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This "Declaration of Fundamental Truths" contains the 16 doctrines of the Assemblies of God. All the churches of the Assemblies of God adhere to these doctrines that are non-negotiable principles of the faith. Four of them, salvation, baptism in the Holy Spirit, divine healing and the second coming of Christ are considered cardinal doctrines that are essential for the central mission of the church to reach the world for Christ.
DECLARATION OF FUNDAMENTAL TRUTHS OF GOD'S ASSEMBLIES
The Bible is our sufficient rule of faith and conduct. This Statement of fundamental truths is meant simply to be a basis for fellowship among us (eg, let us all speak the same thing, 1 Corinthians 1:10 [ KJV / NIV ]; Acts 2:42 [ KJV / NIV ]). The phraseology used in this statement is neither inspired nor disputed, but the truth that is presented is considered essential for a full gospel ministry. He does not claim that this statement contains all the biblical truth, only that it encompasses our need for these fundamental doctrines.
1 THE INSPIRATION OF THE SCRIPTURES
The Scriptures, both the Old and New Testaments, are verbally inspired by God and are the revelation of God to man, the infallible and authoritative rule of faith and conduct.
2 THE ONLY TRUE GOD
The only true God has revealed himself as the eternal existent in himself "I AM", the Creator of heaven and earth and Redeemer of humanity. He has also revealed himself embodying the principles of relationship and association such as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit
ADORABLE DEITY
to. Definition of words
The words "trinity" and "persons" as they relate to the Deity, although not found in the Bible, are words that are in harmony with it, therefore we can communicate to others our immediate understanding of the doctrine of Christ regarding to the Being of God, as distinguished from "many gods and many lords". Therefore we can speak properly of the Lord our God, who is one Lord, as a Trinity or as a Being of three persons, without deviating from the biblical teachings.
b. Distinction and relationship in the Deity
Christ taught a distinction of persons in the Godhead that he expressed in specific terms of relationship, as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, but that this distinction and relation, as far as its form is concerned, is inscrutable and incomprehensible, since the Bible does not Explain.
c. Unity of the One Being of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit
Therefore, in the same way, there is that in the Father who constitutes him Father and not Son; there is that in the Son who constitutes him Son and not Father; and there is that in the Holy Spirit who constitutes it Holy Spirit and not Father or Son. So the Father is the Begetter; the Son is the Begotten; and the Holy Spirit is the one that comes from the Father and the Son. So, because these three people of the Godhead are in a state of oneness, there is only one Lord Almighty God and he has only one name.
d. Identity and cooperation in the Deity
The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are not identical in regard to person; nor are they confused as to relationship; nor are they divided as to the Deity; neither opposites in terms of cooperation. The Son is in the Father and the Father is in the Son in relationship. The Son is with the Father and the Father is with the Son, as regards fellowship. The Father does not come from the Son, but the Son comes from the Father, as far as authority is concerned. The Holy Spirit comes from the Father and the Son, in terms of nature, relationship, cooperation and authority. Therefore, none of the persons of the Deity exists or operates separately or independently of the others.
and. The title Lord Jesus Christ
The title "Lord Jesus Christ" is a proper name. In the New Testament it is never applied to the Father or the Holy Spirit. Therefore it belongs exclusively to the Son of God.
F. The Lord Jesus Christ, God with us
The Lord Jesus Christ, in regard to his divine and eternal nature, is the true and only begotten Son of the Father, but as far as his human nature is concerned, he is the true Son of Man. Therefore, he is recognized as God and man; who, being God and man, is "Immanuel", God with us.
g. The title Son of God
Being that the name Immanuel embraces the divine and the human, in one person, our Lord Jesus Christ, the title Son of God describes his due deity, and the title Son of Man his due humanity. So the title Son of God belongs to the order of eternity, and the title Son of Man to the order of time.
h. Transgression of the doctrine of Christ
Therefore, it is a transgression of the doctrine of Christ to say that the Lord Jesus derived the title of Son of God only from the fact of the incarnation, or by its relation to the economy of redemption. So to deny that the Father is a true and eternal Father and that the Son is a true and eternal Son is to deny the distinction and relationship in the Being of God; a denial of the Father and the Son; and a substitution of the truth that Jesus Christ was made flesh.
i. Exaltation of Jesus Christ as Lord
The Son of God, our Lord Jesus Christ, after cleansing us from sin with his blood, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, holding fast to angels, principalities, and powers. After being made Lord and Christ, He sent the Holy Spirit so that in the name of Jesus all knees would bend and confess that Jesus Christ is the Lord for the glory of God the Father until the end, when the Son is subject to the Father so that God be all in all.
j. Equal honor for the Father and the Son
Since the Father has given the Son all judgment, it is not only a duty of all in heaven and on earth to bow down before Him, but it is an unspeakable joy in the Holy Spirit to ascribe to the Son all the attributes of the deity and render Him all the honor and glory contained in all the names and titles of the Deity except those that denote relationship (see Distinction and relationship in the Deity, Unity of the only being of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and Identity and cooperation in the Deity), thus honoring the Son as the Father is honored.
3 THE DEITY OF THE LORD JESUS ??CHRIST
The Lord Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God. The Bible declares:
His virgin birth,
His life without sin,
Your Miracles,
His vicarious work on the cross,
His bodily resurrection from the dead,
His exaltation at the right hand of God.
4 THE FALL OF MAN
Man was created good and just; because God said: "Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness". However, the human being by his own will fell into transgression, thus incurring not only physical but also spiritual death, which is separation from God.
5 THE SALVATION OF MAN
The only hope of redemption for man is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
Conditions for salvation.
Salvation is received through repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Man becomes the son and heir of God according to the hope of eternal life through the washing of regeneration, the renewal of the Holy Spirit and justification by grace through faith.
Evidences of salvation.
The internal evidence of salvation is the direct testimony of the Spirit.
The external evidence before all men is a life of justice and true holiness.
6 THE ORDINANCES OF THE CHURCH
THE BAPTISM IN WATER
The Scriptures establish the ordinance of water baptism by immersion. All who repent and believe in Christ as Savior and Lord must be baptized. In this way they declare before the world that they have died with Christ and that they have been resurrected with Him to walk in new life.
THE HOLY COMMUNION.
The Lord's Supper, which involves the participation of the eucharistic-bread species and the fruit of the vine-is the symbol expressing our sharing the divine nature of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1: 4 [ KJV / NIV ] ); a reminder of his sufferings and death (1 Corinthians 11:26 [ KJV / NIV ]); and a prophecy of his second coming (1 Corinthians 11:26 [ KJV / NIV ]); and a mandate for all believers "until he comes!"
7 BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT
All believers have the right to receive and must 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 entire first Christian church. With baptism comes an investiture of power for life and service and the granting of spiritual gifts and their use in ministry.
This experience is different from that of the new birth and subsequent to it.
With the baptism in the Holy Spirit the believer receives experiences such as:
- that of being filled with the Spirit, John 7: 37-39 [ KJV / NIV ], Acts 4: 8 [ KJV / NIV ]
- a deeper reverence for God, Acts 2:43 [ KJV / NIV ], Hebrews 12:28 [ KJV / NIV ]
- a more intense consecration to God and dedication to his work, Acts 2:42 [ KJV / NIV]
- and a more active love for Christ, for His Word and for the lost, Mark 16:20 [ KJV / NIV ]
8 THE INITIAL PHYSICAL EVIDENCE OF BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT
The baptism of the believers in the Holy Spirit is evidenced by the initial physical sign of speaking in other tongues as the Spirit directs them.
Speaking in tongues in this case is essentially the same as the gift of tongues, but it is different in purpose and use.
9 SANCTIFICATION
Sanctification is an act of separation from all evil, and dedication to God.
The Bible prescribes a life of "holiness without which no one will see the Lord".
By the power of the Holy Spirit we can obey the command that says: "Be holy because I am holy."
Sanctification takes place in the believer when he recognizes his identity with Christ in his death and resurrection, and by faith he intends to live each day in this union with Christ, and submits all his faculties to the dominion of the Holy Spirit.
10 THE CHURCH AND ITS MISSION
The Church is the body of Christ, the abode of God by 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, who are inscribed in heaven.
Being that the purpose of God in relation to man is to seek and save what was lost, to be adored by the human being and to build a body of believers in the image of his Son, the main reason for being of the Assemblies of God as part of the Church is:
Be an agency of God for the evangelization of the world.
To be a corporate body in which man can worship God.
To be a channel for God's purpose to edify a body of saints being perfected in the image of His Son.
To be a people that shows the love and compassion of God to the whole world.
The Assemblies of God exists expressly to give continuous emphasis to this reason of being according to the apostolic model of the New Testament teaching believers and encouraging them to be baptized in the Holy Spirit. This experience:
It enables you to evangelize in the power of the Spirit with signs and miracles.
Add a necessary dimension to worship and relationship with God.
It enables them to respond to the full manifestation of the Holy Spirit in the expression of fruits, gifts and ministries as in the New Testament times for the edification of the body of Christ.
11 THE MINISTRY
Our Lord has provided a ministry that constitutes a divine and ordained calling with the fourfold purpose of leading the church in:
The Evangelization of the World.
The adoration of God
The building of a body of saints to perfect them in the image of his Son.
Satisfy human needs with ministries of love and compassion.
12 DIVINE HEALTH
Divine healing is an integral part of the gospel. The liberation of the disease has been provided in the atonement and is the privilege of all believers.
13 BLESSED HOPE
The resurrection of those who have died in Christ and his rapture along with those who are alive at the coming of the Lord is the imminent and blessed hope of the Church.
14 THE MILLENARY KINGDOM OF CHRIST
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 on earth for a thousand years.
This millennial reign will bring Israel's salvation as a nation,
and the establishment of a universal peace.
15 THE FINAL JUDGMENT
There will be a final judgment in which the dead sinners will be resurrected and judged according to their works. Anyone whose name is not found in the Book of Life, will be confined to suffer eternal punishment in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death, together with the devil and his angels, the beast and the false prophet .
16 THE NEW HEAVENS AND THE NEW EARTH
"But we expect, according to his promises, new heavens and new earth, in which justice dwells."