Pastor/Writer/Author/VisionarySince 1982

Baptized in accordance with Holy Scripture and filled with the Holy Spirit, Bishop O. W. Prince has received a directive from God and the Blessed Holy Spirit to correct, rebuke and encourage with patience and careful instructions, those who are earnestly seeking the doctrine of Christ and His apostles. Bishop Prince has accepted his call and has been sent to teach the progressive apostolic truth as illustrated in Holy Scripture and revealed by the Holy Spirit for the edifying of the body of Christ. He vigorously and passionately contends for the unity of the Faith and the maturing of the saints (Ephesians 4:3,13).

He is personally acquainted with grief and knows all about sorrows. He has a special affinity for those who have been injured, rejected, abused, mislead and misused by churches and religion.

In times like these, we need a man who comes from the trenches of religious disenfranchisement, spiritual hurts, emotional sorrows, pains and disappointments. We need a man who knows personally that life hurts but God heals. Bishop O.W. Prince is that man. – Saints of God

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The Church Of Jesus Christ Of The Apostolic Faith, Inc.And

The Apostles’ Doctrine“One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism.” (Ephesians 4:5)

Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day; and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things. And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high (Luke 24:46-49).

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you; and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth (Acts 1:8).

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 (Acts 2:38).

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)

As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed (Galatians 1:9).

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And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone (Ephesians 2:20).

As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine (I Timothy 1:3).

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness (II Timothy 3:16).

Therefore, WE BELIEVE the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek text which constitute “the Scriptures” were inspired by the sovereign God (2 Tim. 3:16) yet written by men who were moved by the Holy Spirit (2 Pet. 1:21).

WE BELIEVE in the inerrancy of the Scriptures in the original languages in which they were written.

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Foreword

This book of doctrine and bylaws is being printed and distributed with a sincere prayer that it may strengthen and establish the believer and that it may enlighten the thousands of perplexed and bewildered souls who are earnestly seeking, amid the maze of men's traditions to find the true doctrine and plan of salvation of our Lord Jesus Christ.

With sincerity, I pray that God will grant the reader grace to accept the truth as it is in Christ Jesus.

I certainly do not want you to miss heaven. Therefore, I implore every reader to heed the prophet's words: "Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls" (Jeremiah 6:16).

Bishop Othealor W. Prince, Jr.

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The Apostles' Doctrine Concerning . . .

. . . The Bible

The Bible is the inspired Word of God, giving a true history of the creation of heaven, earth, and humanity and containing a correct prophecy of the ages to come regarding heaven, earth, and the destiny of humanity. Moreover, there is no salvation outside of what is taught in its pages.

. . . God

There is only one God (Deuteronomy 6:4). He is the creator of heaven and earth, and of all living beings. He has revealed Himself to humanity as the Father (Creator), in the Son (Savior), and as the Holy Ghost (indwelling Spirit).

. . . Father

God is a Spirit (John 4:24). He is the Eternal One, the Creator of all things, and the Father of all humanity by creation. He is the First and the Last, and beside Him there is no God (Isaiah 44:6). There was no God formed before Him; neither shall there be after Him (Isaiah 43:10).

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. . . Son

Jesus is the Son of God according to the flesh (Romans 1:3) and the very God Himself according to the Spirit (Matthew 1:23). Jesus is the Christ (Matthew 16:16); the creator of all things (Colossians 1:16-17); God with us (Matthew 1:23); God made flesh (John 1:1-14); God manifested in the flesh (I Timothy 3:16); He which was, which is, and which is to come, the Almighty (Revelation 1:8); the mighty God, everlasting Father, and Prince of peace (Isaiah 9:6).

Jesus Himself testified of His identity as God when He said, "He that hath seen me hath seen the Father" (John 14:7-11) and "I and my Father are one" (John 10:30).

It took shedding of blood for the remission of the sins of the world (Hebrews 9:22), but God the Father was a Spirit and had no blood to shed. Thus He prepared a body of flesh and blood (Hebrews 10:5) and came to earth as a man in order to save us, for in Isaiah 43:11 He said, "Beside me there is no Savior." When He came in flesh the angels sang, "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord" (Luke 2:11).

. . . Holy Ghost

The Holy Ghost is not a third person in the Godhead, but rather the Spirit of God (the Creator), the Spirit of the resurrected Christ. The Holy Ghost comes to dwell in the hearts and lives of everyone who believes and obeys the gospel, as the comforter, Sustainer, teacher and keeper (John 14:16-26; Romans 8:9-17; 1 John 2:27).

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. . . Sin

Sin is the transgression of the law, or commandments of God (I John 3:4). The guilt of sin has fallen upon all humanity from Adam until now (Romans 3:23). The wages of sin is eternal death (Romans 6:23; Revelation 20:14) to all those who refuse to accept salvation as set forth in the Word of God.

. . . Salvation

Salvation consists of deliverance from all sin and unrighteousness through the blood of Jesus Christ. The New Testament experience of salvation consists of repentance from sin, water baptism in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and the baptism of the Holy Ghost, after which the Christian is empowered to live a godly life (Acts 2:36-41).

. . . Water Baptism

Water baptism is an essential part of New Testament salvation and not merely a symbolic ritual. It is part of entering into the kingdom of God (God's church, the bride of Christ), and therefore, it is not merely a part of local church membership (See John 3:5; Galatians 3:27).

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. . . Mode of Baptism

Water baptism is to be administered only by immersion. Paul said, "We are buried with him [Jesus Christ] by baptism (Romans 6:4; see Colossians 2:12), Jesus came up "out of the water" (Mark 1:10), and Philip and the eunuch went down "into the water" and came up "out of the water" (Acts 8:38-39). Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection are applied to our lives when we experience New Testament salvation: "Repent [death to sin], and be baptized [burial] 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 [resurrection]." (See Acts 2:38; Romans 6:1-7; 8:2). Sprinkling, pouring, or infant baptism of any kind cannot be substantiated by the Word of God, but are only human traditions.

. . . Formula for Water Baptism

The name in which baptism is administered is vitally important, and this name is Jesus.

Jesus' last command to His disciples was, "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost" (Matthew 28:19). We should notice that He said name (singular) not names. As previously explained, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are not names of separate persons, but titles of positions held by God. An angelic announcement revealed God's saving name in the New Testament: "She shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21). The apostles understood that Jesus was the name to use at baptism, and from the day that the church of God was established (the Day of Pentecost) until the end of their ministry, they baptized all nations (Jews--Acts 8:16; Gentiles--Acts 19:5) in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. In fact, Jesus is the only name given for our salvation. "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be

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saved" (Acts 4:12).

. . . Baptism of the Holy Ghost

The baptism of the Holy Ghost is the birth of the Spirit (John 3:5). This spiritual baptism is necessary to put someone into the kingdom of God (God's church, the bride of Christ) and is evidenced by speaking in other tongues (other or unknown languages) as the Spirit of God give utterance. It was prophesied by Joel (Joel 2:28-29) and Isaiah (Isaiah 28:11), foretold by John the Baptist (Matthew 3:11), purchased by the blood of Jesus, and promised by Him to His disciples (John 14:26; 15:16). The Holy Ghost was first poured out on the Day of Pentecost upon the Jews (Acts 2:1-4), then upon the Samaritans (Acts 8:17), and later upon the Gentiles (Acts 10:44-46; 19:6). "The promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call" (Acts 2:39).

. . . Tongues

Speaking in tongues means speaking miraculously in a language unknown to the speaker, as the Spirit gives utterance. Tongues can be classified in two ways, according to function: (1) speaking in other tongues as the initial evidence of the baptism of the Holy Ghost and (2) the gift of tongues as mentioned in I Corinthians.

1. Speaking in other tongues as the Spirit of God gives utterance is the manifestation God has given as the definite, indisputable, supernatural witness or sign of the baptism of the Holy Ghost (Acts 2:4; 10:46; 19:6).It was prophesied by the prophet Isaiah as the rest and the refreshing (Isaiah 28:11-12), foretold by Jesus as a sign that would follow believers of the gospel (Mark 16:17), and experience by Jews and

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Gentiles alike.

2. The gift of "divers kinds of tongues," mentioned by Paul in I Corinthians 12:1-12 and concerning which he gave regulations in I Corinthians 14:1-40, is given by both for self-edification (I Corinthians 14:4) and for the edification of the church (I Corinthians 14:27-28). In church meetings, the gift of tongues is used to give a public message, and it is to be interpreted. Since this gift can be misused in public, it needs proper regulation (I Corinthians 14:23-28). Not all believers exercise the gift of tongues, which is different in function from tongues given by God as the initial witness of the baptism of the Holy Ghost. Paul said, "Forbid not to speak with tongues" (I Corinthians 14:39) and "I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all" (I Corinthians 14:8). Who dares to teach or preach to the contrary?

. . . The Ten Commandments

The Ten Commandments constitute the basic law of God for His people. The concepts of the Decalogue were understood and obeyed by the godly before the giving of the Law at Mt. Sinai, where God spoke them and wrote them on stone tablets. This law of God was perfectly fulfilled in the life and teachings of Christ, was obeyed by the apostles of the Lord, and is written in the hearts of believers under the new covenant. No part of it has been revoked or changed; to transgress any of it is to commit sin. Observing the Ten Commandments expresses our love to God and mankind.

Exodus 20:1-17; 31:18; Genesis 26:5; John 15:10; Matthew 19:16-19; Hebrews 8:10; 1 John 3:4; 5:2, 3; James 2:10-12

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. . . The Church

The church is the spiritual body of believers who have faith in Jesus Christ and obey the will of God. It has Christ as its Head and exists universally and locally to worship God, study the Scriptures, preach the gospel, nurture believers, and serve humanity. The Bible most often refers to this body as "church of God"; therefore, we use that name. Church organization is scriptural and expedient. We recognize the church wherever the Word is faithfully preached, people respond in obedience, and the ordinances of baptism and the Lord's Supper are administered.

Matthew 16:18; Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 5:25-33; 1 Corinthians 1:2; Acts 6:1-7; 1 Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:5; Acts 20:28; Revelation 12:17

. . . The Lord's Supper

At the Lord's Supper, unleavened bread and wine are received as symbols of our Lord's body and blood, which He offered as a sacrifice for our sins. In this memorial of the Lord's death, we illustrate our marriage to Christ, our communion with the saints and proclaim his substitutional and sacrificial death until His return. The first Lord's Supper was at Passover--Nisan fourteen of the Hebrew calendar. However, no specific instructions were given regarding how frequently the Lord’s Supper should be observed. Therefore, we choose to celebrate it as often as possible. Once a year, while observing the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper, we follow Jesus' example and command by washing one another's feet in service and humility.Matthew 26:17-19, 26-29; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:7-201 Corinthians 11:23-26; Luke 22:19, 20; John 13:1-17

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. . . Financial Stewardship

God's work is supported by the financial stewardship of God's people. The biblical examples and commands for proportionate giving often refer to a tithe, or tenth. While tithing laws in the Levitical priesthood are no longer in force, tithes and offerings remain as a principle and standard for believers. The New Testament stresses the giver's attitude above any legal demands. Motivated by the love of the gospel, every Christian is called to give tithes and offerings freely and cheerfully.

Genesis 14:18-20; 28:20-22; Malachi 3:8-10; Matthew 23:23; 1 Corinthians 9:7-14; 2 Corinthians 9:6, 7; Hebrews 7:1-6; Proverbs 3:9

. . .Tithing

Tithing is the practice of giving one-tenth of one's income or possessions to one's sovereign leader. In Judaism, that leader was YHVH (Yahveh). Abraham gave the first tithe recorded in the Bible to Melchizedek, king-Priest of Salem, otherwise known as Jerusalem. “.... Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything" (Genesis 14:18-20).

“For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise” (Galatians 3:26-29).

The Bible attests to the fact that tithing pre-existed Moses and Levitical priesthood. The divine principle of giving ten percent to the Temple (House of Yahweh) and priests of Yahweh pre-existed any requirements of Mosaic Law. Therefore, as Abraham’s seed, we are not under the Law or compulsion to tithe but rather our tithing should be out of love for God, for

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we are under Grace—holy fervor born of faith. We should seek to please God. “…For God loveth a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7).

Furthermore, the ministry and those who labor in it should be supported by the tithes and offerings of fellow believers. “Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel (1 Corinthians 9:14; Galatians 6:6; Numbers 18:8-14). “Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of his spoils. And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren though they came out of the loins of Abraham” (Hebrews 7:4-5).

. . . Participation in Warfare

Jesus Christ our Lord taught us to love and forgive our enemies, and to work for the peace and salvation of all peoples. Wars among nations and violence between persons are not God's perfect will, but result from greed, lust for power, selfishness, and other sinful motives. Christians should renounce such carnality and the weapons of human strife, and should not participate in military combat through the armed forces.

Matthew 5:38-48; Luke 6:27-38; James 4:1;Romans 12:17-21; John 18:36; Matthew 26:51, 52; 2 Corinthians 10:3, 4

. . . Marriage, Divorce, and Remarriage

Marriage is defined as a covenant between a man and a woman, uniting them in wedlock. Marriage was instituted by God and is intended to last as long as both partners honor the marriage covenant. The union between a

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man and a woman offers potential for the best of human experience, and is a picture of the eternal bond between Christ and the church. Jesus taught that only sexual unfaithfulness and perversion (fornication) is sufficient cause for divorce. Those who divorce "for cause of fornication," and remarry, do not sin. Their marriage is acceptable to God and the church. Those who remarry after divorce, except the divorce was "for cause of fornication," commit adultery. Similarly, those who marry persons who have been divorced "except for the cause of fornication" commit adultery.

Genesis 2:18-25; Matthew 5:31, 32; 19:4-9; Mark 10:2-12; Luke 16:18; Romans 7:1-3; Ephesians 5:22-33; 1 Corinthians 7:10-16, 39

. . . Holiness

After we are saved from sin, we are commanded, "Go, and sin no more" (John 8:11). We are commanded to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world (Titus 2:12) and warned that without holiness no one shall see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14). We must present ourselves as holy unto God (Romans 12:1), cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit (II Corinthians 7:1), and separate ourselves from all worldliness (James 4:4).

If the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? (I Peter 4:18). No one can live a holy life by his own power, but only through the Holy Spirit. "Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you" (Acts 1:8).

. . . Divine Healing

God has made Himself known through the ages by miraculous healings and has made special provisions in the age of grace to heal all who will come to

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Him in faith and obedience. Divine healing was purchased for us by the blood of Jesus Christ, especially by His stripes (Isaiah 53:5; Matthew 8:16-17; I Peter 2:24).Jesus went everywhere healing those who were sick (Matthew 4:23-24), and He commanded His disciples to do the same (Matthew 10:8). He said concerning those who believe the gospel, "They shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover" (Mark 16:18). Mighty healings and miracles followed the disciples wherever the gospel was preached.

There is no sickness or disease too hard for God. Any of us, our children, or our friends can be healed by the power of God.

"Is any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up: and if he have committed sins they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed" (James 5:14-16).

. . . Second Coming of Christ

Jesus Christ is coming back to earth in bodily form, just as He went away (Acts 1:11). He will catch away a holy people (His bride, His church) who have accepted redemption through His blood, by birth of water and of the Spirit, and who are found faithful when He comes.

"For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord" (I Thessalonians 4:16-17). "One shall be taken and the other left" (Luke 17:36).

Will we be ready? The signs of His coming are everywhere. The days of peril are here indeed, with forms of godliness void of the power of God; society and politics corrupted; and people's hearts filled with pride,

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blasphemies, ungodliness, love of evil, and love of pleasures (II Timothy 3:1-13). These things, together with multitudes running to and fro, the increase of knowledge (Daniel 12:4), the persecution of the Jews and their return to Palestine (Luke 21:24), and scores of other things are starting signs that Jesus' coming is drawing near. Wars, rumors of wars, famines, earthquakes, storms, floods, distress of nations, perplexity, and people's hearts failing them for fear are sounding the solemn alarm that Jesus' coming is at hand (Matthew 24:6; Luke 21:25-28)."Prepare to meet thy God" (Amos 4:12).

. . . Resurrection

There will be a resurrection of all the dead, both just and unjust."Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation" (John 5:28-29). "And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God . . . and the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them" (Revelation 20:12-13)> (See also Daniel 12:2; I Corinthians 15:13-23.)

. . . Judgment

"It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment" (Hebrews 9:27). For this reason there will be a resurrection for everyone. "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad" (II Corinthians 5:10).

The eternal destiny of every soul shall be determined by a just God who knows the secrets of everyone's heart. "And before him shall be gathered all

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nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: and he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world . . .Then shall he also say unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels . . . And these shall go away into everlasting punishment; but the righteous into life eternal" (Matthew 25:32-34, 41, 46).

. . .Religious/Pagan Holidays

The celebrations of Sunday, Christmas, Lent, Easter, or Halloween as sacred times have no scriptural support.

Sunday became the common day of worship after the apostolic era. It was decreed "the venerable day of the sun," and work was forbidden on it by the Roman emperor Constantine in A.D. 321. No command or example exists in Holy Scripture for observance of the first day of the week as the Sabbath.

Christmas is a carryover of the ancient festival of pagan Rome called Saturnalia, the rebirth of the sun. The day of Jesus' birth is unknown, and no biblical precedent exists for celebrating it after the fashion of Christmas.

Easter is a second-century substitute for a spring festival honoring the heathen goddess Astarte. The Bible does not endorse celebrating the Resurrection after the manner of Easter Sunday. The best evidence points to Christ's resurrection late on the Sabbath. His crucifixion and burial on Wednesday yields a literal fulfillment of the prophecy that He would be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. Thus, "good Friday" is also myth.

Halloween originates in unholy and superstitious practices relating to evil spirits and the realm of the dead. It should not be celebrated by Christians!

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2 Corinthians 6:14-18; Jeremiah 10:2-10; Matthew 12:38-40; 28:1-6 (KJV); Mark 8:31; 9:31; 1 Corinthians 10:18-22

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Special References Regarding the Holy Spirit

The following references show plainly that speaking in tongues as the evidence of the Holy Ghost has been given by God to earnest, penitent, God-fearing people down through the years.

Scaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge, vol. 3, page 2369, "Tongues, Gift of": "A phenomenon of the Apostolic age, technically known as the 'glossolalia.' In later time analogies have been found for it in the 'speaking in tongues' of the Camisards, Prophets of the Cevennes, Early Quakers and Methodists, 'Lasare' in Sweden (1841-1843), converts in the Irish revival of 1859, and particularly in the Catholic Apostolic (Irvingite) Church."

Scaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge, vol. 2, page 1119, "Irving, Edward": "In 1830 the news was spread abroad of the strange speaking with tongues which occurred in widely separated parts of Scotland. In 1831 prophecy and tongues appeared in Irving's church and Irving fell in with the movement, heartily convinced of its spiritual basis and divine authority."

Scaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge, vol. 1, page 422, "Catholic Apostolic Church": "Pious Presbyterian men and women believed that their organs of speech were used by the Holy Spirit for the utterance of

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His thoughts and attentions."

Encyclopedia Britannica, New Werner Edition, vol. 4, page 749, "Camisards": "Speaking in tongues, accompanied by all kinds of miracles, was common among the Camisards and Cevennes of Southern France in the 18th century. Children, under the influence of supernatural power, spoke and prophesied in languages unknown to them."

Encyclopedia of Religion and Ethics, edited by James Hastings, vol. 7, page 424: "In 1831 the gift of tongues and prophecy appeared, it was believed in answer to fervent prayer, among the members of Irving's congregation."

Butler, Christian Denominations of the World, "Edward Irving (1792-1834)": "He proclaimed his conviction that the gifts of the Holy Ghost, such as tongues, healing, etc., were withheld only because of the want of faith, and ere long there were several persons in his church who claimed the gift of tongues."

Abingdon’s Bible Commentary, page 1190: "Scottish peasants spoke in tongues."

Webster's New International Dictionary, 2nd edition, page 1056, "Gift of Tongues": "A phenomenon experienced by some of the Christian of New Testament times, the nature of which seems to have been a kind of ecstatic utterance usually unintelligible to the hearers and even to the speakers, therefore requiring interpretation; glossolalia. Similar phenomena have in modern times been experienced by some of the early Friends, Jansenists, Methodists, etc."

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