A History of Christian Doctrine #3 - Online Christian Library

A History of Christian Doctrine
Christ): “This was wedlock to Christ. . . . He had
complete charge of me. . . . It was a complete death
to me. . . . The glory of God filled the temple.”
When Mason attended Azusa Street, he went to the
altar in response to a call for sinners to be justified, even
though he was a leader in his Holiness denomination. He
explained his thought at the time: “It may be that I am not
converted, and if not, God knows and can convert me.” 25
The Azusa Street Mission affirmed that the “Bible evidence”
of baptism with the Holy Ghost is speaking in
tongues. Seymour wrote in 1907, “Beloved, when we
receive the baptism with the Holy Ghost and fire, we
surely will speak in tongues as the Spirit gives utterance.
We are not seeking for tongues, but we are seeking the
baptism with the Holy Ghost and fire.” 26 There were many
reports of people from other countries coming to Azusa
Street and hearing their native languages spoken by people
who received the Holy Ghost. There were also reports
of people seeing flames of fire and clouds of glory.
The Azusa Street Mission did not believe in baptismal
regeneration, but it emphasized the necessity of practicing
water baptism as a commandment of the Lord, and it
considered water baptism to be part of the “full Gospel”: 27
32
Baptism is not a saving ordinance, but it is essential
because it is a command of our Lord. Mark 16:16,
and Acts 2:38. . . . It is obedience to the command of
Jesus, following saving faith. We believe every true
believer will practice it. . . .
It should be administered by a disciple who is baptized
with the Holy Ghost and fire, in the name of the