Radio Transcript

Denominational Doctrines (10)

The Assemblies of God

 Our study of denominational doctrines continues with a look at the Assemblies of God. The origin of the Assemblies of God can be traced to the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. In 1901, at a prayer meeting at Bethel Bible College in Topeka Kansas, several people claimed to have been baptized in the Holy Spirit. This meeting was followed by a large revival in Los Angeles, California. Revivals such as these eventually resulted in several different Pentecostal denominations.

In 1914, three hundred Pentecostal ministers met in Hot Springs, Arkansas. These ministers incorporated the denomination known as "The General Council of the Assemblies of God." In 1916, they agreed upon a "Statement of Fundamental Truths" that serves as their creed. The International Headquarters of the Assemblies of God is located in Springfield, Missouri.

Some of the things that the Assemblies of God teaches are in agreement with the Bible. They believe the Godhead consists of three distinct beings, the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. They believe in the virgin birth and bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ. They believe in the verbal, plenary inspiration of the Bible. They believe immersion in water is the only proper method of water baptism. They believe man is a free moral agent with the power to choose between good and evil. They teach that it is possible for a child of God to fall from grace.

But the Assemblies of God also teaches a number of things that are contrary to the Bible. First, the Assemblies of God teaches that the baptism of the Holy Spirit is for all believers today. Notice the following quote, taken from their creed, the "Statement of Fundamental Truths:" "All believers are entitled to and should ardently expect and earnestly seek the promise of the Father, the baptism in the Holy Ghost and fire, according to the command 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 in the work of the ministry" (end of quote).

But consider what the Bible teaches about baptism of the Holy Spirit. The baptism of the Holy Spirit was a promise, not a command. Notice Jesus’ words from John 14:26, "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you."

The baptism of the Holy Spirit was promised only to the apostles. The apostles, and the apostles alone, were baptized in the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost, as recorded in Acts the second chapter. Notice Jesus’ words in Luke 24:49, "And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high." Now notice the following from Acts 1:4-5, "And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence." Now notice verse twenty six of that same chapter, "And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles." Let’s continue with the following from Acts 2:1-4, "And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." A careful reading of Acts 2:1-4 will show that it was the apostles who were gathered together in one place. The sound of a rushing mighty wind filled all the house where the apostles were sitting, the cloven tongues like as of fire appeared unto the apostles, and sat upon each of the apostles. It was the apostles, and only the apostles, who were baptized in the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. Later, Cornelius and his household were baptized in the Holy Spirit, not to save them nor to show they were saved, but to prove to the Jews that the Gentiles were also to receive the gospel. This is recorded in Acts 10:44-47 and Acts 11:15-17.

Second, the Assemblies of God teaches that miraculous gifts of the Spirit are operation in the church today. Their "Statement of Fundamental Truths" includes the following, "The baptism of believers in the Holy Ghost is witnessed by the initial physical sign of speaking in tongues as the Spirit of God gives them utterance." Their "Statement of Truths" goes on to say, "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" (end of quote).

But the Bible teaches that the purpose of miraculous gifts, including healing, was to prove Christ’s divinity. Notice the following from John 3:2, "The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him." Now notice from John 20:30-31, "And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name." A second purpose of spiritual gifts, including healing and speaking in tongues, was to confirm the written word. Notice the following from Hebrews 2:3-4, "How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?"

But when God’s word was confirmed and fully revealed, spiritual gifts, such as healing and speaking in tongues, passed way. To the church at Corinth, Paul wrote, "Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge; it shall vanish way. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity" (I Corinthians 13:8-13).

Let’s consider the phrase, "when that which is perfect is come," found in verse ten of our reading. There are those who think the phrase, "that which is perfect," is a reference to Jesus. They conclude that spiritual gifts will continue until Jesus comes at the end of time. But the construction of this verse in its original language indicates "that which is perfect" is a reference to a thing, not a person. Others have thought that the statement, "that which is perfect is come," is a reference to a perfect state of existence which will come to us in heaven. But, when we look at this verse in its context, we see that heaven is not being discussed. Paul is contrasting the temporary gifts with permanent characteristics as far as this life is concerned. The word perfect, as used in I Corinthians 10:10, is clearly not a reference to the flawless state of heaven. Others think "that which is perfect" refers to a state of Christian maturity. But we know this cannot be the case. Many today still see spiritual gifts as a sign of spiritual maturity. But, from what is recorded in the scriptures, the church at Corinth had more in the way of spiritual gifts than any other church. Yet, it was a church plagued with divisions, lawsuits, and fornication, clearly signs of spiritual immaturity, not maturity.

So what does "that which is perfect" mean? Mounce’s Analytical Lexicon to the Greek New Testament indicates the word translated "perfect" means, "complete, entire, as opposed to that which is partial and limited." Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words indicates it refers to the complete revelation of God’s will and ways, whether in the completed scriptures or in the hereafter." So what did Paul mean when he used the phrase, "that which is perfect?" We can find out by looking at verse nine, since verses nine and ten express a continuous thought. They present a contrast between something that is incomplete, or in part, at the time of Paul’s writing, but will be perfect, or complete later. The identification of "that which is perfect" is stated in the words, "we know in part, and we prophesy in part." Paul was simply referring to the receiving and giving of divine knowledge – the proclamation of the New Testament by inspiration. At the time Paul wrote I Corinthians the truth had not yet been fully revealed and proclaimed. But the time was not far away, within the lifetime of the apostles, when revelation would draw to a close. "That which is perfect" came when the apostle John laid down his pen and finished "the words of the prophecy" (Revelation 22:18-21), thus bringing about the cessation of spiritual gifts.

Third, the Assemblies of God follows a human creed, rather than the Bible alone. The Statement of Fundamental Truths was adopted in 1916. An introduction to the Statement of Fundamental Truths includes the following remarks, "These are non-negotiable tenets of faith that all Assemblies of God churches adhere to" (end of quote). But the scriptures alone are sufficient in matters of religion and are to serve as our only guide. Paul wrote, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works" (II Timothy 3:16-17). Peter wrote, "According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue" (II Peter 1:3).

Fourth, the Assemblies of God utilizes mechanical instruments of music in their worship, even though the New Testament provides no authority for doing so. To the church at Ephesus Paul wrote, "Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord" (Ephesians 5:19). Elsewhere he wrote, "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord" (Colossians 3:16).

Fifth, the Assemblies of God, by their own admission, is a denomination. Their Statement of Fundamental Truths refers to the Assemblies of God as a part of the church. But denominations are foreign to the Bible and contrary to its teachings. When Christ said "I will build my church" (Matthew 16:18), he was not referring to building a multitude of denominations such as that which exists today.

Sixth, the Assemblies of God does not believe baptism is essential to salvation. The web site of the Assemblies of God includes the following statement, "In the Assemblies of God we believe baptism in water is to follow salvation (acceptance of Christ and His forgiveness of our sins) as demonstrated in the New Testament. For this reason we urge all new converts to follow the biblical pattern of water baptism in obedience to Christ" (end of quote). But the Bible teaches that baptism is "for the remission of sins" (Acts 2:38). Baptism is to wash away sins (Acts 22:16).

Seventh, the Assemblies of God teaches the false doctrine of premillennialism. Their Statement of Fundamental Truths includes the following, "The second coming of Christ includes the rapture of the saints, which is our blessed hope, followed by the visible return of Christ with His saints to reign on earth for one thousand years" (end of quote). But the Bible does not teach that Christ will reign on earth. The Bible teaches that Christ’s kingdom is in heaven, where he is reigning now (Acts 2:29-37). Jeremiah wrote that no man of Jeconiah’s seed would prosper sitting on the throne of David, and ruling any more in Judah (Jeremiah 22:30). Zechariah 6:12-13 indicates that Christ would serve as priest and king simultaneously. Yet Christ could not serve as a priest while on earth (Hebrews 7:14). It is obvious then that Christ will not serve as an earthly king. Oh, make no mistake about it. Christ is king and priest now. He is serving as our high priest (Hebrews 4:14-16), and is now reigning on his throne in heaven.

Friends, the Assemblies of God are far different from the church we read about in the New Testament.