Two years after the Assemblies of God was founded, its pioneers adopted 16 beliefs for the Fellowship, which remain virtually unchanged.
Four of these beliefs are considered the core beliefs of the Fellowship, often referred to as our cardinal doctrines. They are woven into all we do, our teaching, music, preaching, and discussions.
The Fellowship's message revolves around these four defining beliefs.
Salvation Through Jesus Christ
Salvation is deliverance from spiritual death and the enslavement of sin. God provides salvation for all who believe and accept His free offer of forgiveness. Mankind's only hope of redemption from this fallen, sinful state is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ, God's Son, on the cross. [The account of Jesus' crucifixion is recounted by four of His contemporaries: Matthew (chapter 27), Mark (chapter 15), Luke (chapter 23), and John (chapter 19).] (Luke 24:47; John 3:3,16,17; Rom. 8:16; 10:13-15; Ephesians 2:8,9; 4:24; Titus 2:11-12; 3:5-7).
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. (Isa. 53:4-5; Matt. 8:16-17; James 5:14-16).
Baptism in the Holy Spirit
All believers are entitled to receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit and, therefore, should expect and earnestly seek the promise of the Father, according to the command of our Lord Jesus Christ. This was the normal experience of believers in the early Christian church. With this experience comes the provision of power for victorious Christian living and productive service, as well as specific spiritual gifts for a more effective ministry. The baptism in the Holy Spirit is accompanied by the initial physical sign of speaking in other tongues (unlearned languages), as the Spirit of God gives them audible expression. (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4,8; 2:4; 8:12-17; 10:44-46; 11:14-16; 15:7-9; 1 Cor. 12:1-31).
The Second Coming of Christ
The Second Coming of Christ is the blessed hope that all Christians who have died will one day rise from their graves and meet the Lord in the air. Christians who are still alive will be raptured, or "caught up," with them to be with the Lord. Then, Christians of all ages will live with God forever. (Romans 8:23; 1 Corinthians 15:51-52; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; Titus 2:13).
