FUNDAMENTAL TRUTHS
Our 16 Fundamental Truths
These are non-negotiable tenets of faith that all Assemblies of God churches adhere to. This list
is derived from the official Statement of Fundamental Truths.
WE BELIEVE …WE PRACTICE….WE TEACH…..WE PREACH the following :
1. The Scriptures Inspired: The Scriptures, 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 asembodying the principles of relationship and association as Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
(Deuteronomy 6:4Isaiah 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 wordsin harmony with Scripture, whereby we may convey to others our immediate understanding of thedoctrine of Christ respecting the Being of God, as distinguished from “gods many and lords many.” Wetherefore may speak with propriety of the Lord our God who is One Lord, as a trinity or as one being ofthree persons, and still be absolutely scriptural. (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 isinscrutable and incomprehensible, because unexplained. (Luke 1:35 1 Corinthians 1:24
Matthew 11:25-27 Matthew 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; thereis that in the Son which constitutes Him the Son and not the Father; and there is that in the Holy Spiritwhich constitutes Him the Holy Spirit and not either the Father or the Son. Wherefore the Father is theBegetter, 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 GodAlmighty and His name one. (John 1:18 John 15:26 John 17:11 John 17:21 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; nordivided in respect to the Godhead; nor opposed as to cooperation. The Son is in the Father and the Fatheris 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 theFather and the Son proceeding, as to nature, relationship, cooperation and authority. Hence, neitherPerson in the Godhead either exists or works separately or independently of the others. (John 5:17-30John 5:32 John 5:37 John 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 tothe Father or to the Holy Spirit. It therefore belongs exclusively to the Son of God. (Romans 1:1-3, 2 John1:3)
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 Godand man; who because He is God and man is “Immanuel” God with us. (Matthew 1:23, 1 John 4:2 1,John 4:10 ,1 John 4:14, Revelation 1:13 Revelation 1:17)
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 theorder of time. (Matthew 1:21-23, 2 John 1:3, 1 John 3:8, Hebrews 7:3, Hebrews 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 ofGod, 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, isa denial of the distinction and relationship in the Being of God; a denial of the Father, and the Son; and adisplacement of the truth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. (2 John 1:9, John 1:1, John 1:2, John1:14, John 1:18, John 1:29, John 1:49, 1 John 2:22- 23 , 1 John 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 ofthe Majesty on high; angels and principalities and powers having been made subject unto Him. Andhaving been made both Lord and Christ, He sent the Holy Spirit that we, in the name of Jesus, might bowour knees and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father until the end, when the Sonshall 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 allin heaven and on earth to bow the knee, but it is an unspeakable joy in the Holy Spirit to ascribe unto theSon all the attributes of Deity, and to give Him all honor and the glory contained in all the names andtitles of the Godhead except those which express relationship (see Distinction and Relationship in theGodhead, Unity of the One Being of Father, Son and Holy Spirit , and Identity and Cooperation in theGodhead) 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 ,Revelation 4:8-11)
3. The Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ:
The Lord Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God. TheScriptures declare:
His virgin birth (Matthew 1:23 Luke 1:31 Luke 1:35)
His sinless life, (Hebrews 7:26, 1 Peter 2:22)
His miracles,(Acts 2:22 ,Acts 10:38)
His substitutionary work on the cross, (1 Corinthians 15:3 2 Corinthians 5:21)
His bodily resurrection from the dead,(Matthew 28:6 Luke 24:39 ,1 Corinthians 15:4 )
His exaltation to the right hand of God. (Acts 1:9 Acts 1:11, Acts 2:33, Philippians 2:9-11Hebrews 1:3)
4. The Fall of Man:
Man was created good and upright; for God said, “Let us make man in ourown image, after our likeness.” However, man by voluntary transgression fell and thereby incurred notonly physical death but also spiritual death, which is separation from God. (Genesis 1:26-27, Genesis2:17, Genesis 3:6, Romans 5:12-19)
5. The Salvation of Man:
Man’s only hope of redemption is through the shed blood of JesusChrist 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, John 3:3, Romans 10:13-15,Ephesians 2:8, Titus 2:11, Titus 3:5-7 )
The Evidence 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. (Ephesians4:24, Titus 2:12)
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 in 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. (Matthew 28:19, Mark 16:16, Acts 10:47-48, Romans 6:4)
Holy Communion:
The Lord’s Supper, consisting of the elements --bread and the fruit of the vine-- is thesymbol expressing our sharing the divine nature of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:4), a memorial of hissuffering 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 andearnestly seek the promise of the Father, the baptism in the Holy Spirit and fire, according to thecommand 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 inthe work of the ministry.( Luke 24:49, Acts 1:4, Acts 1:8,1 Corinthians 12:1-31)This experience is distinct from and subsequent to the experience of the new birth. (Acts 8:12-17, Acts10:44-46, Acts 11:14-16, and Acts 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 moreactive 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 inthe Holy Spirit is witnessed by the initial physical sign of speaking in tongues as the Spirit of God givesthem utterance. (Acts 2:4)The speaking in tongues in this instance is the same in essence as the gift of tongues, but is different inpurpose and use. (1 Corinthians 12:4-10 1 Corinthians 12:28)
9. Sanctification:
Sanctification is an act of separation from that which is evil, and of dedicationunto God. (Romans 12:1-2, 1Thessalonians 5:23, Hebrews 13:12)The 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 Peter1:15, 16)
Sanctification is realized in the believer by recognizing his identification with Christ in His death andresurrection, and by the faith reckoning daily upon the fact of that union, and by offering every facultycontinually to the dominion of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 6:1-11, Romans 6:13, Romans 8:1, 2, Romans8:13, 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 arewritten in heaven. (Ephesians 1:22, 23, Ephesians 2:22, Hebrews 12:23)
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 allthe 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. (Acts 1:8 Matthew 28:19-20 Mark16:15-16)
To be a corporate body in which man may worship God. (1 Corinthians 12:13)
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, 1 Corinthians 14:12)
To be a people who demonstrate God’s love and compassion for the entire world.
(Psalms 112:9, Galatians 2:10; 6:10, James 1:27)
The Mount Carmel 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. (Mark
16:15-20 ,Acts 4:29-31 ,Hebrews 2:3-4 )
Adds a necessary dimension to worshipful relationship with God. (1 Corinthians 2:10-16 ,1 Corinthians12 ,1 Corinthians 13 ,1 Corinthians 14)
Enables them to respond to the full working of the Holy Spirit in expression of fruit and gifts andministries as in New Testament times for the edifying of the body of Christ and care for the poor andneedy 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)
11. The Ministry:
A divinely called and scripturally ordained ministry has beenprovided by our Lord for the fourfold purpose of leading the Church in:
- Evangelization of the world. (Mark 16:15-20)
- Worship of God.(John 4:23,24 )
- Building a body of saints being perfected in the image of His Son.(Ephesians 4:11-16)
- Meeting human need with ministries of love and compassion.(Psalms 112:9 ,Galatians 2:10; 6:10 ,James1:27)
12. Divine Healing:
Divine healing is an integral part of the gospel. Deliverancefrom 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 Christand their translation together with those who are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord isthe 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 therapture of the saints, which is our blessed hope, followed by the visible return of Christ with Hissaints to reign on earth for one thousand years.(Zechariah 14:5, Matthew 24:27 ,Matthew24:30,Revelation 1:7,Revelation 19:11-14,Revelation 20:1-6 ).
This millennial reign will bring the salvation of national Israel, (Ezekiel 37:21, 22, Zephaniah3:19, 20, Romans 11:26, 27)The establishment of universal peace.(Isaiah 11:6-9, Psalms 72:3-8, Mica 4:3-4)
15. The Final Judgment:
There will be a final judgment in which the wicked deadwill be raised and judged according to their works. Whosoever is not found written in the Book ofLife, together with the devil and his angels, the beast and the false prophet, will be consigned tothe everlasting punishment in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the seconddeath.(Matthew 25:46 ,Mark 9:43-48 ,Revelation 19:20 ,Revelation 20:11-15 Revelation 21:8)
16. The New Heavens and the New Earth:
“We, according to His promise, look fornew heavens and a new earth wherein righteousness dwelleth.”(2 Peter 3:13, Revelation 21,Revelation 22)