What We Believe
The 16 Doctrines of the Church
1. The Bible is Inspired
The Scriptures of the entire Bible are verbally inspired of God.
It was not just the ideas that were inspired; even the choice of words
was inspired as the original writers were moved by God to write what
He wanted them to say. We therefore believe that
(1) the Scriptures are God's revelation of himself to mankind,
(2) they are infallible (never wrong), and (3) they are the divinely
authoritative guide for our faith, belief, and manner of living
(2 Timothy 3:15-17)
2. One True God
There is one true God. He has revealed himself as having
always existed without any outside cause or agent bringing
Him into being (Isaiah 43:10). He is the Creator of heaven
and earth (Genesis 1:1) and the One who redeems,
saves, or rescues mankind from sin and its painful
consequences (Isaiah 43:11). God has further revealed himself
as a single Being (Deuteronomy 6:4) consisting of
three interrelated persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
This concept of one God or Being of three persons is called the Trinity.
3. The Lord Jesus is Fully God
The Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, has always existed.
He too is without beginning or end (Revelation 1:8). In order to
complete His earthly sacrificial mission, He became human by
being born of a virgin, conceived by the Holy Spirit. He l
ived a perfect life, absolutely without sin. While on earth,
He worked many miracles through the anointing
of the Holy Spirit. In order to restore fallen mankind,
He died on the cross as a substitute for the sins of every person.
He was raised from the dead by the supernatural power of God.
Since His resurrection He has been exalted, and is seated at the
right hand of God.
4. The Fall of Mankind
Mankind was created good and upright; for God said,
"Let us make man in our image, after our likeness." However,
mankind by willful choice, ignored God's instructions...choosing
to engage in what they knew was wrong and evil.
As a result, mankind fell from innocence and goodness
and thereby incurredd 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)
5. The Salvation of Mankind
Salvation is deliverence from spiritual death and enslavement by sin.
God provides salvation for all who believe and accept His
free offer of forgiveness. Mankind's only hope of redemption
from the fallen sinful state is through the blood of Jesus Christ,
God's Son--blood that was shed as Jesus died on the cross.
[The account of the crucifixion of Jesus is recounted by
four of His contemporaries: Matthew (ch.27), Mark (ch.15),
Luke (ch.23), and John (ch.19).]
6. The Ordinances of the Church
The Experience of Salvation: Salvation is recieved as a person
(1)repents before God for his sins and sinful nature or inclinations,
and (2) believes or has faith in the fact that the death
and resurrection (supernatural restoration of life) of Jesus Christ
removes and brings forgiveness for his sin. In response to
placing faith in God's love and freely given salvation, one experiences
the washing of regeneration (or spirittual rebirth), t
he renewing work of the Holy Spirit, and is declared rightous
(right with God). Regeneration, renewal and justification
(justified, or made right with God) are words describing what
happens at salvation. At the moment of salvation, a
person becomes heir to God's promised hope for eternal
or everlasting life (Luke 24:47; John 3:3; Romans 10:13-15;
Ephesians 2:8; Titus 2:11, 3:5-7).
The Evidences of Salvation: The inner evidence of salvation is the
direct witness of the Holy Spirit giving one the assurance that
God has accepted him (Romans 8:16). The outward evidence,
visible to others, is a life of righteousness and true holiness (
Ephesians 4:24, Titus 2:12). In other words it is living a
life totally committed and pleasing to God.
Some churches use the term sacraments instead of ordinances.
Sacraments, however, carries for many people the idea that
a spiritual work takes place in a person when the
sacrament is received or experienced. The Assemblies of God
chooses to call water baptism and holy Communion ordinances
because they are religious practices ordained or established by
Jesus himself.
In fulfilling these spiritual duties Christians are reminded
of an important work that has already taken place in
the heart of the believer.
BAPTISM IN WATER: The ordinance of baptism by immersion in water
(not sprinkling) is commanded in the Scriptures (Mark 16:16).
All who repent and believe on Jesus Christ as personal Savior
and Lord are to be so baptized. This act of baptism symbolically
declares to everyone that the old sinful life and life-style
of the baptized believer died with Christ at salvation and
a new spiritual being has been raised with Christ (in His resurrection)
to live a new life (Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:16; Acts 10:47-48;
Romans 6:4).
HOLY COMMUNION: The Lord's Supper or Communion, consisting of
bread and the fruit of the vine (grape juice), is a memorial
of Christ's suffering and death (1 Corinthians 11:26).
In eating and drinking the symbols of Christ's suffering and death,
the believer expresses his awareness that through salvation he,
(1) has been made right with God, and (2) shares the divine nature of
eternal life through our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:4).
The ordinance also looks forward to Christ's second coming
(1 Corinthians 11:26) for it is a reminder to proclaim the Lord's
death "until He comes!"
7. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit
The word 'GHOST' in the 16th-century King James Version of
the Bible meant only what we today understand by the word 'SPIRIT'.
All believers are entitled to recieve the baptism in the
Holy Spirit, and therefore should expect and earnestly seek t
he promise of the Father, according to the command of
our Lord Jesus Christ. [Some references in the Bible speak
of "The Holy Ghost and fire." Fire, an image commonly associated
with the Holy Spirit, suggests the purging, cleansing action,
and zeal of the Holy Spirit which continues the work of spiritual
growth begun at salvation.]
The baptism in the Holy Spirit was the normal experience of all
believers in the early Christian church. With the experience
comes the provision of power for victorious Christian living
and productive service. It also provides believers with specific
spiritual gifts for more effective ministry (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-8;
1 Corinthians 12:1-31).
The baptism in the Holy Spirit is separate from salvation,
and follows the new birth experience (Acts 8:12-17, 10:44-46, 11:14-16,
15:7-9). With this baptism 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
commitment to God and dedication to His work (Acts 2:42), and
a more active love for Christ, for His Word, and for those who
have not yet become believers (Mark 16:20)
8. The Initial Physical Evidence of Baptism of the Holy Spirit
The baptism of Christians in the Holy Spirit is accompanied
by the initial physical sign of speaking in other tongues
(unlearned languages) as the Spirit of God gives them audible
expression (Acts 2:4).
This form of speaking in tongues is basically the same as the gift
of tongues (1 Corinthians 12:4-10,28). The difference is the
purpose and use. [The manifestation of tongues can be
observed in the life of every Spirit-filled believer at the
initial infilling. The audible expression of tongues should also
continue to function in the Spirit-filled believer's personal
prayer life. However, the gift of tongues (some in congregational
worship settings. This gift followed by the gift of interpreting the
tongues. Both are given to individuals within the church. Their
purpose is for the spiritual benefit of the individual
and the congregation.]
9. Sanctification
Sanctification is an act separating ourselves from evil and
identifying with things that are good, upright, and morally pure.
It is a process that takes place as Christians devote themselves
to God (Romans 12:1,2; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; Hebrews 13:12).
Scriptures teach that we are to be holy because God is holy
(1 Peter 1:16). For "Without holiness no one will see the Lord"
(Hebrews 12:14), Living in holiness is possible by the power
of the Holy Spirit.
A Christian is sanctified as he identifies with Christ, and
accepts in faith His sacrificial death and victorious resurrection.
Sanctification is a daily acknowledgemnt of our union with
God through His Son Jesus. As this identifiacation occurs
it is only natural for the Christian to offer every portion
of his life to the control of the Holy Spirit
(Romans 6:1-11, 8:1,2,13; Galatians 2:20; Philippians 2:12,13; 1 Peter 1:5).
10. The Church and its Mission
The Church as described in the Bible consists of all people
who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ as the only remedy
for their sins. The Church includes all Christians and has no
boundries as to age, race, gender, or denomination. It is the
body of Christ, the dwelling place of God through the Holy Spirit.
Christ is the Head of the Church. He has made every provision
for the fulfillment of the Church's "Great Commission"
(Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:15). Each Christian is an integral
part of that Church. The names of all true believers
(those making up the Church) are written in heaven
(Ephesians 1:22-23, 2:22; Hebrews 12:23).
11. The Ministry
Involvement in ministry in response to a divine call is scriptually
ordained in the Bible. It is a provision of our Lord for the
threefold purpose of leading the Church in:
(1) evangelization of the world (Mark 16:15-20),
(2) worship of God (John 4:23-24), and
(3) building a body of believers conforming to the life of Christ
(Ephesians 4:11,16).
12. Divine Healing
Divine healing from God is an integral part of the Gospel.
Deliverance from sickness is provided in the
Atonement (Christ's suffering and death for our r
econciliation with God). Healing is a privilege of all believers
(Isaiah 53:4-5; Matthew 8:16-17; James 5:14-16).
13. The Blessed Hope
All Christians who have died will one day rise from their
graves and will meet the Lord in the air. Christians who
have not yet died will be raptured or caught up with them
to be with the Lord. Then Christians of all ages will live
with God forever. The scriptural truth of the Lord's soon
return is "the blessed hope" (Romans 8:23; 1 Corinthians 15:51-52;
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; Titus 2:13).
14. The Millenial Reign of Christ
The second coming of Christ includes the rapture of all Christians,
which is our blessed hope, followed by the visible return of
Christ with His saints to reign on the earth for 1,000 years
(Zechariah 14:5; Matthew 24:27,30; Revelation 1:7, 19:11-14, 20:1-6).
This millennial (1,000 year) reign will bring the salvation of
Israel as a nation (Ezekiel 37:21-22; Zephaniah 3:19-20;
Romans 11:26-27) and the establishment of universal peace
(Psalm 72:3-8; Isaiah 11:6-9;
Micah 4:3-4).
15. The Final Judgement
There will be a final judgement in which the wicked dead -
those who have died without accepting Christ's salvation -
will be raised and judged according to the way they lived.
Anyone whose name is not found written in the Book of Life
(the recorded list of people who recieved Christ's forgiveness),
together with the devil and his angels, the beast and the
false prophet, will be sent to everlasting punishment in the
lake that burns with fire and brimstone (sulfur), which is the
second death (Matthew 25:46; Mark 9:43-48;
Revelation 19:20, 20:11-15, 21:8).
16. The New Heavens and New Earth
"According to God's promise, we look for new heavens
and a new earth, where righteousness will dwell and
reign forever" (2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21,22).
