Los Angeles herald., 1905-09-25
SECEDERS HOLD
FIRST SERVICES
NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH HAS
INITIAL MEETING
Rev. Joseph smaIe and His Followers
Issue Statement Of Principles
Upon Which Congregation
Is Formed

The first Sunday service of the First
New Testament church of Los Angeles
was held yesterday morning at Bur
bank hall, when Rev. Joseph Smale,
the pastor, preached from the topic,
THE Lordship of Christ and the
Brotherhood of Believers"
The Sunday school was organized
with 122 pupils, S. 1. Merrill having
charge.
The following constitutional state
ment was adopted at the organization
of the church:
First, We believe the church of
Christ is made up of all persons who
are born again; that the head Of the
church is Christ and that the admins
tration of the life and service of the
church is the Holy Ghost.
We hold that what is true of the
church as a whole is true Of the church
In its parts; therefore, we claiming by
the grace Of God, place In the true
church, welcome to membership in this
local body only such as give evidence
of the new birth, who hold to the head
ship of Christ and the Holy Ghost ad-
ministration of the affairs of the
church.
Scripture references: John 112, IL;
John S:3; Cor. 12:4-1, 2S; Ephesians
1:19 10 Ephesians 2:1-7; Ephesians
5:23-27.
Second, We believe that the visible
churches, when subject to the head
ship of Christ and the administrations
of the Holy Ghost, are sufficient and
are intended by the Lord for the ex-
ecution of all His will in spiritual mat
ters in the earth.
scripture references: Matthew 1913;
28:18-20; John 17:1S; 20:21-23; Acts
1872, 8; I Cor. 1:1O-1S; 1876; Ephesians
4:11-13; 514; Hebrews 1920. 21.
Third, We hold also to the intensely
spiritual character of the true church
of Christ, and believe that all the
habits and the social gatherings Of the
Lords people should be in keeping with
their life as laid down in the word of
God.
Scripture references: Romans 8:5;
Romans 1872: Romans 1874; Romans
14:17-19; 1 Cor. 1921; Ephes. 4:1S
Ephes. 5:15-21; Philippians 1880; 1
John 2:15-17.
Baptism by Immersion
We hold that baptism is the INNER
sion of person in water whose life is
that of repentance towards God and
faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ.
Scripture references: Acts 2:3S; Acts
S:26-40.
We hold that mans acceptance with
God is conditioned only upon his being
in Christ; that immersion, while it is
the duty of all the godly, is not test
of fellowship with the Father. Whom,
therefore, the Father receives we re-
ceive.
We regard the new birth as the door
into the true church, and we welcome
every one applying for membership in
this local body who gives evidences Of
being a child of God.
Scripture references: John 1915; John
17:20-23; Romans 12:4-5; Romans 14:1;
Romans 15:17; 1 Cor. 12:12-27: Ephes.
1:6; Ephes. 2:13-22; Ephes. 529, 80; 1
John 3:14, 1s, 23 John AT, s, II, r.,
20 21 1 John 5:1.
We hold that it is the duty and priv
ilege of the believer to know the Holy
Spirit as "the promise OF the Father
elsewhere spoken of as "The Gift" an
experience distinct from regeneration.
The disciples knew not the Holy
Spirit, as "the promise of the Father"
or. in other words as THE Gift" until
the day of pentecost, therefore we
speak of the spirit as THE Pentecostal
Blessing" necessary to the believers S
sanctification, his knowledge of the
fullness of God and his amounting for
service.
Scripture references: Isaiah ia;
Luke 24:49; John 2O21, %; Acts is;
Romans SO; Galatians 5; Corinthians
2:9-12; II Corinthians 3:1S: Ephesians
I'LL to Ephes. 2, 1-6; Ephes. 3:16-19; II
Thess 2.13. John 2.o0-27