Our Beliefs

The Scriptures, both the Old and New Testaments, are verbally inspired by God and are God's revelation to man, the infallible and authoritative rule of faith and conduct (2 Timothy 3:15-17; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Peter 1:21)

The one true God has revealed himself as the eternal self-existent "I AM", the Creator of heaven and earth and Redeemer of mankind. He has also revealed Himself by embodying the principles of relationship and association as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 43:10,11; Matthew 28:19; Luke 3:22).

The Lord Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God. The Bible declares:

A. His virgin birth (Matthew 1:23; Luke 1:31,35). (b) His sinless life (Hebrews 7:26; 1 Peter 2:22).

B. His sinless life (Hebrews 7:26; 1 Peter 2:22).

C. His miracles (Acts 2:22; 10:38).

D. His vicarious work on the cross (I Corinthians 15:3; 2 Corinthians 5:21).

E. His bodily resurrection from the dead (cf. Matt. 28:6; Luke 24:39; I Cor. 15:4).

F. His exaltation at the right hand of God (Acts 1:9,11; 2:33; Philippians 2:9-11; Hebrews 1:3).

Man was created good and just; for God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. (Genesis 1:26, 27; 2:17; 3:6; Romans 5:12-19).

The only hope of redemption for man is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

A. Conditions for salvation. Salvation is received through repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Man becomes a son and heir of God according to the hope of eternal life by the washing of regeneration, the renewing of the Holy Spirit and justification by grace through faith (Luke 24:47; John 3:3; Romans 10:13-15; Ephesians 2:8; Titus 2:11; 3:5-7).

B. Evidence of salvation. The inward evidence of salvation is the direct testimony of the Spirit (Romans 8:16). The outward evidence before all men is a life of righteousness and true holiness (Ephesians 4:24; Titus 2:12).

A. The water baptism. The Scriptures establish the ordinance of water baptism by immersion. All who repent and believe in Christ as Savior and Lord should be baptized. Thus they declare before the world that they have died with Christ and have been raised with Him to walk in new life (Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:16; Acts 10:47, 48; Romans 6:4).

B. Holy Communion. The Lord's Supper, which consists of the sharing of the Eucharistic species-the bread and the fruit of the vine-is the symbol that expresses our sharing in the divine nature of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:4); a reminder of His suffering and death (1 Corinthians 11:26); and a prophecy of His second coming (1 Corinthians 11:26); and a command to all believers "until He comes!

All believers have the right to receive and should fervently seek the promise of the Father, the baptism in the Holy Spirit and fire, according to the command of the Lord Jesus Christ. This was the normal and common experience of the whole early Christian church. With baptism comes an empowerment for life and service and the bestowal of spiritual gifts and their use in 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 the believer receives experiences such as being filled with the Spirit (John 7:37-39; Acts 4:8), a deeper reverence for God (Acts 2:43; Hebrews 12:28), a more intense consecration to God and dedication to His work (Acts 2:42) and a more active love for Christ, for His Word and for the lost (Mark 16:20).

The baptism of believers in the Holy Spirit is evidenced by the initial physical sign of speaking in other tongues as the Spirit leads them (Acts 2:4). Speaking in tongues in this case is essentially the same as the gift of tongues (1 Corinthians 12:4-10, 28), but is different in purpose and use.

Sanctification is an act of separation from all evil, and of dedication to God (Romans 12:1, 2; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; Hebrews 13:12). The Bible prescribes a life of "holiness without which no one will see the Lord" (Hebrews 12:14). By the power of the Holy Spirit we can obey the command to "be holy because I am holy" (1 Peter 1:15, 16).

Sanctification is effected in the believer when he recognizes his identity with Christ in His death and resurrection, and by faith intends to live each day in this union with Christ, and submits all his faculties to the dominion of the Holy Spirit (Romans 6:1-11, 13; 8:1, 2, 13; Galatians 2:20; Philippians 2:12, 13; 1 Peter 1:5).

The Church is the body of Christ, the dwelling place of God through the Holy Spirit, with the divine commission to carry out His great commission. Every believer, born of the Holy Spirit, is an integral part of the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven (Ephesians 1:22, 23; 2:22; Hebrews 12:23).

Since God's purpose in relation to man is to seek and to save that which was lost, to be worshipped by man, and to build a body of believers in the image of His Son, the primary reason for the existence of the Assemblies of God as part of the Church is:

A. To be an agency of God for the evangelization of the world (cf. Acts 1:8; Matthew 28:19, 20; Mark 16:15, 16).

B. To be a corporate body in which man can worship God (1 Corinthians 12:13).

C. To be a channel for God's purpose of building a body of saints being perfected in the image of His Son (Ephesians 4:11-16; 1 Corinthians 12:28; 14:12).

D. To be a people who show God's love and compassion to all people (Psalm 112:9; Galatians 2:10; 6:10; James 1:27).

The Assemblies of God exists expressly to give continued emphasis to this reason for being according to the New Testament apostolic model by teaching believers and encouraging them to be baptized in the Holy Spirit. This experience:

A. It enables them to evangelize in the power of the Spirit with signs and wonders (Mark 16:15-20; Acts 4:29-31; Hebrews 2:3, 4).

B. Adds a necessary dimension to worship and relationship with God (1 Corinthians 2:10-16, 1 Corinthians 12-14)

C. It enables them to respond to the full manifestation of the Holy Spirit in the expression of fruits, gifts and ministries as in the times of the New

D. The Bible is a testament for the building up of the body of Christ (Galatians 5:22-26; 1 Corinthians 14:12; Ephesians 4:11, 12; 1 Corinthians 12:28; Colossians 1:29).

Our Lord has provided a divinely called and ordained ministry with the threefold purpose of leading the church in: (1) the evangelization of the world (Mark 16:15-20), (2) the worship of God (John 4:23, 24) and (3) the building up of a body of saints, to be perfected in the image of His Son (Ephesians 4:11, 16).

Divine healing is an integral part of the gospel. Deliverance from sickness has been provided in the atonement and is the privilege of all believers (Isaiah 53:4, 5; Matthew 8:16, 17; James 5:14-16).

The resurrection of those who have died in Christ and their catching up with those who are alive at 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).

The second coming of Christ includes the rapture of the saints, which is our blessed hope, followed by the visible return of Christ with His saints to reign over the earth for a 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 Israel as a nation (Ezek. 37:21,22; Zeph. 3:19,20; Rom. 11:26,27) and the establishment of universal peace (Isa. 11:6-9; Ps. 72:3-8; Micah 4:3,4).

There will be a final judgment in which dead sinners will be resurrected and judged according to their works. Everyone whose name is not found in the Book of Life will be confined to suffer eternal punishment in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death, together with the devil and his angels, the beast and the false prophet (Matthew 25:46; Mark 9:43-48; Revelation 19:20; 20:11-15; 21:8).

"But we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness." (2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:22)