The Way International and related ministries such as Spirit & Truth Fellowship International combine a strongly Pauline dispensational system with charismatic practices, especially “speaking in tongues.”
They regard Paul’s seven “Church Epistles”—Romans through Thessalonians—as the primary doctrinal instruction addressed directly to the present Church.
As a result, they teach that water baptism has been superseded by baptism in holy spirit and is therefore not required for Christians today.
They also affirm a pretribulation rapture and unconditional eternal security, commonly called “once saved, always saved.”
The principal beliefs and their practical implications include (in no particular order):
Paul Epistles for the Church only. Paul’s letters receive priority when determining Christian doctrine and practice; commands elsewhere may be assigned to Israel or another dispensation. The Way particularly emphasizes the seven “Church Epistles,” Romans through Thessalonians.
Dispensationalism. Instructions and promises concerning Israel’s earthly Kingdom are distinguished from those addressed to the present Church. Consequently, passages addressed to Israel are not automatically treated as commands for Christians.
Pentecost Acts Church. Began with Paul’s ministry; Acts 28 systems place the boundary later. The Way and Spirit & Truth instead place the Church’s beginning at Pentecost, which distinguishes them from those systems.
Water baptism replaced by the spirit. Spirit baptism is understood as the “one baptism” of Ephesians 4:5. Water baptism is therefore omitted or treated as an unnecessary ceremony belonging to an earlier administration—not merely as something unnecessary for salvation.
The Gospel of Paul. They emphasize reconciliation and the revelation of the "sacred secret" rather than treating every element of the Gospel commissions as directly binding on today’s Church. This helps explain their rejection of required water baptism.
O.S.A.S. Once Saved Always Saved means a person cannot lose salvation. Spirit & Truth explicitly extends this to subsequent ungodly conduct and even a desire to become unsaved. Thus, continued sin does not cancel salvation in its system. That is the precise claim behind your expression “sinning up a storm”; it should not be presented as their instruction to sin. As a result, Different salvation conditions in different administrations—particularly in Spirit & Truth’s teaching. It contrasts the Church’s guaranteed salvation with the conditional salvation of believers in the Old Testament and Gospels. Consequently, warnings about enduring to the end are not applied to Christians as conditions for retaining salvation.
Pretribulation rapture. The Church is removed before the Tribulation, with Christ’s subsequent coming to earth distinguished from that gathering. Consequently, Tribulation instructions are assigned to people remaining after the Church’s departure.
Revelation to the seven churches assigned to a future administration—specifically in Spirit & Truth’s interpretation. Their warnings are understood as addressed to communities after the rapture rather than directly to the present Church.
Charismatic gifts for today: Speaking in Tongues and miraculous gifts: opposite practices among different branches. Traditional Mid-Acts ministries commonly teach that tongues, prophecy, and healing gifts have ceased. The Way and Spirit & Truth teach continuing manifestations; Spirit & Truth says every Christian can speak in tongues and treats it as evidence of the new birth, while denying that it is necessary for salvation.
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