Apostolic Truth Tabernacle
The Whole Gospel to the Whole World
Rev. Thomas J. Cobb
Church and Organizational History and Doctorine
The United Pentecostal Church International (UPCI) has been among the fastest growing denominations in North America since it was formed in 1945 by the merger of the Pentecostal Church, Incorporated, and the Pentecostal Assemblies of Jesus Christ. From 617 churches listed in 1946, the UPCI in North America (United States and Canada) today lists 4,358 churches (which includes 4099 autonomous and 258 daughter works), 9,085 ministers, and reports a Sunday School attendance of 646,304. Moreover, it is also located in 175 other nations with 22,881 licensed ministers, 28,351 churches and meeting places, 652 missionaries, and a foreign constituency of over 3 million, making a total worldwide constituency of more than 4,036,945.
The UPCI emerged out of the Pentecostal movement that began in Topeka, Kansas in 1901. It traces its organizational roots to October 1916, when a large group of ministers withdrew from the Assemblies of God over the doctrinal issues of the oneness of God and water baptism in the name of Jesus Christ.
The basic governmental structure of the UPCI is congregational with local churches being autonomous: the congregation elects its pastor and its leaders, owns its property, decides its budget, establishes its membership, and conducts all necessary business.
The central organization embraces a modified presbyterian system in that ministers meet in sectional, district, and general conferences to elect officials and to conduct business of the organization.
The UPCI headquarters building, located in Hazelwood, Missouri, houses offices for its general officials, the Pentecostal Publishing House, and a Christian bookstore. Among its endorsed institutions are eight Bible colleges, a children's home, a residency for troubled young men, ministries to those addicted to alcohol and other drugs, a chaplaincy for prisoners, and it endorses chaplains to the military.
The doctrinal views of the UPCI reflect most of the beliefs of the Holiness-Pentecostal movement, with the exception of the "second work of grace," the historic doctrine of the Trinity, and the traditional Trinitarian formula in water baptism. It embraces the Pentecostal view that speaking in tongues is the initial sign of receiving the Holy Spirit.
The UPCI holds a fundamental view of the Bible: "The Bible is the only God-given authority which man possesses; therefore all doctrine, faith, hope, and all instructions for the church must be based upon and harmonize with the Bible" (Manual of the United Pentecostal Church, 19). The Bible is the Word of God, and therefore inerrant and infallible. The UPCI rejects all extrabiblical revelations and writings, and views church creeds and articles of faith only as the thinking of men.
The UPCI holds that salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, not by works. Faith in Jesus is the means by which a person is justified. At the same time, a sinner must believe the gospel; he is commanded to repent of his sinful life, to be baptized in water in the name of Jesus Christ, and to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38; 4:12; 8:12-17; 10:43-48; 19:1-6). Thus the various aspects of faith and obedience work together in God's grace to reconcile us to God.
In distinction to the doctrine of the Trinity, the UPCI holds to a oneness view of God. It views the Trinitarian concept of God, that of God eternally existing as three distinctive persons, as inadequate and a departure from the consistent and emphatic biblical revelation of God being one.
The UPCI teaches that the one God who revealed Himself in the Old Testament as Jehovah revealed himself in His Son, Jesus Christ. Thus Jesus Christ was and is God. In other words, Jesus is the one true God manifested in flesh, for in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily (John 1:1-14; I Timothy 3:16; Colossians 2:9).
While fully God, Jesus was also fully man, possessing a full and true humanity. He was both God and man. Moreover, the Holy Spirit is God with us and in us. Thus God is manifested as Father in creation and as the Father of the Son, in the Son for our redemption, and as the Holy Spirit in our regeneration.
The UPCI stresses and supports the family unit as God's primary institution and teaches that the church is God's redemptive fellowship for all believers.
The Way We Worship
WE PRAY TOGETHER OUT LOUD because... In the Bible we read, “They lifted up their voice to God with one accord...” - Acts 4:24
WE LIFT OUR HANDS IN PRAISE because... In the Bible we read, “Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the LORD.” - Psalm 134:2
WE SING WITH ALL OUR HEARTS because... In the Bible we read, “Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.” - Psalm 98:4
WE PLAY MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS because... In the Bible we read, “... and all the house of Israel played before the LORD on all manner of instruments...” - II Samuel 6:5
WE CLAP AND SHOUT UNTO GOD because... In the Bible we read, “... O clap your hands all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph.” - Psalm 47:1
WE DANCE IN THE SPIRIT because... In the Bible we read, “... Praise Him with the timbrel and dance: praise Him with stringed instruments and organs.” - Psalm 150:4
WE TESTIFY PUBLICLY because... In the Bible we read, “I will declare thy name unto my brethren; in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.” - Psalm 22:22
WE ANOINT WITH OIL FOR DIVINE HEALING because... In the Bible we read, “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.” - James 5:14
WE ALLOW THE OPERATION OF THE SPIRITUAL GIFTS because... In the Bible we read, “When ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation...” - Corinthians 14:26
For More Information on our doctrinal Views click link Below.
The Original New Testiment Plan of Salvation
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WHAT JESUS PROCLAIMED SALVATION WOULD BE: And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved 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) WHAT PETER PREACHED SALVATION TO BE: Then Peter said unto them, Repent, andbe 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. Forthe 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 2:38-39)
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| Jesus Died 1 Corinthians 15:1-3  |
Jesus Was Buried 1 Corinthians 15:4  |
Jesus Rose Again 1 Corinthians 15:4  |
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DEATH |
BURIAL 2 BAPTISM |
RESURRECTION 3 HOLY GHOST |
 We Must "Die" Romans 6:2 |
 We Must Be "Buried" Romans 6:3-4 |
 We Must "Rise Again" Romans 6:4;8:2 |
If there are any questions concerning our doctrinal beliefs click the "Blue Letter Bible" page on this site. This will open a third party Bible program allowing you to see What the Bible says for yourself. If their are further questions feel free to contact anyone on the "contact us" page of this web site
God Bless
Rev. Thomas J. Cobb