A History of Christian Doctrine #3 - Online Christian Library

A History of Christian Doctrine
Because of his new convictions, Ewart parted company
with Fisher and Garr. He pitched a tent (which
Fisher helped him obtain) and began meetings in
Belvedere, California, just outside Los Angeles. Glenn
Cook agreed with Ewart’s message, and they decided to
work together. On April 15, 1914—exactly one year after
the Arroyo Seco camp meeting began—Ewart preached
his first sermon on Acts 2:38. He proclaimed that the full
message of salvation consists of repentance, water baptism
in Jesus’ name, and the baptism of the Holy Ghost,
and he associated baptism in Jesus’ name with the oneness
of God in Christ. Then Ewart baptized Cook in the
name of Jesus Christ, and Cook baptized Ewart. This
action—the first rebaptisms in the name of Jesus Christ—
was the decisive step in starting Oneness Pentecostalism
as a distinct movement.
Frank Small, quoted with approval by Ewart, later
explained the doctrinal significance of rebaptism in
Jesus’ name: 69
68
Through the illumination of Scripture, the new message
had resolved itself into the fullness of God in Christ
(II Corinthians 5:19; I Thessalonians 5:18; I Timothy
3:16). This teaching developed in Los Angeles. It might
be stated that until this time, the message of water baptism
in the Name of Jesus had been based on record
only. We knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that the
apostles had baptized in the Name of Jesus, but we still
did not fully understand why. But, in due time when
complete scriptural revelation came, the absolute fullness
of God in Christ was proven. Out of the development
of this truth came the act of re-baptizing converts