Beliefs

What are the core beliefs that we hold?

The General Council of the Assemblies of God (USA), now the largest Pentecostal denomination in the United States, was organized in 1914 by a broad coalition of ministers who desired to work together to fulfill common objectives, such as sending missionaries and providing fellowship and accountability.

Formed in the midst of the emerging worldwide Pentecostal revival, the Assemblies of God quickly took root in other countries and formed indigenous national organizations.  The Assemblies of God (USA) is a constituent member of the World Assemblies of God Fellowship – one of the largest Pentecostal fellowships in the world.  Fully one percent (1%) of the world's population attends Assemblies of God churches around the world.

Our position in the Christian community can be classified in four categories.  We are Protestant, Trinitarian, Evangelical and Pentecostal.  As Protestants, we believe that each person may individually and directly commune with God based upon Jesus' death on the cross.

We are Trinitarian, as most Christian denominations are.  We believe that God exists in three persons; the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ) and the Holy Spirit.  We are distinguished as Evangelical because we place a high priority on the inspiration of Scripture and its mission to bring the lost to a saving knowledge and relationship with Jesus Christ.

The most definitive identification of the Assemblies of God is Pentecostal.  Just as it was founded in 1914, the Fellowship remains a full gospel church—one where the fullness of the Holy Spirit is welcomed, nurtured, and taught.  This includes speaking in tongues as the initial physical evidence of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit.  Other manifestations of the Holy Spirit embraced by the church include: messages in tongues with interpretations, prophecies, word of knowledge, and the complete offering of the gifts and fruit of the Holy Spirit as indicated in the Bible.  Among Pentecostal churches—the Assemblies of God is largest worldwide with over 63 million constituents.

Check out the following Web page for more information:  http://www.ag.org/TOP/About/fellowship.cfm

We believe in the Fruit of the Holy Spirit.  The Book of Galatians shows that the purpose of justification by faith is to produce a life-style that is energized by the Holy Spirit and characterized by the fruit of the Holy Spirit.  So what is the Fruit of the Holy Spirit?  Let's take a look at Galatians 5:22-23.

Galatians 5:22-23 (New International Version)
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control.  Against such things there is no law.

Let's also look at 2nd Peter 1:4-7

2 Peter 1:4-7 (New International Version)
4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.

This fruit of the Holy Spirit develops and grows as real fruit does.  In demonstrating this concept, Peter goes on to say this:

2 Peter 1:8-9 (New International Version)
8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.  9 But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.

We have a pamphlet available, free of charge that explains the Gifts of the Holy Spirit and the Fruit of the Holy Spirit, to help you understand these concepts better.  Visit us this Sunday at Grace Family Church at 10:00 AM and ask for the pamphlet entitled The Gifts & Fruit of the Holy Spirit.

We adhere to the 16 Fundamental Truths of the General Council of the Assemblies of God established in 1916.  These statements of fundamental truth have served the church well over the past almost 95 years and they have not changed.

The following 16 fundamental truths are the non-negotiable beliefs that all Assemblies of God churches adhere to.

*= Four Cardinal Doctrines

The Four Cardinal Doctrines of The Salvation of Mankind, The Baptism in the Holy Spirit, Divine Healing and The Blessed Hope are important to take note of.  Please see the following Assembly of God Web page for more information on these topics.  http://ag.org/top/Beliefs/Our_Core_Doctrines/index.cfm

The videos available on these pages are amazing resources.  Please spend some time enriching your lives with these great videos and insights.