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The Assemblies of God: 85 Million adherents strong
I love being a part of a movement of God that is so large and diverse.
The Assemblies of God (AG) has over 85 million (yes, MILLION) adherents worldwide and continues to grow and flourish because of the ongoing ministry of the Holy Spirit through Jesus’ servants all over the world. 85 million is a glorious testimony of the wonderful work pastors and missionaries are doing to reach the lost for the sake of the Gospel.
The Assemblies of God operates under the anointing of the Holy Spirit and a firm understanding of 16 Fundamental Truths that are entirely Biblical based.
These 16 Fundamental Truths unite believers all around the world.
More on that in a moment. First, let me tell you a funny story.
The Assemblies of God and church planting (a humorous story!)
I had a humorous conversation the other day when I took my sons to their swimming lessons.
A fellow homeschool mom found out that I had graduated from Divinity School and eagerly asked me to consider planting a church in her area. She said there was only one evangelical church near her rural home and felt another was needed.
The humorous part of this occurred when she went on to describe that evangelical church:
“It’s Assembly of God.”
I chucked. “Oh, you’re not into the Assemblies of God?”
She looked at me with wide eyes and shook her head, vehemently, “no.”
“They are the crazy ones, right?”
She started to backpedal. “Well, um, yeah, kinda. Well, I don’t mean they are that bad…”
I smiled and told her very matter-of-factly, “I’m an Assembly of God pastor! Nice to meet you!”
I went on to gently tell her that not all of us are crazy:
Pentecostal churches can get a bad rap. So much so that even Pentecostals tend to describe themselves as simply, “Spirit-filled” to distance themselves from 1) the true crazies and 2) oneness sects. I am adamant that we need to reclaim the term because there is absolutely nothing wrong with being 100% Trinitarian Pentecostal.
There are healthy Pentecostal churches just as there are unhealthy ones.
I know plenty about it because I just spent a full year in a declining church that refuses to acknowledge its pending demise. It is like a hospice for churches, and that is just plain sad. Churches should be full of life, intergenerational, and reaching the community. Churches should be teaching sound doctrine (such as these 16 Fundamental Truths) and reminding people of why they believe as they do so that they will be encouraged and equipped to reach more people in the community with the Good News.
I encouraged this mom to try another AG church sometime. I also invited her to our church plant which is launching soon.
The Assemblies of God is very intentional about church planting because it is a Biblical model that works. People get excited about being part of something new.
16 Fundamental Truths based entirely on Biblical Principles
Many many years ago, the Spirit of the LORD inspired our forefathers and foremothers to write down 16 Fundamental Truths – quite nearly non-negotiables about the Scriptures. There are 4 Cardinal Doctrines which are absolutely non-negotiable. Those include Salvation, the Baptism in the Holy Spirit, Divine Healing, and the Second Coming of Christ because they are essential to the core of the Gospel and the church’s mission.
Anyone who learns these basic 16 fundamental principles will acquire at least a basic understanding of the overall picture of God’s plan for the salvation of humanity for those who will believe and trust in His Son Jesus (Messiah Yeshua).
The AG’s 16 Fundamental Truths are considered non-negotiable because each of them are completely and firmly rooted in Scriptural evidence, and Scriptural verses are provided with each one.
I caution seekers to always check an organization’s list of doctrine and ensure that it is entirely Scriptural because otherwise it is very easy for people to be taught incorrectly and led astray by the winds of false doctrine and heresy.
If a church (even an AG one!) falls into the “crazy” category, they may need to be reminded of the Biblical Fundamental Truths because the Bible will not lead us astray, but man’s emotions sure can. We must pray for all Christian churches (both AG and non-AG), that they will follow sound Biblical doctrine.
I invite you to read the Assemblies of God Statement of 16 Fundamental Truths for yourself.
Then you will see, we are not so crazy after all! 😉
And if you really love them, there’s even a song! (Hint: its extremely useful if you are studying for AG credential exams!)
I also have a free PDF printable for Bible memory verses for children based on these 16 Fundamental Truths. You can find that here.
ASSEMBLIES OF GOD STATEMENT OF 16 FUNDAMENTAL TRUTHS
The Bible is our all-sufficient rule for faith and practice. This Statement of 16 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 [KJV/NIV]; Acts 2:42 [KJV/NIV]). 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.
- The Scriptures Inspired
- The One True God
- The Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ
- The Fall of Man
- The Salvation of Man
- The Ordinances of the Church
- The Baptism in the Holy Spirit
- The Initial Physical Evidence of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit
- Sanctification
- The Church and Its Mission
- The Ministry
- Divine Healing
- The Blessed Hope
- The Millennial Reign of Christ
- The Final Judgment
- The New Heavens and the New Earth
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.
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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.
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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.
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 [KJV/NIV]
- 1 Corinthians 1:24 [KJV/NIV]
- Matthew 11:25-27 [KJV/NIV]
- Matthew 28:19 [KJV/NIV]
- 2 Corinthians 13:14 [KJV/NIV]
- 1 John 1:3-4 [KJV/NIV])
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 [KJV/NIV]
- John 15:26 [KJV/NIV]
- John 17:11 [KJV/NIV]
- John 17:21 [KJV/NIV]
- Zechariah 14:9 [KJV/NIV]
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, neither Person in the Godhead either exists or works separately or independently of the others.
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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.
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 [KJV/NIV]
- 1 John 4:2 [KJV/NIV]
- 1 John 4:10 [KJV/NIV]
- 1 John 4:14 [KJV/NIV]
- Revelation 1:13 [KJV/NIV]
- Revelation 1:17 [KJV/NIV]
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 [KJV/NIV]
- 2 John 1:3 [KJV/NIV]
- 1 John 3:8 [KJV/NIV]
- Hebrews 7:3 [KJV/NIV]
- Hebrews 1:1-13 [KJV/NIV]
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 [KJV/NIV]
- John 1:1 [KJV/NIV]
- John 1:2 [KJV/NIV]
- John 1:14 [KJV/NIV]
- John 1:18 [KJV/NIV]
- John 1:29 [KJV/NIV]
- John 1:49 [KJV/NIV]
- 1 John 2:22,23 [KJV/NIV]
- 1 John 4:1-5 [KJV/NIV]
- Hebrews 12:2 [KJV/NIV]
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 [KJV/NIV]
- 1 Peter 3:22 [KJV/NIV]
- Acts 2:32-36 [KJV/NIV]
- Romans 14:11 [KJV/NIV]
- 1 Corinthians 15:24-28 [KJV/NIV]
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 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 Spirit , and Identity and Cooperation in the Godhead) and thus honor the Son even as we honor the Father.
- John 5:22,23 [KJV/NIV]
- 1 Peter 1:8 [KJV/NIV]
- Revelation 5:6-14 [KJV/NIV]
- Philippians 2:8,9 [KJV/NIV]
- Revelation 7:9-10 [KJV/NIV]
- Revelation 4:8-11 [KJV/NIV]
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3. THE DEITY OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST
The Lord Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God. The Scriptures declare:
His virgin birth,
His sinless life,
His miracles,
His substitutionary work on the cross,
His bodily resurrection from the dead,
His exaltation to the right hand of God.
- Acts 1:9 [KJV/NIV]
- Acts 1:11 [KJV/NIV]
- Acts 2:33 [KJV/NIV]
- Philippians 2:9-11 [KJV/NIV]
- Hebrews 1:3 [KJV/NIV]
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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.
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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 Spirit, being justified by grace through faith, man becomes an heir of God, according to the hope of eternal life.
- Luke 24:47 [KJV/NIV]
- John 3:3 [KJV/NIV]
- Romans 10:13-15 [KJV/NIV]
- Ephesians 2:8 [KJV/NIV]
- Titus 2:11 [KJV/NIV]
- Titus 3:5-7 [KJV/NIV]
The Evidence of Salvation
The inward evidence of salvation is the direct witness of the Spirit.
The outward evidence to all men is a life of righteousness and true holiness.
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16 Fundamental Truths:
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.
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 [KJV/NIV]), a memorial of his suffering and death (1 Corinthians 11:26 [KJV/NIV]), and a prophecy of His second coming (1 Corinthians 11:26 [KJV/NIV]), and is enjoined on all believers “till He come!”
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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.
This experience is distinct from and subsequent to the experience of the new birth.
With the baptism in the Holy Spirit come such experiences as:
- an overflowing fullness of the Spirit, John 7:37-39 [KJV/NIV], Acts 4:8 [KJV/NIV]
- a deepened reverence for God, Acts 2:43 [KJV/NIV], Hebrews 12:28 [KJV/NIV]
- an intensified consecration to God and dedication to His work, Acts 2:42 [KJV/NIV]
- and a more active love for Christ, for His Word and for the lost, Mark 16:20 [KJV/NIV]
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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.
The speaking in tongues in this instance is the same in essence as the gift of tongues, but is different in purpose and use.
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9. SANCTIFICATION
Sanctification is an act of separation from that which is evil, and of dedication unto God.
The Scriptures teach a life of “holiness without which no man shall see the Lord.”
By the power of the Holy Spirit we are able to obey the command: “Be ye holy, for I am holy.”
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 [KJV/NIV]
- Romans 6:13 [KJV/NIV]
- Romans 8:1,2 [KJV/NIV]
- Romans 8:13 [KJV/NIV]
- Galatians 2:20 [KJV/NIV]
- Philippians 2:12,13 [KJV/NIV]
- 1 Peter 1:5 [KJV/NIV]
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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.
Since God’s purpose concerning man is to seek and to save that which is lost, to be worshipped 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:
- To be an agency of God for evangelizing the world.
- To be a corporate body in which man may worship God.
- To be a channel of God’s purpose to build a body of saints being perfected in the image of His Son.
- To be a people who demonstrate God’s love and compassion for all the world.
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:
- Enables them to evangelize in the power of the Spirit with accompanying supernatural signs.
- Adds a necessary dimension to worshipful relationship with God.
- 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.
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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:
Evangelization of the world.
Worship of God.
Building a body of saints being perfected in the image of His Son.
Meeting human need with ministries of love and compassion.
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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.
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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 [KJV/NIV]
- Romans 8:23 [KJV/NIV]
- Titus 2:13 [KJV/NIV]
- 1 Corinthians 15:51,52 [KJV/NIV]
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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 [KJV/NIV]
- Matthew 24:27 [KJV/NIV]
- Matthew 24:30 [KJV/NIV]
- Revelation 1:7 [KJV/NIV]
- Revelation 19:11-14 [KJV/NIV]
- Revelation 20:1-6 [KJV/NIV]
This millennial reign will bring the salvation of national Israel,
and the establishment of universal peace.
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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 [KJV/NIV]
- Mark 9:43-48 [KJV/NIV]
- Revelation 19:20 [KJV/NIV]
- Revelation 20:11-15 [KJV/NIV]
- Revelation 21:8 [KJV/NIV]
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16. THE NEW HEAVENS AND THE NEW EARTH
“We, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness.”
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Praying for a continued outpouring of the Holy Spirit as missionaries and pastors reach people around the world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ
If you are a follower of Jesus, we pray for you and ask that you would pray for us and the continued work that God is doing. We must pray with urgency in these last days, that many more would come into a saving relationship with our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ (Yeshua haMashiach), the King of Israel and the King of the Universe.
The 16 Fundamental Truths are one way that God has united the Pentecostal movement of the Assemblies of God fellowship. We are excited about the future and all God will continue to do using men and women who are willing to step out in faith and preach the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
If you will join us in this effort, to pray continually, please leave a comment!
We love to hear from you and pray for you!
