- Assemblies of God Statement of Fundamental Truths
The Assemblies of God Statement of Fundamental Truths is a description of the sixteen core doctrines adhered to by the
Assemblies of God . These doctrines are heavily based on the evangelical , but differ by being clearlyPentecostal . Of the sixteen, four are considered cardinal doctrines "essential to the church's core mission of reaching the world for Christ." They are the doctrines concerningsalvation , the baptism in the Holy Spirit,divine healing , and the Second Coming of Christ.Statements 1-6 are common confessions, typical of a traditional, conservative Christian denomination, including
Biblical inspiration and infallibility.Baptism by water is considered an "ordinance" and is required. The Lord's Supper (or "Holy Communion ") is grouped with the ordinances and is specifically termed a "symbol".Statements 7 and 8 present a Pentecostal view of the work of the Holy Spirit. Baptism in the Holy Spirit is affirmed as "distinct from and subsequent to the experience of the new birth." Its attainment is manifested by speaking in tongues (
glossolalia ).Statement 9 reflects a holiness perspective on
sanctification .Statements 10 and 11 concern the church, and they are broadly evangelical but with a distinct emphasis on the supernatural aspect of the Holy Spirit's work.
Statement 12 concerns
divine healing . The official church teaching is that Christ paid for all physical suffering with his atoning work and that as a consequence, when Christians get sick they can be supernaturally healed by the Holy Spirit.Statements 13-16 deal largely with the subject of
eschatology . The Assemblies of God has a premillennial dispensationalist perspective on the future, including belief in therapture and a literal earthly millennium.Other Doctrines
In addition to these sixteen core affirmations, the Assemblies of God issues position papers and other documents which are nonbinding but generally embraced.
External links
* [http://ag.org/top/Beliefs/Statement_of_Fundamental_Truths/sft_short.cfm Assemblies of God Statement of Fundamental Truths]
* [http://ag.org/top/Beliefs/Position_Papers/index.cfm Assemblies of God Position Papers]
* [http://ag.org/top/beliefs/christian_doctrines/index.cfm The Assemblies of God stance as regards many traditional doctrines]
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.