STATEMENT OF FAITH
The General Council of the Assemblies of God
STATEMENT OF FUNDAMENTAL TRUTHS
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 or contended for, but the
truth set forth is held to be essential to a full-gospel ministry. No claim is made that it contains 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 Spirit (Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 43:10,11; Matthew
28:19; 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 (examples, 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 Spirit, 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; 28:19; 2
Corinthians 13:14; 1 John 1:3,4).
(c) Unity of the One Being of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
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 Spirit
which constitutes Him the Holy Spirit and not either the Father or the Son. Wherefore, the Father is the
Begetter; the Son is the Begotten; and the Holy Spirit 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; 15:26; 17:11,21; Zechariah 14:9)
(d) Identity and Cooperation in the Godhead
The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit 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 Spirit is from the
Father and the Son proceeding, as to nature, relationship, cooperation, and authority. Hence, no person in
the godhead either exists or works separately or independently of the others (John 5:17-30,32,37; 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 Spirit. It therefore belongs exclusively to the Son of God (Romans 1:1-3,7; 2 John
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 4:2,10,14;
Revelation 1:13,17).
(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 3; 1 John 3:8; Hebrews 7:3; 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 9; John 1:1,2,14,18,29,49; 1 John
2:22,23; 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 Spirit 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 Spirit to ascribe unto the
Son all the attributes of deity, and to give Him all the honor and the glory contained in all the names and
titles of the godhead except those which express relationship (see paragraphs b, c, and d), 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; 4:8-11).
3. The Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ
The Lord Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God. The Scriptures declare:
a. His virgin birth (Matthew 1:23; Luke 1:31,35).
b. His sinless life (Hebrews 7:26; 1 Peter 2:22).
c. His miracles (Acts 2:22; 10:38).
d. His substitutionary work on the cross (1 Corinthians 15:3; 2 Corinthians 5:21).
e. His bodily resurrection from the dead (Matthew 28:6; Luke 24:39; 1 Corinthians 15:4).
f. His exaltation to the right hand of God (Acts 1:9,11; 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 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; 2:17; 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.
(a) 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 Spirit, 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; Romans 10:13-15;
Ephesians 2:8; Titus 2:11; 3:5-7).
(b) The Evidences 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
(a) Baptism in Water
The ordinance of baptism by immersion is commanded in the Scriptures. All who repent and believe on
Christ as Savior 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).
(b) 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 Spirit
All believers are entitled to and should ardently expect and earnestly seek the promise of the Father, the
baptism in the Holy Spirit 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 1:4,8; 1
Corinthians 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 Spirit 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 Spirit
The baptism of believers in the Holy Spirit 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 (1 Corinthians 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 (Romans 12:1,2;
1 Thessalonians 5:23; Hebrews 13:12). Scriptures teach a life of “holiness without which no man shall see
the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14). By the power of the Holy Spirit 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 faith reckoning daily upon the fact of that union, and by offering every faculty
continually to the dominion of the Holy Spirit (Romans 6:1-11,13; 8:1,2,13; 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; 2:22;
Hebrews 12:23).
Since God’s purpose concerning man is to seek and to save that which is lost, to be worshiped by man, to
build a body of believers in the image of His Son, and to demonstrate His love and compassion for all the
world, the priority reason-for-being of the Assemblies of God as part of the Church is:
a. To be an agency of God for evangelizing the world (Acts 1:8; Matthew 28:19,20; Mark 16:15,16).
b. To be a corporate body in which man may worship God (1 Corinthians 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
(Ephesians 4:11-16; 1 Corinthians 12:28; 14:12).
d. To be a people who demonstrate God’s love and compassion for all the world (Psalms 112:9; Galatians
2:10; 6:10; James 1:27).
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:
a. 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).
b. Adds a necessary dimension to a worshipful relationship with God (1 Corinthians 2:10-16; 1
Corinthians 12-14).
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 and care for the poor and
needy of the world (Galatians 5:22-26; Matthew 25:37-40; Galatians 6:10; 1 Corinthians 14:12;
Ephesians 4:11,12; 1 Corinthians 12:28; Colossians 1:29; Galatians 5:22-26).
11. The Ministry
A divinely called and scripturally ordained ministry has been provided by our Lord for the fourfold
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 (Ephesians 4:11,16),
and (4) Meeting human need with ministries of love and compassion (Psalms 112:9; Galatians 2:10; 6:10;
James 1:27).
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 the earth for one thousand years (Zechariah 14:5;
Matthew 24:27,30; Revelation 1:7; 19:11-14; 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; Psalm 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 (Matthew 25:46; Mark 9:43-48; Revelation 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 a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness”
(2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21,22).
Statement of Fundamental Truths is the official delineation of the Assemblies of God’s 16 doctrines.
These truths are non-negotiable beliefs that all Assemblies of God churches adhere to.