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Is the UPCI Gospel True - Water Baptized and Speak in Tongues?

 

1. The United Pentecostal Church International (UPCI) adds to the simplicity of the Gospel of Salvation that is taught by Jesus Christ - and that is in Jesus Christ (II Cor 11:2-4) - by teaching that, to be born again, a person must do certain physical acts, namely:

a. Be baptized in water (which they claim is burial in Christ), and

 

b. Speak in tongues (which they claim is proof of resurrection in the Spirit)

2. Note that Eph 2:8,9 refutes this doctrine of 'works' salvation. (There is nothing that a person can 'do' physically to be saved. One must only 'do' non-physical things - i.e. repent from sin and surrender the heart to God. Salvation pertains to the state of the heart; not to that of the body. That is one reason why we cannot be saved by our works.)

 

3. Therefore, these doctrines taught by UPCI can become an offence to those who might otherwise be interested in Salvation, but who are offended by the "additional requirements" - namely water baptism and tongues-speaking - (Matt 18:6; Mark 9:42; I Cor 10:32), which the UPCI consider to be essential and integral parts of Salvation and not mere "additions" to it at all.

 

4. It is important that we don't change the word of God (Deut 4:2; Prov 30:6; Rev 22:18, Acts 15:5), that we don't receive another spirit (I John 4:1; II Cor 11:4), and that we don't offend others away from the truth (in this case by adding extra requirements to the true gospel.) (Matt 18:6)

 

5. One of the passages that the UPCI often uses to support its teaching that water baptism is necessary for salvation is John chapter 3. So, let's examine whether the UPCI interpretation of this passage is valid.

 

6. John 3: 3-7 3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?

5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

7. Jesus coined the phrase "born again" and introduced it here for the first time in scripture. The phrase clearly refers to a second birth.

 

8. Nicodemus misunderstood the term and asked for clarification, thinking that Jesus was speaking of being born twice physically - both times from the mother's womb.

 

9. Jesus was talking about being born twice - but only once physically and once spiritually. He acknowledged Nicodemus' understanding of being born:

a. physically (the first birth), by saying, "Except a man be born of water", and

 

b. spiritually (the second birth - hence "born again"), by saying, "and of the Spirit". Then he presented the consequence: "he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."

10. To repeat (and thereby to underscore his explanation), Jesus said, "That which is born of the flesh is flesh" referring to the first birth, "and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit", referring to the second birth.

 

11. That was a very straightforward answer - first birth (water/flesh) and second birth (Spirit/spirit), which Jesus himself suggested by saying, "marvel not...."

 

12. Perhaps a chart would help to see this:

 

 

Verse	Defining the Term	1st Birth		2nd Birth
		(Is of Man)	flesh	(Is of God)	spirit
3	"Born Again"	-	-	-	-
4	Second time into Mother's womb and be born?	-	-	-	-
5	born	of water	-	of the Spirit	-
6	born	of the flesh	is flesh	of the Spirit	is spirit
7	"born again"	-	-	-	-

 

 

13. Another way of stating it would be, as follows:

1st Birth - is of water - produces flesh

2nd Birth - is of Spirit - produces spirit

14. A baby in the womb is in amniotic fluid, ie. "water".  The use of the word 'water' as a descriptor of a physical birth continues today, such as in the phrase "her water broke" when describing a labour/delivery. 

 

15. Another point to understand is that the phrase "Born of water" cannot be a reference to water baptism, because a person is not "born" in any sense when he is water baptized. When he is water baptized it does not make him born for the first time, and it does not make him born for the second time ("born again") either - neither by UPCI doctrine (which requires a further step for one to be born again), nor by scripturally sound doctrine (which doesn't make the act of water baptism a part of the Salvation process at all.)

 

16. "Born of water" can only refer to a physical birth - the first birth - just like Jesus said - a birth that produces flesh (or a live body).

 

17. "Born of the Spirit" refers to a spiritual birth - a re-birth, or second birth - hence "Born again" - just like Jesus said - a birth that produces spirit (or a live spirit)

 

18. Jesus thoroughly answered Nicodemus' question about being "born again". He defined the second birth after providing context by first defining the first birth.

 

19. If it is possible that any reader would still disagree with this reasoning and conclusion, then we would appreciate knowing his/her:

a. explanation of the "first" birth that is implied by Jesus' reference to the second birth, and

 

b. reasons for believing that Jesus ignored Nicodemus' direct question about the first birth. (Jesus spoke of a second birth - born again - and clearly wasn't referring to two spiritual births when he did so.)