The Bible is our all-sufficient rule for faith and practice. This statement
of Fundamental Truths is intended simply as a basis of fellowship among us
(i.e., that we all speak the same thing, 1 Corinthians 1:10; Acts 2:42). The
phraseology employed in this statement is not inspired or contended for, but the
truth set forth is held to be essential to a full-gospel ministry. No claim is
made that it contains all Biblical truth; only that it covers our need as to
these fundamental doctrines.
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The Scripture Inspired
The scriptures, both the Old
and New Testaments, are verbally inspired of God and are the revelation of God
to man, the infallible, authoritative rule of faith and conduct (2 Timothy
3:15-17; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Peter 1:21).
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The One True God
The one true God has revealed
himself as the eternally self-existent "I AM," the Creator of heaven and earth,
the Redeemer of mankind. He has further revealed himself as embodying the
principles of relationship and association as Father, Son and Holy Ghost
(Deuteronomy 6:4, Isaiah 43:10,11, Matthew 28:19, Luke 3:22).
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The Deity of the Lord Jesus
The Lord Jesus Christ is
the eternal Son of God. The Scriptures declare his:
a. Virgin birth (Matthew 1:23; Luke 1:31,35)
b. Sinless life (Hebrews 7:26; 1 Peter 2:22)
c. Miracles (Acts 2:22; 10:38)
d. Substitutionary work on the cross (1 Corinthians 15:3; 2 Corinthians
5:21)
e. Bodily resurrection from the dead (Matthew 28:6; Luke 24:39; 1 Corinthians
15:4); and
f. Exaltation to the right hand of God (Acts 1:9, 11; 2:33; Philippians 2:9,
11; Hebrews 1:3).
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The Fall of Man
Man was created good and upright; for
God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness." However, man by
voluntary transgression fell and thereby incurred not only physical death but
also spiritual death, which is separation from God (Genesis 1:26, 27; 2:17; 3:6;
Romans 5:12-19).
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The Salvation of Man
Man's only hope
of redemption is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ, the Son of
God.
Conditions of Salvation
Salvation is received through
repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ. (Luke 24:47; John
3:3; Romans 10:13-15; Ephesians 2:8; Titus 2:11, 3:5-7).
The
Evidences of Salvation
The inward evidence of salvation is the direct
witness of the Spirit (Romans 8:16). The outward evidence to all men is a life
of righteousness and true holiness (Ephesians 4:24; Titus 2:12).
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The Ordinances of the Church
Baptism in
Water
The ordinance of baptism by immersion is commanded in the
Scriptures. All who repent and believe on Christ as Savior and Lord are to be
baptized. Thus, they declare to the world that they have died with Christ and
that they also have been raised with him to walk in newness of life (Matthew
28:19; Mark 16:16; Acts 10:47, 48; Romans 6:4).
Holy Communion
The Lord's Supper, consisting of the elements - bread and the fruit of
the vine, is the symbol expressing our sharing in the divine nature of our Lord
Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:4); a memorial of his suffering and death (1 Corinthians
11:26); and a prophecy of his second coming (1 Corinthians 11:26); and is
enjoined on all believers "till he comes!
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The Baptism in the Holy Spirit
All believers are
entitled to and should ardently expect and earnestly seek the promise of the
Father, the baptism in the Holy Spirit, according to the command of our Lord
Jesus Christ. This was the normal experience of all in the early Christian
Church. With it comes the enduement of power for life and service, the
bestowment of the gifts and their uses in the work of the ministry (Luke 24:49;
Acts 1:4-8; 1 Corinthians 12:1-31). This experience is distinct from and
subsequent to the experience of the new birth (Acts 8:12-17; 10:44-46; 11:14-16;
15:7-9). With the baptism in the Holy Spirit come such experiences as an
overflowing fullness of the Spirit (John 7:37-39; Acts 4:8), a deepened
reverence for God (Acts 2:43; Hebrews 12:28), an intensified consecration to God
and dedication to his work (Acts 2:42), and more active love for Christ, for his
Word, and for the lost (Mark 16:20).
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The Evidence of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit
The
baptism of believers in the Holy Spirit is witnessed by the initial physical
sign of speaking with other tongues as the Spirit of God gives them utterance
(Acts 2:4).
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Sanctification
Sanctification is an act of separation
from that which is evil, and of dedication unto God (Romans 12:1-2; 1
Thessalonians 5:23; Hebrews 13:12). The Scriptures teach a life of "holiness,
without which no man shall see the Lord" (Hebrews 12:14). By the power of the
Holy Ghost, we are able to obey the command: "Be ye holy; for I am holy" (1
Peter 1:15.16) (Romans 6:1-11,13; Romans 8:1,2,13; Galatians 2:20; Philippians
2:12.13; 1 Peter 1:5).
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The Church and Its Mission
The Church is the Body of
Christ and each believer is an integral part. (Ephesians 1:22, 23; 2:22; Hebrews
12:23).
Since God's purpose concerning man is to seek and to save that which is lost,
to be worshipped by man, and to build a body of believers in the image of his
Son, the priority reason-for-being of the Assemblies of God as part of the
Church is to be:
a. An agency of God for evangelizing the world (Acts
1:8; Matthew 28:19,20; Mark 16:15,16);
b. A corporate body in which man
may worship God (1 Corinthians 12:13); and
c. A channel of God's purpose
to build a body of saints being perfected in the image of his Son (Ephesians
4:11, 16; 1 Corinthians 12:28; 1 Corinthians 14:12).
The Assemblies of
God exists expressly to give continuing emphasis to this reason-for-being in the
New Testament apostolic pattern by teaching and encouraging believers to be
baptized in the Holy Spirit. This experience:
a. Enables them to
evangelize the power of the Spirit with accompanying supernatural signs (Mark
16:15-20; Acts 4:29-31; Hebrews 2:3,4)
b. Adds a necessary dimension to a
worshipful relationship with God (1 Corinthians 2:10-16; 1 Corinthians 12,13 and
14); and
c. Enables them to respond to the full working of the Holy
Spirit in expression of fruit, gifts, and ministries as in New Testament times
for edifying the body of Christ (Galatians 5:22-26; 1 Corinthians 14:12;
Ephesians 4:11,12; 1 Corinthians 12:28; Colossians 1:29).
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The Ministry
A divinely-called and
scripturally-ordained ministry has been provided by our Lord for a threefold
purpose of leading the Church in:
a. evangelizing the world (Mark
16:15-20),
b. worshipping God (John 4:23,23), and
c. building a
body of saints being perfected in the image of his Son (Ephesians 4:11-16).
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Divine Healing
Divine healing is an integral part of
the gospel. Deliverance from sickness is provided in the atonement, and is the
privilege of all believers (Isaiah 53:4,5; Matthew 8:16, 17; James 5:14-16).
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The Blessed Hope
The resurrection of those who have
fallen asleep in Christ and their translation together with those who are alive
and remain unto the coming of the Lord is the imminent and blessed hope of the
Church. (1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17; Romans 8:23; Titus 2:13; 1 Corinthians
15:51.52).
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The Millennial Reign of Christ
The second coming of
Christ includes the rapture of saints, which is our blessed hope, followed by
the visible return of Christ with his saints to reign on the earth for one
thousand years (Zechariah 14:5; Matthew 24:27, 30; Revelation 1:7; 19:11-14;
20:1-6). This millennial reign will bring the salvation of national Israel
(Ezekiel 37:21,22; Zephaniah 3:19,20; Romans 11:26,27) and the establishment of
universal peace (Isaiah 11:6-9; Psalms 72:3-8; Micah 4:3,4).
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The Final Judgment
There will be a final judgment in
which the wicked dead will be raised and judged according to their works.
Whosoever is not found written in the Book of Life, together with the Devil and
his angels, the beast, and the false prophet, will be consigned to everlasting
punishment in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the
second death (Matthew 25:46; Mark 9:43-48; Revelation 19:20; 20:11-15;
21:8).
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The New Heavens and the New Earth
We, according to
his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth
righteousness (2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21 and 22).
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