Complete Church "The Breeding Ground for Transformation"

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 Cor. 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 our ministry.

The Scriptures Inspired 

The Holy Bible, and only the Bible, is the authoritative Word of God. It alone is the final authority in determining all doctrinal truths. The Scriptures, both the Old and New Testaments, are verbally inspired by God and are the revelation of God to man, the infallible, authoritative rule of faith and conduct, and superior to conscience and reason, but not contrary to reason. The complete revelation of His will for the salvation of men. (2 Tim. 3:15-17; 1 Thess. 2:13; 2 Pet. 1:20-21; 1 Pet. 1:23-25; Heb. 4:12; Prov. 30:5; Rom. 16:25-26)

The One True God

There is one and only one living and true God. He is an intelligent, spiritual, and personal Being, the Creator, Redeemer, Preserver, and Ruler of the universe. God is infinite in holiness and all other perfections. God is all powerful and all knowing; and His perfect knowledge extends to all things, past, present, and future, including the future decisions of His free creatures. To Him we owe the highest love, reverence, and obedience. The one true God has revealed Himself as the eternally self-existent, self-revealed “I AM,” the Creator of heaven and earth and the Redeemer of mankind. The eternal triune God further reveals Himself to us as embodying the principles of relationship and association, by simultaneously existing as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, with distinct personal attributes, but without division of nature, essence, or being. (Deut. 6:4; Mark 12:29; Isaiah 43:10-11; Matt. 28:19; Luke 3:22)

Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ is God the Son, the second person of the Trinity. On earth, Jesus was 100% God and 100% man. He is the only man ever to have lived a sinless life. He was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, performed miracles, died on the cross for mankind and thus, atoned for our sins through the shedding of His blood. He rose from the dead on the third day according to the Scriptures, ascended to the right hand of the Father, and will return again in power and glory. (John 1:1,14, 20:28; 1 Tim. 3:16; Isaiah 9:6; Phil. 2:5-6; 1 Tim. 2:5)

Divinity of the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God, a divine person, sent to indwell, guide, teach, empower the believer, and convince the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment. (John 14:15-18, 16:7–13; Acts 1:8)

Redemption

Man was created good and upright, but by voluntary transgression he fell; his only hope of redemption is in Jesus Christ, the Son of God. (Gen.1:26-31, 3:1-7; Rom. 5:12-21)

Salvation

The 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; Rom. 10:13-15; Eph. 2:8; Titus 2:11; 3:5-7)

(b) 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. (Rom. 8:16; Eph. 4:24; Titus 2:12)

We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ; His death, burial, and resurrection. Salvation is a gift from God, not a result of our good works or of any human efforts. (Eph. 2:8-9; Gal. 2:16, 3:8; Titus 3:5; Rom. 10:9-10; Acts 16:31; Heb. 9:22)

Repentance

Repentance is the commitment to turn away from sin in every area of our lives and to follow Christ, which allows us to receive His redemption and to be regenerated by the Holy Spirit. Thus, through repentance we receive forgiveness of sins and appropriate salvation (Acts 2:21, 3:19; 1 John 1:9).

Sanctification

Sanctification is the ongoing process of yielding to God’s Word and His Spirit  in order to complete the development of Christ’s character in us. It is through the present ministry of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God that the Christian is enabled to live a godly life. (1 Thess. 4:3, 5:23; 2 Cor. 3:18, 6:14-18, 2 Thess. 2:1-3, Rom. 8:29, 12:1-2, Heb. 2:11)

Jesus’ Blood

The Blood that Jesus Christ shed on the Cross of Calvary was sinless and is 100% sufficient to cleanse mankind of all sin. Jesus allowed Himself to be punished for both our sinfulness and our sins, enabling all those who believe to be free from the penalty of sin, which is death. (1 John 1:7; Rev. 1:5, 5:9; Col. 1:20; Rom. 3:10-12, 23, 5:9; John 1:29)

Jesus Christ Indwells All Believers

The Believers are people who have invited the Lord Jesus Christ to come and live inside them by His Holy Spirit. They relinquish the authority of their lives over to him thus making Jesus the Lord of their life as well as Savior. They put their trust in what Jesus accomplished for them when He died, was buried, and rose again from the dead. (John 1:12; John 14:17, 23; John 15:4; Rom. 8:11; Rev. 3:20)

Heaven

Heaven is the eternal dwelling place for all believers in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. (Matt. 5:3, 12, 20, 6:20, 19:21, 25:34; John 17:24; 2 Cor. 5:1; Heb. 11:16; 1 Pet. 1:4)

Hell

After living one life on earth, the unbelievers will be judged by God and sent to Hell where they will be eternally tormented with the Devil and the Fallen Angels. (Matt. 25:41; Mark 9:43-48; Heb. 9:27; Rev. 14:9-11, 20:12-15, 21:8)

Second Coming

Jesus Christ will physically and visibly return to earth for the second time to establish His Kingdom. This will occur at a date undisclosed by the Scriptures. This is the believer’s blessed hope and is a vital truth which is an incentive to holy living and faithful service. (Matt. 24:30,  26:63-64; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Thess. 4:15-17; Heb. 10:37, Luke 21:27, 2 Thess. 1:7-8; Rev. 1:7; Titus 2:11-14)

Religious Liberty

God alone is Lord of the conscience, and He has left it free from the doctrines and commandments of men which are contrary to His Word or not contained in it. Church and state should be separate. The state owes to every church protection and full freedom in the pursuit of its spiritual ends. In providing for such freedom no ecclesiastical group or denomination should be favored by the state more than others. Civil government being ordained of God, it is the duty of Christians to render loyal obedience thereto in all things not contrary to the revealed will of God. The church should not resort to the civil power to carry on its work. The gospel of Christ contemplates spiritual means alone for the pursuit of its ends. The state has no right to impose penalties for religious opinions of any kind. The state has no right to impose taxes for the support of any form of religion. A free church in a free state is the Christian ideal, and this implies the right of free and unhindered access to God on the part of all men, and the right to form and propagate opinions in the sphere of religion without interference by the civil power. (Gen. 1:27; 2:7; Matt. 6:6-7,24; 16:26; 22:21; John 8:36; Acts 4:19-20; Rom. 6:1-2; 13:1-7; Gal. 5:1,13; Phil. 3:20; 1 Tim. 2:1-2; James 4:12; 1 Pet. 2:12-17; 3:11-17; 4:12-19)

Baptism in Water

The ordinance of baptism by burial with Christ should be observed (as commanded in the Scriptures) by all that have repented of their sins and in their hearts have believed in Christ as their Savior and Lord. In doing so, they declare to the world that they have died with Christ and that they have also been released to walk with Him in the newness of life. (Matt. 28:19; Mark 16:16; Acts 10:47,48; Rom. 6:4)

Foot Washing

The ordinance shall be observed as seen fit by all established places of worship, as enjoined in the Scriptures (John 13:1-17; Luke 7:36-50).

Baptism in the Holy Spirit

Given at Pentecost, it is the promise of the Father, sent by Jesus after His Ascension, to empower the church to preach the Gospel throughout the whole earth. (Joel 2:28-29; Matt. 3:11; Mark 16:17; Acts 1:5, 2:1-4, 17, 38-39, 8:14-17, 10:38, 44-47, 11:15-17, 19:1-6)

The Gifts of the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is manifested through a variety of spiritual gifts to build and sanctify the church, demonstrate the validity of the resurrection, and confirm the power of the Gospel. The Bible lists of these gifts are not necessarily exhaustive, and the gifts may occur in various combinations. All believers are commanded to earnestly desire the manifestation of the gifts in their lives. These gifts always operate in harmony with the Scriptures and should never be used in violation of Biblical parameters. (Heb. 2:4; Rom. 1:11, 12 :4-8; Eph. 4:16; 2 Tim. 1:5-16, 4:14; 1 Cor. 12:1-31, 14:1-40; 1 Pet. 4:10)

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) The evangelization of the world. (Mark 16:15-20)

(2) The edification of the Body of Christ and to worship of God. (Eph. 4:11-13; John 4:23,24)

(3) Building a Body of saints being perfected in the image of His Son. (Eph. 4:11,16)

(4) Meeting human needs with ministries of love and compassion. (Psalms 112:9; Gal. 2:10; 6:10; James 1:27)

Divine Healing Power 

Provision is made in the redemptive work of the Lord Jesus Christ for the healing of the mortal body. Deliverance from sickness is provided for in the atonement of Christ and is the privilege of all believers. Prayer for the sick and anointing with oil are taught in the Scriptures and are privileges for the Church in this present age. Healing of the sick is illustrated in the life and ministry of Jesus, and included in the commission of Jesus to His disciples. It is given as a sign which is to follow believers. It is also a part of Jesus’ work on the Cross and one of the gifts of the Spirit. (Isaiah 53:4-5; Matt. 8:16-17; Mark 16:17-18; John 5:14; James 5:13–16; Psalms 103:2-3; Acts 8:6-7; 1 Cor. 12:9, 28; Rom. 11:29)

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 Jesus’ great commission. Every person who is born of the Spirit is an integral part of the church as a member of the body of believers. There is a spiritual unity of all believers in our Lord Jesus Christ. Christ is the Head of the Body, the Church, which has been commissioned by Him to go into all the world as a witness, preaching the gospel to all nations. The local church is a body of believers in Christ who are joined together for the worship of God, for edification through the Word of God, for prayer, fellowship, the proclamation of the gospel, and observance of the ordinances of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. (Eph. 1:22-23, 2:19-22; Heb. 12:23; John 17:11, 20-23; Matt. 28:19–20; Acts 2:41-47)

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; Matt. 28:19,20; Mark 16:15,16)

b. To be a corporate body in which man may worship God. (1 Cor. 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. (Eph. 4:11-16; 1 Cor. 12:28; 14:12)

d. To be a people who demonstrate God’s love and compassion for all the world. (Psalms 112:9; Gal. 2:10; 6:10; James 1:27)

The Church 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; Heb. 2:3,4)

b. Adds a necessary dimension to a worshipful relationship with God. (1 Cor. 2:10-16; 1 Cor. 12, 13, and 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. (Gal. 5:22-26; Matt. 25:37-40; Gal. 6:10; 1 Cor. 14:12; Eph. 4:11,12; 1 Cor. 12:28; Col. 1:29)

God’s Will for Provision

It is the Father’s will for believers to become complete, whole, healthy and successful in all areas of life. But because of the fall, many may not receive the full benefits of God’s will while on Earth. That fact, though, should never prevent all believers from seeking the full benefits of Christ’s provision in order to better serve others. “Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (James 1:4)

1. Spiritual (John 3:3-11; 2 Cor. 5:17-21; Rom. 10:9-10).
2. Mental and Emotional (2 Tim. 1:7, 2:11; Phil. 4:7-8; Rom. 12:2; Isaiah 26:3). 
3. Physical (Isaiah 53:4-5; Matt. 8:17; 1 Pet. 2:24).
4. Financial (Josh. 1:8; Mal. 3:10-11; Luke 6:38; 2 Cor. 9:6-10; Deut.  28:1-14; Psalms 34:10, 84:11; Phil. 4:19).

Resurrection

Jesus Christ was physically resurrected from the dead in a glorified body three days after His death on the cross. In addition, both the saved and the lost will be resurrected; they that are saved to the resurrection of life and they that are lost to the resurrection of eternal damnation. (Luke 24:16, 36, 39; John 2:19-21, 20:26-28, 21:4; Acts 24:15; 1 Cor. 15:42, 44; Phil. 1:21-23, 3:21)

The Family

God has ordained the family as the foundational institution of human society. It is composed of persons related to one another by marriage, blood, or adoption.

God created marriage. Marriage is the uniting of one man and one woman in covenant commitment for a lifetime. It is God’s unique gift to reveal the union between Christ and His church and to provide for the man and the woman in marriage the framework for intimate companionship, the channel of sexual expression according to biblical standards, and the means for procreation of the human race.

The husband and wife are of equal worth before God, since both are created in God’s image. The marriage relationship models the way God relates to His people. A husband is to love his wife as Christ loved the church. He has the God-given responsibility to provide for, to protect, and to lead his family. A wife is to submit herself graciously to the servant leadership of her husband even as the church willingly submits to the headship of Christ. She, being in the image of God as is her husband and thus equal to him, has the God-given responsibility to respect her husband and to serve as his helper in managing the household and nurturing the next generation.

Children, from the moment of conception, are a blessing and heritage from the Lord. Parents are to demonstrate to their children God’s pattern for marriage. Parents are to teach their children spiritual and moral values and to lead them, through consistent lifestyle examples and loving discipline, to make choices based on biblical truth. Children are to honor and obey their parents. (Gen. 1:26-28; 2:15-25; 3:1-20; Exodus 20:12; Deut. 6:4-9; Josh. 24:15; 1 Sam. 1:26-28; Psalms 51:5; 78:1-8; 127; 128; 139:13-16; Prov. 1:8; 5:15-20; 6:20-22; 12:4; 13:24; 14:1; 17:6; 18:22; 22:6,15; 23:13-14; 24:3; 29:15,17; 31:10-31; Ecclesiastes 4:9-12; 9:9; Mal. 2:14-16; Matt. 5:31-32; 18:2-5; 19:3-9; Mark 10:6-12; Rom. 1:18-32; 1 Cor. 7:1-16; Eph. 5:21-33; 6:1-4; Col. 3:18-21; 1 Tim. 5:8,14; 2 Tim. 1:3-5; Titus 2:3-5; Heb. 13:4; 1 Pet. 3:1-7)

The Lord’s Supper (Holy Communion)

The Lord’s Supper, consisting of the elements, bread and fruit of the vine, is the symbol expressing our sharing in a memorial to His suffering and death, and a prophecy of His second coming, and is enjoined to all believers “until He comes”. (John 6:48,51,53-57; Luke 22:19,20; 2 Pet. 1:4; 1 Cor. 11:25-26)