The 2018 Apostolistation for Ministers and Officers of the Takoradi and Sekondi Areas of The Church of Pentecost ended on March 16, 2017, at the Pentecost Prayer Centre, Anaji.
This year’s retreat was jointly organized by the Takoradi and Seknodi Areas under the theme, “Remain in Christ and His basic Message” (1 John 2:24-25).
The main speakers for the programme were Apostle Dr Alfred Koduah (Area Head -Takoradi), Apostle Dr Daniel Walker (Rector, Pentecost University College), Apostle J. O. Kesse (Area Head- Sefwi-Wiawso) and Elder Prof. Stephen Owusu Kwankye (Finance Board Chairman).
In his opening address, the Takoradi Area Head, who is also currently taking oversight of Sekondi Area, was grateful to the Lord for a New Year and also to the Executive Council for initiating the officers’ retreat.
Apostle Dr Alfred Koduah opened the event with a sermon on the theme “Remain in Christ and His Basic Message” with 1 John 2:24:25 as his main Bible text.
Expounding the theme, the Takoradi Area Head said John wrote the letter to correct certain false teachings that were being propagated by some group of people in the church.
According to him, some of the teachings that were going on during the time was Judaism, which stressed the strict adherence to the laws of Moses.
Another group that was also preaching false doctrines was the Gnostics. He explained that the Gnostics believed in a dualistic aspect of life. That is, everything that is spiritual is good and everything that is material is evil. He reiterated that the Gnostics were teaching that unless you have a special knowledge you are not saved. However, Apostle John refuted this teaching in John 1:1-2; 20:28.
Apostle Dr Koduah emphasized that the Gnostics were again of the view that Jesus did not even come in the flesh. This statement was also refuted by John who stated that anyone who professes that Jesus did not come in the flesh is the antichrist.
Another group of false teachers that Apostle Koduah mentioned was Antinominalists. These groups were of the view that they are not under the law and can, therefore, do whatever that they like. According to him, the spiritual pride led them to believe that they were not to obey the commandments of God.
Apostle Koduah warned that if Christians condone sin and do not expose sin then it means they are accepting the teaching of Antinomianism. He stated that John refuted the teachings of these group in 1 John 1:6-9 and 1 John 2:4. He further explained that one way by which Christians demonstrate that they belong to God is by obeying His commandments.
Apostle Koduah continued that there was also another group of people who were of the view that to be saved one has to live an ascetic life with strict rules of dos and don’ts. He also noted Nicholatanism, Jezibellism and Ballamism as the other types of false teachings that were prevalent at the time Apostle John wrote the letter to the church.
Concluding his message, Apostle Dr Alfred Koduah said that all the aforementioned false teachings are still being propagated in contemporary times, hence the need for Christians to remain in Christ and His basic message.
Report By: Pastor Emmanuel Opoku Mensah, Takoradi Area
