The Assemblies of GOD 16 Statements of Fundamental Truth

1. The Scriptures Inspired.

The entire Bible, both Old and New Testaments, is the infallible Word of God, the revelation from God to man, verbally inspired by the Holy Spirit, the power of God unto salvation to those who believe, and the only and perfect order of faith and conduct, and is superior to conscience and reason, but not contrary to reason, to which nothing can be added or taken away. Rom. 1:16, I Peter 1:23-25, I Thess. 2:13, II Tim. 3:15-17, II Peter 1:21.

2. The One True God.

There is only one living and true God, eternal, self-existent, self-revealed “I Am,” with unlimited power, Creator of all things, and the redeemer of all mankind, and in the one God are three distinct persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Deut. 6:14, Isa. 43:10-11, 11 Eph. 4:6, Matt. 28:19, Mark 12:29, I John 5:7.

3. Jesus Christ the Son of God.

A. Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the eternal Word made flesh, who assumed a human body through the virgin Mary, and so is true God and true man, two natures in one person, the Divine and the human; and therefore is the only Saviour, who in reality suffered, not only for the primitive transgression, but also for the actual sins of man. John 1:14, Luke 1:27 & 35, I Peter 3:18.

B. The deity of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The scriptures declare:

(a) His virgin birth. (Matt. 1:23, Luke 1:31 & 35)

(b) His sinless life. (Heb. 7:26, I Peter 2:22)

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

(d) His substitutionary work on the cross. (I Cor. 15:3, II Cor. 5:21)

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

(f) His exaltation to the right hand of God. (Acts 1:9 & 11; 2:33, Phil. 2:9-11, Heb. 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 a depraved nature and separation from God. (Gen. 1:26-27; 2:17; 3:6, Rom. 5:12-19)

5. The Salvation of Man.

A. Conditions to Salvation. (Mans only hope of redemption is in Jesus Christ the Son of God)

Salvation is received through repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ and His atoning blood. 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, John 3:3, Rom. 10:13-15, Eph. 2:8, Titus 2:11; 3:5-7, Rom 5:12-21)

B. The Evidences of Salvation.

The inward evidence of salvation is the direct witness of the Spirit (Rorn. 8:16). The outward evidence to all men is a life of righteousness and true holiness (Eph. 4:24, Titus 2:12)

6. The Ordinance of the Church.

A. Baptism in Water.

The ordinance of water baptism by single immersion “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost” is commanded in the Scriptures. All who repent and believe on Jesus 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. (Matt. 28:19, Mark 16:16, Acts 10:47, Rom. 6:4)

B. Holy Communion.

The Lord’s Supper, consisting of the elements, bread and the fruit of the vine, are symbols representing the broken body and shed blood of Jesus Christ. (II Peter 1:4); a memorial of His suffering and death and a prophecy of His second coming. (I Cor. 11:26); and is enjoined on all believers “till He come!” The body of Christ is given, received, and eaten in a heavenly and spiritual manner, and the means of receiving and eating it is in faith. (John 6:48, 51 & 53-57, Luke 22:19-20)

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 spiritual gifts and their uses in the work of the ministry (Luke 24:49, Acts 1:4 & 8, I Cor. 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 Ghost come such experiences as an overflowing fullness of the Spirit (John 7:37-39, Acts 4:8), a deepened reverence for God (Acts 2:42, Heb. 12:28) and intensified consecration to God and dedication to His work (Acts 2:43), 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 (I Cor. 12:4-10 & 28), but different in purpose and use.

9. Sanctification.

Sanctification is an act of separation from that which is evil, and of dedication unto God (Rom. 12:1 & 2,1 Thes. 5:23, Heb. 13:12). The Scriptures teach a life of “holiness without which no man shall see the Lord.” (Heb 12:14). By the power of the Holy Ghost we are able to obey the command; “Be ye holy for I am holy” (I Peter 1:15 & 16).

Sanctification is realized in the believer by recognizing his identification with Christ in His death and resurrection, and by faith reckoning daily upon the fact of that union, and by offering every faculty continually to the dominion of the Holy Spirit (Rom 6:1-11 & 13; 8:1,2,13, Gal. 2:20, Phil. 2:12 & 13, I 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 First-born, which are written in heaven (Eph. 1:22 & 23; 2:22, Heb. 12:23).

Since God’s purpose concerning man is to seek and to save that which is lost, to be worshiped by man, and to build a body of believers in the image of His Son, the priority reason-for-being a part of the Church is:

(a) To be an Agency of God for evangelizing the world (Act 1:8, Matt. 28:19 & 20, Mark 16:15 & 16).

(b) To be a corporate body in which man may worship God (I Cor. 12:13).

(c) To be a channel of God’s purpose to build a body of saints being perfected in the image of His Son (Eph. 4:11-16, I Cor. 12:18; 14:12).

This Assembly 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 in the power of the Spirit with accompanying supernatural signs (Mark 16:15-20, Acts 4:29-31, Heb. 2:3 & 4).

(b) Adds a necessary dimension to a worshipful relationship with God (I Cor. 2:10-16, I Cor. 12,13,14).

(c) 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 (Gal. 5:22-26, I Cor. 14:12, Eph. 4:11 & 12, I Cor. 12:28, Col. 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: (1) Evangelization of the world (Mark 16:15-20), (2) Worship of God (John 4:23 & 24), (3) Building a body of saints being perfected in the image of His Son (Eph. 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 (Isa. 53:4 & 5, Matt. 8:16 & 17, James 5:14-16).

13. The Blessed Hope. (Rapture)

The appearance of Jesus Christ to the Church and the bodily 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 (I Thes. 4:16 & 17, Rom. 8:23, Titus 2:13, I Cor. 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 the earth for one thousand years (Zech. 14:5, Matt. 24:27 & 30, Rev. 1:7; 19:11-14; 20:1-6). This millennial reign will bring the salvation of national Israel (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).

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 everlasting punishment in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death (Matt 25:46, Mark 9:43-48, Rev. 19:20; 20:11-15; 21:8).

16. The New Heavens and the New Earth.

“We according to His promise, look for new heavens and new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness: (II Peter 3:13, Rev. 21, 22).