What We Believe
The Kingdom of God
At All Nations we believe that the kingdom of God is central to the gospel (good news) of Jesus. Jesus came proclaiming the arrival and demonstrating the power of the kingdom (Matt.4:23).
God’s will is done perfectly in heaven. Where it is done here on earth his kingdom rule is seen. The kingdom of God can thus be defined as the rule of God in action. It is the declaration of God’s absolute sovereignty, of his total order of life in this world and the next. The Kingdom of God is primarily God’s dynamic reign or kingly rule, his authority and government established under the kingship of his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. His kingly reign produces the kingly order of God in our lives—righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17). Through our salvation in Christ we are delivered from the bondage of Satan’s domain and enter the Kingdom of God (John 3:3, Colossians 1:13-14). The fantastically good news of the gospel is that Jesus Christ is the incarnate Son of God who was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, died as a substitutionary sacrifice for our sins, rose again from the dead and ascended to the Father’s right hand where he now reigns as Lord of all.
If we are born again we are in the Kingdom (John3:5). The kingdom has already come (Matt.12:28) and is still coming in fullness. We are still receiving the kingdom (Heb.12:28) and praying for its coming (Matt.6:10). This is what Jesus calls the mystery of the kingdom (Matt.13:11).
The message of the kingdom is not about us getting to heaven; it is about heaven coming to earth. So the advance of the kingdom is God’s ways impacting our world—in our lives, our families and churches, and on into society and across the globe. It affects not only individual lives but also social, economic, political and cultural structures.
However, the kingdom is not about natural, human rules, wisdom or agency. Its life and growth come by the power of the Holy Spirit (Rom.14:17) and one major sign of its presence will be demonstrations of supernatural power and miracle (Matt.12:28; 1 Cor.4:20). Although the essence of its nature is spiritual, its impact and influence will be felt in every aspect of life in our world. We do not believe in an earthly utopia because the fullness of the kingdom awaits the return of Jesus and the restoration of all things (Acts 3:19-21). We do believe that before Jesus comes again, the kingdom will have advanced significantly and the kingdom community of the church will be of great influence as it brings kingdom principles and values to be seen and experienced by our world. This is how God’s purpose to fill the earth with the knowledge of his glory (Num.14:21) will be fulfilled.
Restoration
In explaining what the Bible means by the term ‘restoration’ it is important to focus attention on Peter’s declaration concerning the risen and ascended Lord Jesus Christ in Acts 3:21: “He must remain in heaven until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets.” Contrary to the thinking of many Christians, Jesus is not going to return at any moment and snatch the defeated church away from this world. He will remain in heaven until the restoration of all things, which includes a restored church, healthy and vibrant, united in faith and purpose. It will be a church which has made herself ready as a bride prepares for her bridegroom.
There are two important aspects to Restoration:
1. The recovery of what has been lost. The Greek word for restoration is apokatastasis; it occurs just once in the New Testament, in the passage mentioned above. In its secular use it means the repair of a public way, the return of hostages, the restoring of property to its rightful owner, or the re-constitution of social order. It also refers to the recovery of a former condition for people in many facets of life. So part of the restoration that must take place before Jesus Christ returns is to set things back into their original order.
2. Compensation—more than at first. In the Old Testament we find a detailed principle of restitution—the adding of one fifth to the full restitution (Numbers 5:5-7). In the case of stolen items, double the original value had to be returned (Exodus 22:4,7,9). Natural restoration involved a twenty or one hundred percent compensation in addition to restitution. Therefore restoration is not only recovering what has been lost but also includes the vital element of compensation—adding what was not there in the first place. Restoration affects all things; it is the action of God to accomplish his purpose of bringing everything back into total harmony with himself, and his moving everything in heaven and earth forward to the fullness of his original intention for them. This is encapsulated in passages such as Ephesians 1:9-10 and Ephesians 3:10-11. By restoration we do not mean God intends us to go backwards trying to return the church to some nostalgic, ideal original condition which is supposed to have existed in the early church; rather we seek to advance to the fullness of God’s original intention for the earth and for humanity created in his image.
The New Testament reveals that even the first century church was riddled with schism, legalism and licentious living, and was infiltrated by the empty philosophies of the day. We have no desire for the future to be a repeat of such a past. Nevertheless, implicit in the New Testament are strong moral and spiritual principles that are the necessary life foundations of every authentic Christian community. It is these elements that we seek to recover as part of the process of advancing the church to its fullness and maturity. In a nutshell, restoration involves recovering what has been lost, but more than that, to go on to the place that the church has never yet been. This advancement will culminate in the glorious return of Jesus Christ himself!
The Bible
At All Nations we believe that the Bible is the inspired, inerrant, infallible word of God to all people at all times. Human authors under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit wrote it. As such it is the supreme source of truth and is a completely reliable revelation of God. The Bible is the final authority in all matters of faith and doctrine.
If I need to know something about my car, if I need to know how to change something so it works, how to make it run better and smoother, if I need to know how to fill it up with fuel, I need to read the manual that came with it. Equally as a Christian I have a great manual for living a great life. If I need to know anything about my life, how to change what is not working, how to refuel, how to get started and live better, the Bible is there to instruct me in how to live.
But the Bible is far more than just a manual for living: it is the actual Word of God! 2 Timothy 3:16 tells us that God inspired (breathed) it and that it is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right. Because of this it is of great benefit to read the Bible on a regular basis.
Joshua 1:8 tells us not to let it depart from our mouths (confess the truth openly) but to meditate (consider the truth thoughtfully) on it day and night so that we may be careful to do everything that is written in it. Then we will be prosperous and successful—conquerors in life!
Baptism in Water and the Holy Spirit
In Acts 2:37-38 the Bible tells us that baptism in water is part of the appropriate response to what Christ has done for us.
It is inextricably linked to repentance and faith and ideally it should follow immediately after our confession of Jesus as Lord (Romans 10:9).
Baptism clearly is only for believers (Mark 16:15-16). Baptism is done by total immersion in water (John 3:23, Acts 8:38-39). The Greek word baptizo is to 'submerge' or 'plunge'.
As with everything else, Jesus Christ is our example: he himself was baptised (Matthew 3:13-17). In doing so he established a pattern for all who follow him as his disciples.
When we become Christians the Holy Spirit comes to live inside of us.
1) The Holy Spirit is God, he is a person, not a force or an ‘it’.
2) It is impossible to focus on the Holy Spirit too much. Why? The Holy Spirit’s mission is to reveal Jesus. Jesus reveals the Father. The Father sends Jesus and the Holy Spirit so we can come to him—perfect harmony.
3) The Holy Spirit gives gifts for use in ministry and empowers effective ministry (Rom 12, 1 Cor 12).
4) We can produce the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22) as we nurture our relationship with him.
If you are new to All Nations, you would hear that, during our times of worship, people seem to sing and speak in a ‘strange’ language that doesn’t make sense to you. You may even hear someone speak from the front in an unknown language and someone else interpret it. The first time you see this you may be startled by this and some people even get unsettled by it. You are witnessing what the Bible calls praying and singing in tongues (1 Cor.14:1, 14-15).
This was one of the signs that the disciples had received—an overwhelming experience of God’s Spirit on the day of Pentecost, as Jesus had promised (Acts 2:1-13) and it continued to be a sign when people received the Holy Spirit (Acts 19:1-7). We believe that this is a gift for every Christian as they experience what the Bible calls the baptism in the Holy Spirit. It is not a badge of merit for super-spiritual Christians. It is a gift available to all Christians.
Why are we baptised in the Holy Spirit?
It is the fulfillment of the promise.
Galatians 3:14
Acts 2:39
Acts 1:4,5
Luke 24:49
It enables us to enter our full inheritance by appropriating the promises made available to us in Christ through the anointing of the Holy Spirit.
2 Corinthians 1:20-22
We receive power, the supernatural ability to do the works of Jesus.
Acts 1:8, John 14:12
We receive gifts, the most obvious being tongues and prophecy.
Joel 2:28, Acts 2:4, 19:6
To manifest a joyful and natural overflowing of the life of God from within.
John 7:38-39 (overflowing witness)
Acts 2:13 (accused of being drunk)
Acts 10:45-46 (spontaneous praise)
How are we baptised in the Holy Spirit?
Jesus the baptiser Mark 1:8
Sometimes by sovereign act Acts 2:4, 10:44
At other times by the laying on of hands Acts 8:7
But at all times by faith:
Ask Luke 11:13
Drink ‘one who is thirsty’ John 4:13-14
Obedience Acts 5:32
Evidence of being baptized in the Holy Spirit:
Acts 2:33 ‘see and hear’
1 Corinthians 2:4 ‘demonstration’
1 Corinthians 12:7 ‘manifestation’
In the New Testament we see the presence of tongues when people are baptized in the Holy Spirit.
Acts 2:2-4 ‘sound from heaven’, ‘tongues like as fire’, ‘spoke with tongues’
Acts 19:6 ‘spoke with tongues’, ‘prophesied’
The Apostle Paul is baptized in the Holy Spirit (Acts 9) and later notes that he, “speaks in tongues more than [anyone else]” 1 Corinthians 14:18.
What is the significance of tongues?
Matt 12:34 “Out of the overflow of your heart the mouth speaks.” The infilling is supernatural, therefore the overflow is supernatural.
James 3:8 “No man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.” The Spirit of God takes control of the very member which none of us can control for ourselves—and uses it as a supernatural way for his own glory. Thus the yielding of our members is made complete.
1 Corinthians 14:2 & 4 These Scriptures show us that when we speak in tongues we ‘speak mysteries’ and ‘edify’ ourselves. It is for these reasons that the Apostle Paul states that he is glad he speaks in tongues more than any of his readers (verse 18).
What happens in water baptism?
It is a death, a burial and a resurrection! (Romans 6:3-9).
Baptism involves a personal declaration of our repentance from sin and of faith in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour (Acts 2:38).
It is the beginning of a new life of discipleship (Matthew 28:19-20).
In baptism we surrender to Jesus as the Lord of our life. We are baptised 'in the name of', which literally means 'under the authority of'.
It is the death and burial of our old life with all its sinful nature and is our resurrection to a brand new life (Romans 6:3-4, Acts 22:16).
In baptism we receive a good conscience towards God and the renewing of our minds (1Peter 3:20-21; 1Timothy 1:5, 19; Titus 1:1).
We are also baptised into Christ's body on earth—the church (Acts 2:41, Galatians 3:27, 1Corinthians 12:13). This means that we are no longer to live sinful, self-centred, independent lives. We now belong to a new family—the people of God (1Peter 2:9-10). Baptism means things will never be the same again for us; the old has gone and the new has come (2Corinthians 5:17).
The Covenant Meal (breaking bread)
The practice of sharing the bread and the wine with one another was established by Jesus on the night before his death and he clearly meant for his followers to continue to do it in remembrance of him (Matt.26:26-29; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:14-20). The early church therefore continued to ‘break bread’ together simply as part of the church community (Acts 2:42, 46). The apostle Paul wrote that we are meant to continue to do it until Jesus comes again, and when we do take of the bread and the wine we are declaring his death (1 Cor.11:23-26). We are remembering Jesus’ death for us on the cross, where his body (represented by the bread) was broken and his blood (represented by the wine) was shed. It is this sacrificial death that ‘sealed’ what we call the new covenant. This is God’s new way of dealing with us and specifically of drawing us into relationship with God through the death of his Son. All the past covenants had been sealed with the blood of bulls and goats, but this new covenant was sealed with the blood of Jesus. That is why he refers to the cup of wine as the new covenant in his blood (Luke 22:20). It is also a way of expressing our oneness and unity as the people of God (1 Cor.10:16-17).
The sharing of the bread and wine is part of the ongoing life of the church whenever we meet together—not just on our main Sunday meetings but also when we meet from home to home, just as in the early church (Acts 2:46; 20:7, 11; 27:35). We can share the bread and the wine just over a meal together. It was never meant to be a religious, ‘churchy’ ritual, when everybody gets sombre and quiet. That is why we don’t have set times or ways for doing it in our meetings. Sometimes we will have it passed to people along the rows, sometimes we’ll invite people to come to the front, sometimes we’ll clear the chairs and just encourage everyone to mingle as they share the bread. We can do it quietly and reflectively as part of our worship; other times we’ll encourage people just to share with one another, to pray for one another and fellowship together. It then really feels like a ‘family meal’. Anyone who is a Christian is welcome to take bread and wine with us, but if a person if not a Christian or if someone is harbouring any bad attitude to another Christian, then they should not take the bread and wine. We are told that we must take the cup in a worthy manner (1 Cor.11:27-34). However, we believe that as we take the bread and wine with faith and in good heart, it is a cup of blessing (1 Cor.10:16) to us and we can actually receive something of the blessings that are in Christ.
