Theological Research Institute
Chattanooga, TN.
OPEN LETTER TO.
Professor E. Calvin Beisner.
Mr. Beisner, first of all, please allow me to introduce myself to you, my name is Gabriel Mendez (never been illegally
in this country, I came to do missionary work, believed or not).
I am one of “them” you mention in your writings against the U.P.C.I Church that “they were save before
coming to the Oneness movement”.
I can see that you are a very busy man, but your articles in the Website are very lengthy, so I hope you consider my letter
to you, I hope is not going to be a long letter.
I have a couple questions about some of your writing against the faith of Oneness believers in what they profess on water
baptism according to Acts 2:38; in your trying to explain this words of Apostle Peter,
You said (and bear with me if I am not quoting exactly as your words were, your writings are so many and I lost tract of
the one in question) “remission of sins is not in been baptized (in the name of The Lord Jesus Christ, ) but in repentance.”
Then you continue to explain “the moment one repents, that moment one receives remission of sins.”
The other question is in your trying to explain the baptism of Saul-Paul, you said: “the washing away your sins was
not in being baptized. But in invoking the name of The Lord.”
Assuming that it is as you said, are not you saying that there is two ways to receive grace through faith?
No one can deny that Saul-Paul received grace then, also it is the case with the 3000 souls on the Day of Pentecost, “The
Lord added to (them) daily such as should be saved.” THEY WERE SAVED BY THE ONE WHO “KNOWS THE INTENTIONS OF THE
THOUGHTS OF THE HEART AND MIND” Why the Ephesians didn’t receive the Spirit the same order that Cornelius household?
Why Paul didn’t ministered to them as Ananias ministered him to? The same case with the philippian jailer The Holy Spirit
is not even mentioned there, can be possible that Paul and Silas were evangelists of fast half-truth big results salvation
messages like there are so many today?
It is not the truth that in all those anecdotes obedience was the essential element for those receiving salvation? He knows
the intentions of… ,
Since you wrote that “remission of sins” is at the moment of “repentance” will you write about
how many denominations you know are there in Christendom that preach repentance more that the organization you hate as the
U.P.C.I.? By the way, I am not a member of that organization at present, not because of the standards of the church, or their
doctrinal points. As far at rules and regulations is concern (in cases doctrines of men). Is it not the truth that all organizations
have them? Give me an organization that is not organized with rules; I only been in three countries and that is enough for
me to know that “standards” vary according to the community and mentality of preachers; when I was a new converted,
one Sunday morning as soon as I had enter to the church building, a lady approach me saying “Young man, we don’t
chew gum inside of this church”, in another place of worship I was stop by the preacher when entering his place whistling
wordy songs” I also heard against my unbuttoned shirt-style, all of this happened among none-Pentecostal churches and
I witness the disapproval of a Baptist Missionary against a Presbyterian Missionary when the last mentioned brought his three
children dressed on hallowing attire. For the Baptist Missionary that was a sin same as the day we played a game of baseball
and this Missionary prayed confessing repentance before all of us.
So, why the derogatory remarks against the Oneness movement? Even to say that they are not saved?
It is well known and for those who do not know, and they should know, the Pentecostal movements at the beginning, their
leaders or main evangelists were “Holiness preachers” they were not “money hungry preachers” neither
“men’s pleasers preachers”: William Saymour, Charles Fox, G.T.Haywood to name a few.
So, why the pews and pulpits as well, spend so much of their time and abilities to see the “chaff” of the Oneness
movement and do not admire the “wheat” of the doctrine of repentance, that is like The Lord say He was going to
feed His people “...with the best of the wheat … ?”
I am trying to bring this letter to it’s end but after couple more points about what you wrote about the words of
Jesus to Nicodemus concerning the “born of water and of the Spirit.” I agree with you in the way that the GREEK
word KAI makes clear something that is not clear, that been so, then the same word KAI in the salutations of Apostle Paul
to individuals or churches should be read: “…grace and peace to you from God Father of us KAI (indeed or namely)
Lord Jesus Christ.”
That kind of salutation gives us the Name of The Father, isn’t it? I am just asking, you are a Teacher in Theology;
I didn’t finished elementary education, repeated 4th. Grade, repeated 5th. Grade, repeated and
never finished 6th. Grade and in America, never attended any school to learn English.
In closing, in your study of water baptism, you didn’t deviated from the fact that all accounts of baptism were performed
in the Name of The Lord Jesus, (good for you) There was not another way to perform baptism, the trinity doctrine was not formulated
at that time yet, as you should know that some Church History Research people posses reliable documentation that Matthew 28:19
as it is known today, appeared for the first time in written on The Didache, the Roman Creed called The Apostles Creed, and
finally on the Greek translation from the original Hebrew text; which do not had Matt. 28:19 as it is preach today. And by
the way, in the cases of Peter’s sermon, Cornelius Case, Saul-Paul’s conversion and the case of the rebaptized
Ephesians, The Holy Spirit is mentioned as a SEPARATE EXPERIENCE AND WITH WHAT THE LORD JESUS CALLED “…A SIGN…”
how about that?.
. Consider what I say, and The Lord give understanding in all.
Gabriel Mendez.
P.S. Since I read your reading materials on Website, I will place this work of mine on my Website also.
