General Penetecostal Doctrine

This is a general compilation of Pentecostal statements of faith from the International Pentecostal Holiness Church, United Holy Church of America Inc, United Pentecostal Church International, Church of God In Christ, Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Assemblies of God, & Foursquare Church. This is not supposed to be a move toward ecumenism and not to be used as canon. It is just a show of similarities and the core doctrine of the Pentecostal-Holiness faith. May the Lord Jesus Christ use this for his glory and for unity in Christ! For the Holy Spirit to ignite and set ablaze the world for a mighty over showering, regeneration, and rain of the Spirit to get the church ready for the holy wedding!—Ian Lamar Courts 12/14/11
The Holy Writ-Word of God YHWH
The Holy Bible is the complete, coherent, infallible, eternal, and universal word of God. It was given by inspiration of the Holy Spirit through holy men. The bible is God’s revelation to man stating his attributes, commands, law, values, work, and doctrine. All creeds, values, morals, doctrines, beliefs, and teachings should be founded and established upon the word of God revealed in the Holy Bible. The Holy Bible is relevant in all times, eras, states, nations, issues, planets, circumstances, and situations faced in the Universe and throughout time. No person shall or can add or take away from the bible for it has been and is established by God and is perfect in essence. (John 5:39, Deuteronomy 29:29, II Timothy 3:15-17)
The Nature of the Eternal God
There is only One God and He is the creator, designer, protector, sustainer, ruler, and father over all creation in the known and unknown universe. God is eternal, love, judgment, justice, righteousness, holiness, immutable, omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent. God is one but 3 in one substance. This ideology is known as the Holy Trinity. God is the Father “YHWH”, The Son (Jesus “Yeshua”), and the Holy Ghost. (Genesis 1:1-2)
The Father- He is the Divine designer, Author & Creator of all things. He is the God of the Old & New Testament and revealed Himself through numerous manifestations. He is the father in creation of all things but the eternal father through redemption by His son Jesus Christ to the believers. He gave his law to Moses and spoke through His prophets and priests in the Old Testament. (Matthew 6:8, John 15:8)
The Son- He is the eternal and perfect (dabar) word of God made flesh. All things were created through Him by the dunamis power of God YHWH. Jesus was conceived by the Holy Ghost in the Virgin Mary and was born in flesh but with deity. Thus Jesus is human and divine. He is holy divine and perfect human. He came to be the eternal and complete sacrifice of atonement for the sin of all mankind. His death paid the price for sin, his life set the mandate for Christian and godly living, his resurrection proved Him Lord, and his ascension proves His eternal position at the right hand of God. He is the only mediator between God and man. He is the High Priest and Chief Intercessor of the believer. He serves as King, Priest, and prophet. He came as savior, and rose as messiah. He shall return as Judge and Redeemer. All that believe in Jesus the Christ shall be saved and not perish! (John 3:16-17, Romans 5:10, I Timothy 2:5, Matthew 1:18-25, Romans 5:10)
The Holy Spirit- He is the eternal and perfect Spirit of God the Father and Jesus the Son. He is the third person of the Holy Trinity. He is of the same substance, equal to power and glory with the Father and the Son. He is to be believed in, obeyed, and worshipped along with the Father and the Son. He breathed life into man in the beginning. The Holy Spirit was actively involved in the Old Testament by prophecy, musical talents, and the work of the priests, judges, elders, and leaders of Israel. The Holy Spirit convicts and converts mankind of sin and dwells in the believer and keeps the believer from the power of sin. The Holy Spirit anoints, ordains, appoints, calls, and consecrates believers to their God given ministry. The Holy Spirit is given by God for the equipping of the saints with gifts and power to witness, preach, teach, live, and minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ. He teaches and guides believers into all truth! The Holy Spirit regenerates, sanctifies, and leads the believer into holiness, love, and the fullness of Christ. The Holy Spirit develops and grows the fruit of the Spirit in the believer which are love, joy, peace, gentleness, meekness, faithfulness, long suffering (patience), temperance (self-control). The Holy Spirit bestows gifts upon the believer which are prophecy, diverse tongues, interpretation, gifts of healing, miracles, discernment, administration, teaching, preaching, and among others stated in the Holy writ. (Acts 1:8, 8:39, John 16:13, 1 Corinthians 2:10-16, 1 Corinthians 12:1-11, 1 Corinthians Chapter 13, 1 Corinthians 14:1-25, Ephesians 4:1-13, Ephesians 4:30, Romans 8:12-17, Romans 8:9, John 15:5-12)
Humanity & Sin
Man
Man was created in the image and likeness of God. Man was created holy by God, composed of mind, body, and soul. Man was but a thought in the mind of God, that He spoke into existence, and formed from the dust of the earth, and breathed life into. Man willingly, knowingly, and voluntarily disobeyed God in the Garden of Eden and was doomed to sin. By Sin man was excommunicated and distanced from God. Man is born in sin, and shaped in iniquity. Man desires evil from his birth. Man is cursed with original, learned, and voluntary sin. Man deserves the eternal damnation and in himself cannot be saved. Man can only be saved by confession of sin, repentance from sin, and accepting and believing in the eternal and complete sacrifice of Jesus Christ for redemption, and by living a holy life for without holiness no man shall see the Lord. (Genesis 1:27, Genesis 9:6, 1 Corinthians 11:7)
Sin
Sin is any act, thought, motive, movement, belief, or anything that is contrary to, against, or disobedient to the will, law, essence, nature, commands, and word of God. Sin originated in the angelic realm when Satan and his angels allowed pride to manifest in rebellion against God. Sin entered the world by temptation by Satan and disobedience by man. Sin is a destructive force that utilizes illness, disease, murder, people, and a host of other tactics to implement its dreadful sting. Sin can only be overcome through the sacrificial blood of Jesus Christ on the cross.
Salvation, Justification, & Sanctification
Salvation
Salvation is God’s redemptive plan for mankind to be reconciled to Him. Salvation is the redemptive operation of the Holy Ghost upon sinners to bring about repentance toward God, faith toward Jesus Christ which brings conversion. Salvation is given by the grace of God and by faith through the sacrificial blood of Jesus Christ. God gave man mercy by not damning him to Hell and condemning him. His Grace is the divine favor and love He bestows upon the believer through the life, work, death, resurrection, and ascension of His son Jesus. Repentance is the changing of the mindset and ways of man and moving them into acceptance of the sacrifice of Jesus. Repentance is the only way to acceptance of the atoning sacrifice of Jesus. Salvation rest only in Jesus! (John 3:16-17)
Justification
Justification is the act whereby God justifies and releases the sinner from sin by their faith in Jesus. Justification is by faith through the grace of God. (Romans 5:1)
Sanctification
Sanctification is a work of the grace of God. Sanctification is the process by which the Holy Spirit regenerates and cleanses the believer and sets them apart for ‘holiness’ in God. Sanctification works in 3 ways. 1. Instantaneous, 2. Progressive, and 3. Entire.

1. Instantaneous sanctification: is an act wrought in connection with Regeneration (John 17:17, Romans 6:22, 12:1, Hebrews 13:12, 13)
2. Progressive sanctification: is the process wherein the believer continues to grow in grace (II Corinthians 3:19, II Peter 3:18, I Peter 1:15, Hebrews 12:14, I Corinthians 6:11)
3. Entire sanctification: denotes a state of being completely sanctified in the mind, body, soul, and spirit (I Thessalonians 5:23, Hebrews 12:14)

Holiness
Holiness is the standard set by God throughout all eternity. The Father is holy, The Son is holy, and the Holy Ghost is holy. God’s word is holy. He dwells in holiness and perfection. God demands and commands His people to be holy. Nothing unclean, filthy, dirty, sinful, or destructive shall enter God’s presence. God is light and in Him there is no darkness. The believer is made holy through faith, sanctification, and the infilling of the Holy Spirit. Believers while on earth will live in relative perfection. Relative perfection can only come by an obedient walk with God in faith and the fruit of the Holy Spirit. Relative Holiness in imparted to man by the Holy Spirit which is the indwelling of the Godhead. Believers will attain absolute perfection when they are resurrected by the return of Jesus the Christ. Holiness is essential in salvation for without it no man shall see the Lord. (Hebrews 6:1, Philippians 3:12, Hebrews 12:14, Matthew 5:8, Ephesians 5:27, I Peter 1:16, Leviticus 20:26, Ephesians 4: 11-24, Galatians 5: 16-18, vs 22-26, II Corinthians 7:1, I Corinthians 6:12-20)

Church “Ekklesia”
The Church is the bride of Christ Jesus. He gave His life for the redemption and existence of the church. The church consist of believers who profess, confess, and live out their belief in Jesus Christ His birth, life, burial, resurrection, and ascension. The church is headed by the Bishop of Souls which is Jesus Christ. The church is lead by God ordained leaders called to leadership by the anointing of the Holy Spirit. The church is the educational organism of the kingdom of God. The church has exousia (delegated authority), kratos (power), and dunamis (dynamite power) given by Jesus Christ to the church! The church shall reign in victory with her husband Jesus Christ in the millennial kingdom and the New Jerusalem. The unity of the Godhead is revealed through the church. The church believes in One faith, has One Lord, and receives One baptism.(1 Corinthians 14:26-40, 1 Corinthians 12:12-31, I Thessalonians 2:14)

Ordinances of the Church

1. Water Baptism: is a necessary act of obedience to Christ (remembering the first sin was disobedience). Water baptism in not a means or decider of salvation. It is an outward demonstration of an inward work. It represents the believer being dead to sin and rising in Christ. Water baptism is by immersion. The formula for baptizing is given in Matthew 28:19. We are to be baptized in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit! The formula of In the name of the Father, Son, Holy Ghost and in Jesus name is accepted. We do not hold to the general belief of Jesus only baptism.
2. Lord’s Supper (Holy Communion/ Eucharist): symbolizes the death and suffering of our Lord Jesus Christ. It symbolizes the believer’s participation in the crucified Christ. It is the object of faith which unites believers together in faith. It gives life, strength and, joy to the soul. Lord Supper takes the believer into a special and blood made union with the Lord Jesus Christ. It should be held in high esteem, reverence, and respect.
3. Feet Washing: Jesus nor did the apostles of Christ state that feet washing was an ordinance but it should be practiced as a sign of humility and preparation for partaking in the suffering of Christ.

Baptism of the Holy Ghost & Fire
Fire Baptism: The baptism of the Holy Ghost & Fire is an experience that can happen at the point of salvation, and at a later time in the believer’s walk. The biblical initial evidence of the fire baptism is evidenced by the manifestation of glossalia or heavenly tongues. The experience is the point where the believer allows the Holy Spirit to have control and influence over the believer. The fire baptism empowers the believer for effective witnessing and service. The baptism of the Holy Spirit and fire allows the believer to live with river of living water flowing within and out of them. The baptism of the Holy Ghost and fire is not a mandate for salvation. The baptism of the Holy Ghost is an experience that unites the believer in a rebirth in the Spirit to the Godhead. The baptism of the Holy Ghost anoints believers to live an effective and powerful Christian life. ( Acts 2:1-4, Acts 10:44-46, Acts 19:1-7, Mark 16:17-18, John 7:37-38, John 3:5, Ephesians 5:18, Romans 8:11)

veteran said:

One is the claim that if you don't speak the supposed 'unknown tongue' then you don't have evidence of The Holy Spirit. That is a specific Pentecostal denominational creed, one that does not exist in other Christian denominations.

Biblically, there is no such thing as an "unknown tongue". The word "unknown" in 1 Cor.12 thru 14 is NOT... even in the Greek manuscripts. The word 'unknown' was added... by the KJV translators.

Per Acts 2, what was spoken by The Holy Spirit through the Apostles on Pentecost day was a 'cloven' tongue, meaning going out in all directions, and was SPECIFICALLY UNDERSTOOD by all that were present, even to the point that the people heard in their OWN language dialect of birth. What they heard the Apostles preach in that tongue were "the wonderful works of God". So I reserve the right by the Biblical evidence of Acts 2 in declaring the claimed 'unknown tongue' some speak with none present that can understand, as not the same cloven tongue spoken on Pentecost.

What the true cloven tongue is about is the one language which all nations once spoke, prior to the tower of Babel event back in Genesis. Per Zephaniah, God is going to one day return us all back to speaking the one tongue. So the matter is not about some 'unknown' tongue idea at all, but about a lost language all the nations once spoke.

Click to expand...

As brothers and sisters in the faith. On this issue I disagree with. I have received this heavenly gift from God. But we will agree to disagree. No need for us to divide and separate with each other over this issue.