph (Gen 41:38) and Daniel (Dan 4:8-9). All these point to the temporary indwelling and movement of the Holy Spirit, but not the eternal indwelling.

After someone believes in the Lord and receives water baptism, he/she may sometimes be moved by the Holy Spirit to do something, although he/she has not yet received the indwelling Holy Spirit. One must pray for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in order to become someone who is full of the Holy Spirit.