FUNDAMENTAL TRUTHS
1. The Bible is the Inspired Word of God 2. There is a true God 3. The Lord Jesus Christ is fully God 4. The fall of humanity 5. The Salvation of Humanity
We believe that: (1) the Scriptures are God's revelation of himself to mankind; (2) they are infallible (they are never wrong); and (3) they are the divinely authorized guide for our faith, belief, and lifestyle (2 Timothy 3:15-17; 1 Thessalonians 2:13, 2 Peter 1:21).
He revealed himself as having always existed without any external cause or agency causing him to exist (Isaiah 43:10). He is the creator of heaven and earth (Genesis 1:1) and the one who redeems, saves or rescues humanity from sin and its painful consequences (Isaiah 43:11). God was also revealed as a single Being (Deuteronomy 6:4) made up of three interrelated persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19, Luke 3:22). This concept of a three-person God or Being is called the Trinity.
The Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, has always existed. He also has no beginning or end (Revelation 1:8). To complete his earthly sacrificial mission, He became human by being born of a virgin, conceived by the Holy Spirit (Matthew 1:23; Luke 1:31,35). He lived a perfect life, absolutely without sin (Hebrews 7:26; 1 Peter 2:22). While on earth, he performed many miracles through the anointing of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:22, 10:38). To restore fallen humanity, He died on the cross as a substitute for each person's sins (1 Corinthians 15:3; 2 Corinthians 5:21). He was raised from the dead by the supernatural power of God (Matthew 28:6; Luke 24:39; 1 Corinthians 6:14, 15:4). Since his resurrection he has been exalted (honored) and is seated at the right hand of God (Acts 1:9, 11, 2:33; Philippians 2:9-11; Hebrews 1:3).
Mankind was created good and upright; for God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness." Yet humanity, by deliberate choice, ignored God's instructions... choosing to participate in what they knew to be wrong and wrong. As a result, humanity fell from innocence and goodness and thus incurred 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). .
Salvation is deliverance from spiritual death and slavery to sin. God offers salvation to 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, the Son of God, blood that was shed when Jesus died on the cross. [the account of the crucifixion of Jesus is related by four of his contemporaries: (Matthew 27, Mark 15, Luke 23 and John 19)].
6. Ordinances of the Church
Some churches use the term sacraments instead of ordinances. The sacraments, however, convey to many people the idea that a spiritual work takes place in a person when the sacrament is received or experienced. The Assemblies of God choose to call water baptism and Communion ordinances because they are religious practices commanded or established by Jesus himself. The ordinance of baptism by immersion in water (not by sprinkling) is commanded in the Scriptures (Mark 16:16). All who repent and believe in Jesus Christ as personal Savior and Lord must be baptized. This act of baptism symbolically declares to all that the old sinful life and lifestyle of the baptized believer died with Christ at salvation and a new spiritual being was raised with Christ (in His resurrection) to live a new life (Matthew 28:19 ; Mark 16). :16; Acts 10:47-48; Romans 6:4). 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). By eating and drinking the symbols of Christ's suffering and death, the believer expresses his awareness that, through salvation, he has been reconciled to God and partakes of the divine nature of eternal life through our Lord Jesus Christ ( 2 Peter 1:4). . The ordinance also looks forward to the second coming of Christ (1 Corinthians 11:26), as it is a reminder to proclaim the Lord's death "until He come."
7. Baptism in the Holy Spirit
All believers have the right to receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit, and therefore must eagerly wait and seek the promise of the Father, according to the commandment of our Lord Jesus Christ. Some references in the Bible speak of the "Holy Spirit and fire". Fire, an image commonly associated with the Holy Spirit, suggests the cleansing, purifying and zealous action of the Holy Spirit, who continues the work of spiritual growth begun in salvation. The baptism in the Holy Spirit was the normal experience of all believers in the early Christian church. With experience comes the supply 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 experiences such as an overflowing infilling of the Spirit (John 7:37-39; Acts 4:8), a dependent 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 the baptism in the Holy Spirit
The baptism of Christians in the Holy Spirit is accompanied by the initial physical sign of speaking in other tongues (non-learned 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 seen in the life of every Spirit-filled believer in the initial filling. The audible utterance of tongues must also continue to function in the personal prayer life of the Spirit-filled believer. However, the gift of tongues (sometimes called "speaking in tongues") operated publicly, usually in congregational worship settings, and is followed by the gift of interpretation of tongues. Both are given to individuals, as God wants, within the church. Its purpose is the spiritual benefit of the individual and the congregation.
9. Sanctification
Sanctification is an act of separating ourselves from evil and identifying ourselves with good, just, and morally pure things. It is a process that takes place when Christians dedicate themselves to God (Romans 12:1,2; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; Hebrews 13:12). The Scriptures teach that we are to be holy because God is holy (1 Peter 1:16). Because "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 when he identifies with Christ and accepts in faith his sacrificial death and his victorious resurrection. Sanctification is a daily recognition of our union with God through his Son Jesus. As this identification takes place, it is natural for the Christian to offer every part of his life to the control of the Holy Spirit (Romans 6:1-11, 13, 8:1,2,13; Galatians 2:20; Philippians 2:12,13; 1 Peter 1:5).
10. The Church and its Mission
The Church described in the Bible consists of all people who have put their faith in Jesus Christ as the only remedy for their sins. The Church includes all Christians and has no limits of 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 made all the provisions for the fulfillment of the Great Commission of the “Church” (Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:15). Every Christian is an integral part of that Church. The names of all true believers (those who make up the Church) are written in heaven (Ephesians 1:22-23, 2:22; Hebrews 12:23).
11. The Ministry
Participation in ministry in response to a divine call is a biblical mandate in the Bible. It is a provision from our Lord with the triple purpose of guiding the Church in: (1) world evangelization (Mark 16:15-20); (2) worship of God (John 4:23-24); and (3) building a body of believers according to the life of Christ (Ephesians 4:11, 16).
12. Divine Healing
God's divine healing is an integral part of the gospel. Deliverance from disease is provided in the Atonement (Christ's suffering and death for our reconciliation 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 meet the Lord in the air. Christians who have not yet died will be caught up, or will be caught up with them, to be with the Lord. Then Christians of all ages will live with God forever. The biblical 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 millennial 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 earth for 1,000 years (Zechariah 14:5; Matthew 24:27, 30; Revelation 1:7). , 19:11-14, 20:1-6). This millennial reign (1000 years) will bring about 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 Last Judgment
There will be a final judgment in which the wicked dead, those who died without accepting Christ's salvation, will be resurrected and judged according to how they lived. Anyone whose name is not found written in the Book of Life (the recorded list of people who have received Christ's forgiveness), along with the devil and his angels, the beast and the false prophet, will be sent to the lake to eternal punishment. which burns with fire and brimstone (brimstone), 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 the new earth
“According to God's promise, we look forward to new heavens and a new earth, where justice will dwell and reign forever” (2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:22).