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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 nor contended for, but the truth set forth is held to be
essential to a full-gospel ministry. No claim is made that it covers
all Biblical truth, only that it covers our need as to these fundamental
doctrines.
1. The Scriptures 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
2. The One True God
The one true God has revealed Himself as the eternally self-existent
"I AM," the Creator of heaven and earth and 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 8:19, Luke 3:22
The Adorable Godhead
a. Terms Defined
The terms "Trinity" and "persons" as related
to the Godhead, while not found in the Scriptures, are words in
harmony with Scripture, whereby we may convey to others our immediate
understanding of the doctrine of Christ respecting the Being of
God, as distinguished from "gods many and lords many."
We therefore may speak with propriety of the Lord our God who is
One Lord, as a trinity or as one Being of three persons, and still
be absolutely scriptural. Matthew 28:19, 2 Corinthians 13:14, John
14:16-17
b. Distinction and Relationship in the Godhead
Christ taught a distinction of Persons in the Godhead which He expressed
in specific terms of relationship, as Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
but that this distinction and relationship, as to its mode is inscrutable
and incomprehensible, because unexplained. Luke 1:35, 1 Corinthians
1:24, Matthew 11:25-27, Matthew 28:19, 2 Corinthians 13:14, 1 John
1:3-4
c. Unity of the One Being of Father, Son and Holy Ghost
Accordingly, therefore, there is that in the Father which constitutes
him the Father and not the Son; there is that in the Son which constitutes
Him the Son and not the Father; and there is that in the Holy Ghost
which constitutes Him the Holy Ghost and not either the Father or
the Son. Wherefore the Father is the Begetter, the Son is the Begotten,
and the Holy Ghost is the one proceeding from the Father and the
Son. Therefore, because these three persons in the Godhead are in
a state of unity, there is but one Lord God Almighty and His name
one. John 1:18, John 15:26, John 17:11, John 17:21, Zechariah 14:9
d. Identity and Cooperation in the Godhead
The Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost are never identical as to
Person; nor confused as to relation; nor divided in respect to the
Godhead; nor opposed as to cooperation. The Son is in the Father
and the Father is in the Son as to relationship. The Son is with
the Father and the Father is with the Son, as to fellowship. The
Father is not from the Son, but the Son is from the Father, as to
authority. The Holy Ghost is from the Father and the Son proceeding,
as to nature, relationship, cooperation and authority. Hence, neither
Person in the Godhead either exists or works separately or independently
of the others. John 5:17-30, John 5:32, John 5:37, John 8:17,18
e. The Title, Lord Jesus Christ
The appellation, "Lord Jesus Christ," is a proper name.
It is never applied in the New Testament, either to the Father or
to the Holy Ghost. It therefore belongs exclusively to the Son of
God. Romans 1:1-3, 2 John 1:3
f. The Lord Jesus Christ, God with Us
The Lord Jesus Christ, as to His divine and eternal nature, is the
proper and only Begotten of the Father, but as to His human nature,
He is the proper Son of Man. He is therefore, acknowledged to be
both God and man; who because He is God and man is "Immanuel,"
God with us. Matthew 1:23, 1 John 4:2, 1 John 4:10, 1 John 4:14,
Revelation 1:13, Revelation 1:17
g. The Title, Son of God
Since the name "Immanuel" embraces both God and man in
the one Person, our Lord Jesus Christ, it follows that the title,
Son of God, describes His proper deity, and the title, Son of Man,
His proper humanity. Therefore, the title Son of God, belongs to
the order of eternity, and the title, Son of Man, to the order of
time. Matthew 1:21-23, 2 John 1:3, 1 John 3:8, Hebrews 7:3, Hebrews
1:1-13
h. Transgression of the Doctrine of Christ
Wherefore, it is a transgression of the Doctrine of Christ to say
that Jesus Christ derived the title, Son of God, solely from the
fact of the incarnation, or because of His relation to the economy
of redemption. Therefore, to deny that the Father is a real and
eternal Father, and that the Son is a real and eternal Son, is a
denial of the distinction and relationship in the Being of God;
a denial of the Father, and the Son; and a displacement of the truth
that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. 2 John 1:9, John 1:1, John
1:2, John 1:14, John 1:18, John 1:29, John 1:49, 1 John 2:22,23,
1 John 4:1-5, Hebrews 12:2
i. Exaltation of Jesus Christ as Lord
The Son of God, our Lord Jesus Christ, having by Himself purged
our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; angels
and principalities and powers having been made subject unto Him.
And having been made both Lord and Christ, He sent the Holy Ghost
that we, in the name of Jesus, might bow our knees and confess that
Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father until the end,
when the Son shall become subject to the Father that God may be
all in all. Hebrews 1:3, 1 Peter 3:22, Acts 2:32-36, Romans 14:11,
1 Corinthians 15:24-28
j. Equal Honor to the Father and to the Son
Wherefore, since the Father has delivered all judgment unto the
Son, it is not only the express duty of all in heaven and on earth
to bow the knee, but it is an unspeakable joy in the Holy Ghost
to ascribe unto the Son all the attributes of Deity, and to give
Him all honor and the glory contained in all the names and titles
of the Godhead except those which express relationship (see Distinction
and Relationship in the Godhead, Unity of the One Being of Father,
Son and Holy Ghost , and Identity and Cooperation in the Godhead)
and thus honor the Son even as we honor the Father. John 5:22,23,
1 Peter 1:8, Revelation 5:6-14, Philippians 2:8,9, Revelation 7:9-10,
Revelation 4:8-11
3. The Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ The Lord
Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God. The Scriptures declare:
His virgin birth, Matthew 1:23, Luke 1:31, Luke
1:35
His sinless life, Hebrews 7:26, 1 Peter 2:22
His miracles, Acts 2:22, Acts 10:38
His substitutionary work on the cross, 1 Corinthians
15:3, 2 Corinthians 5:21
His bodily resurrection from the dead, Matthew 28:6,
Luke 24:39, 1 Corinthians 15:4
His exaltation to the right hand of God. Acts 1:9,
Acts 1:11, Acts 2:33, Philippians 2:9-11, Hebrews 1:3
4.The Fall of Man Man was created good and upright;
for God said, "Let us make man in our own 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, Genesis 2:17, Genesis
3:6, Romans 5:12-19
5. The Salvation of Man Man's only
hope of redemption is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ the
Son of God.
Conditions to Salvation
Salvation is received through repentance toward
God and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ. By the washing of regeneration
and renewing of the Holy Ghost, being justified by grace through
faith, man becomes an heir of God, according to the hope of eternal
life. Luke 24:47, Romans 10:13-15, Ephesians 2:8, Titus 2:11, Titus
3:5-7,
The Evidence 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
6. The Ordinances of the Church
Baptism in Water
The ordinance of baptism by immersion is commanded by the Scriptures.
All who repent and believe on Christ as Saviour 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 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 come!"
7. The Baptism in the Holy Ghost All
believers are entitled to and should ardently expect and earnestly
seek the promise of the Father, the baptism in the Holy Ghost and
fire, 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, Acts 1:8, 1 Corinthians 12:1-31,
This experience is distinct from and subsequent
to the experience of the new birth. Acts 8:12-17, Acts 10:44-46,
Acts 11:14-16, Acts 15:7-9
With the baptism in the Holy Ghost 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 a more active love for Christ, for His Word and for the lost,
Mark 16:20
8. The Initial Physical Evidence of the
Baptism in the Holy Ghost The baptism of believers in the
Holy Ghost is witnessed by the initial physical sign of speaking
with other tongues as the Spirit of God gives them utterance. Acts
2:4
The speaking in tongues in this instance is the
same in essence as the gift of tongues, but is different in purpose
and use. 1 Corinthians 12:4-10, 1 Corinthians 12:28
9. 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
Sanctification is realized in the believer by recognizing
his identification with Christ in His death and resurrection, and
by the faith reckoning daily upon the fact of that union, and by
offering every faculty continually to the dominion of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 6:1-11 Romans 6:13 Romans 8:1,2 Romans 8:13 Galatians 2:20
Philippians 2:12,13 1 Peter 1:5
10. The Church and Its Mission The Church is the
Body of Christ, the habitation of God through the Spirit, with divine
appointments for the fulfillment of her great commission. Each believer,
born of the Spirit, is an integral part of the General Assembly
and Church of the Firstborn, which are written in heaven. Ephesians
1:22,23 Ephesians 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:
1. To be an agency of God for evangelizing the world.
Acts 1:8
Matthew 28:19,20
Mark 16:15,16
2. To be a corporate body in which man may worship
God.
1 Corinthians 12:13
3. To be 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:
1. Enables them to evangelize in the power of the
Spirit with accompanying supernatural signs. Mark 16:15-20 Acts
4:29-31 Hebrews 2:3,4
2. Adds a necessary dimension to worshipful relationship
with God.
1 Corinthians 2:10-16 1 Corinthians 12 1 Corinthians 13 1 Corinthians
14
3. Enables them to respond to the full working of
the Holy Spirit in expression of fruit and gifts and ministries
as in New Testament times for the edifying of the body of Christ.
Galatians 5:22-26 1 Corinthians 14:12 Ephesians 4:11,12 1 Corinthians
12:28 Colossians 1:29
11. The Ministry A divinely called and scripturally
ordained ministry has been provided by our Lord for the threefold
purpose of leading the Church in:
· Evangelization of the world. Mark 16:15-20
· Worship of God. John 4:23,24
· Building a body of saints being perfected
in the image of His Son. Ephesians 4:11-16
12. Divine Healing Divine healing is an integral
part of the gospel. Deliverance from sickness is provided for in
the atonement, and is the privilege of all believers. Isaiah 53:4,5
Matthew 8:16,17 James 5:14-16
13. 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
14. The Millennial Reign 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 one thousand years. Zechariah 14:5 Matthew 24:27
Matthew 24:30 Revelation 1:7 Revelation 19:11-14 Revelation 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
15. 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 the 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
Revelation 20:11-15 Revelation 21:8
16. 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 Revelation
22
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