WesleyGospel Ministries

My brethren, let not many of you become teachers,
knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.
–James 3:1 (NKJV)–

Thou shalt not lie with mankind,
as with womankind: it is abomination.
–Leviticus 18:22 (KJV)–

Whosoever shall offend one of these little ones
that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone
were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.
–Mark 9:42 (KJV)–

They were all filled with the Holy Spirit
and began to speak in other tongues
as the Spirit gave them utterance…
You will make me full of gladness
with Your presence.
–Acts 2:4, 28 (ESV)–

If I speak in the tongues
of men and of angels.
–1 Corinthians 13:1 (ESV)–

The one who speaks in a
tongue builds up himself.
–1 Corinthians 14:4 (ESV)–

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’
will enter the kingdom of heaven,
but the one who does the will
of my Father who is in heaven.
On that day many will say to me,
‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name,
and cast out demons in your name,
and do many mighty works in your name?’
And then will I declare to them,
‘I never knew you; depart from me,
you workers of lawlessness.’”
–Jesus Christ in Matthew 7:21-23 (ESV)–

—

Dr. John R. Rice (IFB) and E. S. Williams (AG) both teach that the Holy Spirit does more than regenerate a believer: Christians can experience a definite, subsequent fullness or empowerment of the Holy Spirit for Christian service and evangelism. This fits the Biblical pattern of the disciples, who were already believers before Christ commanded them to “tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high” (Luke 24:49). Jesus likewise told them, “Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me” (Acts 1:8), and the disciples were subsequently “all filled with the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:4). Williams presents this within a distinctly Pentecostal framework: Spirit baptism is a distinct experience associated with supernatural empowerment and gifts of the Spirit, including tongues as the initial physical evidence. He would therefore emphasize passages such as Acts 2:4, where “they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues,” and Acts 10:44-46, where Gentile believers received the Holy Ghost and “heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God.”

Dr. Rice likewise strongly emphasizes a definite post-conversion experience of Spirit fullness and power, particularly for soul winning, boldness, prayer, and evangelistic effectiveness, but he does not make tongues the necessary evidence. His emphasis fits the repeated Biblical connection between Spirit empowerment and witnessing: “Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me” (Acts 1:8); “They were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the Word of God with boldness” (Acts 4:31); and Paul prayed that believers would be “strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man” (Ephesians 3:16). Dr. Rice therefore represents a revivalist evangelistic ministry, Spirit-empowerment position, whereas Williams represents a classical Pentecostal position, though both would be agreed on Spirit baptism as power, energy, and boldness for evangelistic ministry. Their common ground is substantial: both expect genuine Holy Spirit fullness and divine power beyond a merely intellectual Christianity, especially for evangelistic ministry. Their principal difference is that Williams connects Spirit baptism with the Pentecostal doctrine of tongues, while Dr. Rice stresses the Spirit’s power to live, witness, pray, and win souls without making tongues required.

Dr. French Arrington, Christian Doctrine, vol. 3 (Pathway Press, 1994), p. 150ff.

E. S. Williams, Systematic Theology, vol. 3 (Gospel Publishing House, 1953), chs. 6-9.

P. C. Nelson, Bible Doctrines (Gospel Publishing House, 1948), ch. 8.

Harold Horton, The Gifts of the Spirit (Gospel Publishing House, 1934).

Dr. John R. Rice, Great Soul Winners Were Filled with the Holy Spirit (SLP, 1949).

—. False Doctrines Answered (SLP, 1970), ch. 5.1-4.

John Sherrill, They Speak with Other Tongues (Chosen Books, 2018).

Jeff Doles, Miracles and Manifestations (Walking Barefoot Ministries, 2008).

WesleyGospel, “Azusa Street Revival Eyewitness Accounts.”

—. “Tongues As Evidence of Holy Spirit Baptism.”

Tommy Welchel, True Stories of the Miracles of Azusa Street (Destiny Image, 2013).

Drs. Stanley Burgess and Eduard van der Maas, The New International Dictionary of Pentecostal and Charismatic Movements (Zondervan, 2005).

What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.
–1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (KJV)–

STRONG.

Now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality (Gk. pornos) or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler–not even to eat with such a one.
–1 Corinthians 5:11 (ESV)–

The same shall drink of the wine of THE WRATH OF GOD, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of HIS INDIGNATION; and he shall be TORMENTED WITH FIRE AND BRIMSTONE in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: and THE SMOKE OF THEIR TORMENT ASCENDETH UP FOR EVER AND EVER: and THEY HAVE NO REST DAY NOR NIGHT.
–Revelation 14:10-11 (KJV)–

THE BEAST was taken, and with him THE FALSE PROPHET that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. THESE BOTH WERE CAST ALIVE INTO A LAKE OF FIRE BURNING WITH BRIMSTONE.
–Revelation 19:20 (KJV)–

He laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him A THOUSAND YEARS…And THE DEVIL that deceived them WAS CAST INTO THE LAKE OF FIRE AND BRIMSTONE, WHERE THE BEAST AND THE FALSE PROPHET ARE, AND SHALL BE TORMENTED DAY AND NIGHT FOR EVER AND EVER.
–Revelation 20:2, 10 (KJV)–

I agree with 100% of what Joe Schimmel argues about eternal punishment in Hell, but I don’t agree that an annihilationist, a person that currently or even stubbornly holds to a Hell-denying view–to the extent that a person might say people in Hell don’t exist anymore–I really can’t say a person like that is born again of the Holy Spirit. I would consider annihilationism a shade of unbelief, almost in the agnosticism category. I mean, people make mistakes all the time, but this is ridiculous. I find it almost impossible that a person could be indwelt by the Holy Spirit of God, and then neglect God’s Word to such an extent, so as not to believe in the eternal punishment of the lake of fire. I find it very, very doubtful that Chris Date is a genuinely regenerated believer in the true Gospel. I think Joe was very charitable, but I really don’t think a person that holds to Chris’ view could ever be in the state of salvation: its the same as rejecting the Gospel, its a tripartisan issue–it doesn’t matter if you’re Catholic, Calvinist, or Wesleyan–eternal punishment is a non-negotiable aspect of saving faith.