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We therefore may speak with propriety of the Lord our God who is One Lord, as a trinity or as one Being of three persons, and still be absolutely scriptural.

Before the incarnation, this one true God manifested Himself in divers ways. In the incarnation, He manifests Himself in the Son, who walked among men. As He works in the lives of believers, He manifests Himself as the Holy Spirit.

We understand authority to mean that everything the Bible affirms and teaches is true. As God’s disclosed will and purpose, it is determinative for belief and behavior.

The Bible is the only God-given authority which man possesses; therefore, all doctrine, faith, hope, and all instruction for the church must be based upon, and harmonize with, the Bible.

The Church needs to recognize and respond to the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit through the gift of prophecy given to the Church today.

Pentecostals believe it is important to be led of the Spirit. However, this desire to be led of the Spirit does not conflict with a high view of the Bible as a primary source for truth.

The Bible is often referred to by using the singular “Scripture” to embrace the entire canon of sixty-six books.

The Bible contains sixty-six books which are divided into the Old and New Testaments.

The Scriptures, both the Old and New Testaments, are verbally inspired of God and are the revelation of God to man, the infallible, authoritative rule of faith and conduct.

The United Pentecostal Church International (UPCI) holds that the Holy Scriptures were inspired by God and that they constitute the infallible Word of God (II Peter 1:21).

The Bible is, in fact, the best-attested book of antiquity and we are assured of a reliable text that is indeed trustworthy. Moreover, it demonstrates God’s providential care in the exacting, painstaking work of faithful scribes and scholars through the centuries.

We continue to recognize the King James Version of the Bible, because of its historic influence, as a trusted and prominent translation of the Scriptures to be used in our churches and among our people.

Inerrancy is a near synonym to infallibility and has been used more recently to further attest that Scripture as recorded in the original manuscripts, the autographs, is without error.

The Bible is the infallible Word of God and the authority for salvation and Christian living.

God did not form Adam from some previously existing creature (1 Corinthians 15:39). Any evolutionary theory, including theistic evolution/evolutionary creationism, that claims all forms of life arose from a common ancestry is thereby ruled out.

All people are created by God in His image (Genesis 1:27). Therefore, all human beings have intrinsic worth to God and should be treated accordingly with dignity.

Wherefore the Father is the Begetter, the Son is the Begotten, and the Holy Spirit is the one proceeding from the Father and the Son.

There is one God, who has revealed Himself as Father; through His Son, in redemption; and as the Holy Spirit, by emanation.

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.

We obey the gospel (II Thessalonians 1:8; I Peter 4:17) by repentance (death to sin), water baptism in the name of Jesus Christ (burial), and the baptism of the Holy Spirit with the initial sign of speaking in tongues as the Spirit gives the utterance (resurrection).

The General Council of the Assemblies of God disapproves of the unconditional security position which holds that it is impossible for a person once saved to be lost.

When a person transgresses and sins against God and does not repent, he will eventually be lost and cast into the lake of fire.

The position most typically held in the Assemblies of God is called Arminianism, after Jacobus Arminius (1560–1609).

In accordance with the General Constitution, I will not teach the doctrines of unconditional eternal security, the annihilation of the wicked, the divine flesh of Christ, or any form of preterism.

The Assemblies of God does not believe that someone will go to hell because they were born in the wrong country or the wrong century.

We do not reject those who have not received the complete New Testament experience, but we encourage them to receive everything God has for them. Ultimately, each of us is accountable to God for our response of faith.

Man was created good and upright; for God said, "Let us make man in our own image, after our likeness." However, man by voluntary transgression fell and thereby incurred not only physical death but also spiritual death, which is separation from God.

In the beginning, God created man innocent, pure, and holy; but through the sin of disobedience, Adam and Eve, the first of the human race, fell from their holy state, and God banished them from Eden. (Genesis 3:1-24). Hence by one man’s disobedience, sin entered into the world (Romans 3:23, 5:12).

Every call to repentance in Scripture is an indication that God has given to humankind a free will which can choose right or wrong.

Humanity was created in and exists as the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27). Humans were created to live eternally, though death entered the race as a result of the sin condition, which resulted from the Fall.

Sanctification is realized in the believer by recognizing his identification with Christ in His death and resurrection, and by the faith reckoning daily upon the fact of that union, and by offering every faculty continually to the dominion of the Holy Spirit.

The birth of the Spirit makes a person a new creature. His old life is exterminated, obliterated, and buried; the power of sin in the flesh is destroyed.

The Christian church has historically understood that although the ceremonial provisions of the Old Testament law were no longer in effect after the atoning death of Christ, the New Testament interpretation and restatement of its moral law continues in effect.

While God’s moral law never changes, Christians are not subject to the ceremonial law of the Old Testament (Mark 7:14-19; Acts 11:5-9; 15:1-29).

The ordinance of baptism by immersion is commanded by the Scriptures.

The scriptural mode of baptism is immersion and is only for those who have fully repented, having turned from their sins and a love of the world.

At conversion, the Spirit baptizes into Christ/the body of Christ; in a subsequent and distinct experience, Christ will baptize in the Holy Spirit.

We obey the gospel (II Thessalonians 1:8; I Peter 4:17) by repentance (death to sin), water baptism in the name of Jesus Christ (burial), and the baptism of the Holy Spirit with the initial sign of speaking in tongues as the Spirit gives the utterance (resurrection).

The ordinance of baptism by immersion is commanded by the Scriptures. All who repent and believe on Christ as Saviour and Lord are to be baptized.

The scriptural mode of baptism is immersion and is only for those who have fully repented, having turned from their sins and a love of the world.

The Lord's Supper, consisting of the elements –bread and the fruit of the vine– is the symbol expressing our sharing the divine nature of our Lord Jesus Christ

Thus was instituted the use of literal bread and the fruit of the vine, which are partaken of literally, as emblems of His broken body and shed blood. There is also a spiritual significance and blessing in partaking of the sacrament.

Paul explained the meaning of the bread and the cup with reference to the Lord’s body and blood (11:24,25) and taught that it was an open proclamation of “the Lord’s death until he comes” (11:26). He called for regular and reverent participation by all believers, after careful self-examination (11:27-32).

The Lord’s Supper, consisting of the elements—bread and the fruit of the vine—is the symbol expressing our sharing the divine nature of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:4); a memorial of His suffering and death (1 Corinthians 11:26); and a prophecy of His second coming (1 Corinthians 11:26); and is enjoined on all believers “till He come!”

Thus was instituted the use of literal bread and the fruit of the vine, which are partaken of literally, as emblems of His broken body and shed blood. There is also a spiritual significance and blessing in partaking of the sacrament.

The ordinance of baptism by immersion is commanded by the Scriptures.

The General Council of the Assemblies of God is a cooperative fellowship based upon mutual agreements voluntarily entered into by its membership, and shall be known as a fellowship of churches and credentialed ministers.

Because of the priesthood of all believers, the UPCI is basically congregational in structure rather than hierarchical, with each member having a voice and expected to participate in the worship, life, ministry, and governance of the local church.

Ordination is the term used for the highest level of ministerial classification the Assemblies of God recognizes, a classification available to both men and women.

Ministers should meet qualifications, be approved by elders, and seek ordination. Believers should belong to local churches, and local churches should be led by pastors.

The Assemblies of God recognizes the spiritual gifting of women in all aspects and levels of church ministry as revealed in the Scriptures.

The United Pentecostal Church International has always recognized the ministry of women, including ordination to the preaching and teaching ministry.

Nowhere does God’s Word tell us to confess our sins to a clergyman or human mediator in order to receive God’s forgiveness. Instead this is to be done from the repentant heart of the sinner directly to the Savior–Jesus Christ.

As priests, we confess sins directly to God in the name of Jesus and by the blood of Jesus. We can intercede on our own behalf and on behalf of others (I John 1:9; James 5:13–16).

While we are not commanded to observe Sunday as the specific day of rest and worship, the principle of the Sabbath is that one day in seven should be set aside for physical and spiritual renewal.

From the earliest times, Christians have usually conducted their main worship services on Sunday. Early believers chose the day of Christ’s resurrection to emphasize that they were not under the old covenant, which the Sabbath symbolized, but under the new covenant, which His resurrection instituted.

The convictions of certain denominations against musical instruments notwithstanding, the New Testament does not prohibit any kind of musical instrument.

Many passages in the Psalms admonish us to worship with singing and with musical instruments. Psalm 150 lists the following instruments used in worship: trumpet, psaltery (a stringed instrument), harp, timbrel (tambourine or drum), stringed instrument, organ (a wind instrument), loud cymbal, and high-sounding cymbal.

The baptism of believers in the Holy Spirit is witnessed by the initial physical sign of speaking with other tongues as the Spirit of God gives them utterance.

It is scriptural to expect all who receive the gift, filling, or baptism of the Holy Spirit to receive the same physical, initial sign of speaking with other tongues.

All believers are entitled to and should ardently expect and earnestly seek the promise of the Father, the baptism in the Holy Spirit 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.

The supernatural gifts of the Spirit, including healing, are for the church today.

While believers will engage in spiritual warfare and will be oppressed, they cannot be possessed by the demonic forces.

Jesus Christ is the one God incarnate, and in Him we have everything we need: healing, deliverance, victory, and salvation (Colossians 2:9-10).

Modesty, however, is not a single set of rules for every culture and time. It is a pattern of behavior that does not call attention to itself through inappropriate display of one’s body.

Paul wrote of definite distinctions between men and women in I Corinthians 11 as is reflected by their hair: long, uncut hair for women and short hair for men.

The Lord Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God. The Scriptures declare: His virgin birth

The one true God, the Jehovah of the Old Testament, took upon Himself the form of man, and as the Son of man, was born of the virgin Mary.

In the New Testament church everyone is a priest before God (I Peter 2:5–9; Revelation 1:6; 5:10). Through Jesus Christ, our high priest, we approach God directly and confidently in prayer, offering the sacrifices of praise, good works, and sharing (Hebrews 4:15–16; 13:15–16).

Jesus characterized the intermediate state of the wicked after death (hell, Hades) as one of fire (Luke 16:23,24), but this is to be distinguished from the eternal fire. Jesus’ words in Luke 16 show us that the wicked remain conscious and are aware of their state and of what they have missed.

The redemptive work of Christ conquered death and brings hope of eternal life. The ultimate victory over sin will be the final abolishment of death.

The Bible offers no possibility of repentance after death nor a lessening of the torment of separation from God (Luke 16:23–26).

In the end will be the final resurrection and the final judgment. The righteous will inherit eternal life, and the unrighteous eternal death.

Whosoever is not found written in the Book of Life, together with the devil and his angels, the beast and the false prophet, will be consigned to the everlasting punishment in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.

When the thousand years are finished, there shall be a resurrection of all the dead, who will be summoned before the great white throne for their final judgment, and all whose names are not found written in the Book of Life shall be cast into the lake of fire, burning with brimstone, which God hath prepared for the devil and his angels, Satan himself being cast in first (Matthew 25:41; Revelation 20:7, 15; 21:8).

The resurrection of those who have fallen asleep in Christ and their translation together with those who are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord is the imminent and blessed hope of the church.

We believe that the time is drawing near when our Lord shall appear; then the dead in Christ shall arise, and we who are alive and remain shall be caught up with them to meet our Lord in the air (I Thessalonians 4:13-17; I Corinthians 15:51-54; Philippians 3:20-21).

Although God’s people may endure severe trials before the Lord comes, the Church will be raptured before the period called the Great Tribulation.

While the UPCI allows diversity in views regarding the timing of the coming of the Lord, particularly with reference to the Tribulation, the expectation of the soon return of the Lord is integral to our identity as a movement.

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.

We look forward to a time when the church will reign with Christ in the Millennium, a time when Christ will reign supreme and will restore peace on the earth.

Fundamental Truth 14 also affirms that Jesus’ coming includes a future for Israel. Drawing from Paul’s promise that “all Israel will be saved” (Romans 11:26–27), it notes that the reign of Christ will mean the “salvation of national Israel.”

As Oneness Pentecostals, we believe New Testament prophecies of the return of Christ are literal, still to be fulfilled. Further, while Israel has been blinded in part, there will come a time when they will be grafted in again (Romans 11:17–26).

Marriage between one man and one woman for a lifetime is the historic Christian standard based on the full witness of Scripture.

And be it further resolved that the UPCI go on record as actively opposing any attempt to change the definition of marriage that broadens this sacred institution from the union of one man and one woman.

The Assemblies of God believes that sexual acts outside of marriage are prohibited as sinful.

Sexual relations are confined between a husband and a wife within a monogamous marriage (Hebrews 13:4, 1 Corinthians 7:1-5).

We positively disapprove of Christians getting divorces for any cause except fornication and adultery (Matthew 19:9) or the abandonment of the believer by the unbeliever (1 Corinthians 7:10–15) or in the case of domestic violence by a spouse to a spouse or child (Matthew 18:6; Ephesians 5:28–33; Colossians 3:19).

“Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery” (Matthew 19:9). (See also Matthew 5:32.) When this sin has been committed, the innocent party may be free to remarry only in the Lord.

Where we recognize the right to divorce, we recognize the freedom to remarry. Even when those exceptions do not exist, divorced and remarried Christians belong to the people of God and should be treated as members of the body of Christ.

“Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery” (Matthew 19:9). (See also Matthew 5:32.) When this sin has been committed, the innocent party may be free to remarry only in the Lord.

The Assemblies of God, finding no clear scriptural mandate, does not take an official stand on the appropriateness of contraception within a heterosexual marriage for purposes of regulating the number of children, determining the time of their birth, or safeguarding the health of the mother.

This means we should avoid abortion at every stage, including birth control methods that do not prevent conception but only prevent implantation of the fertilized egg. This would include some types of birth control pills (the mini-pill) and the intrauterine device (IUD).

The Assemblies of God views the practice of abortion as an evil that has been inflicted upon millions of innocent babies and that will threaten millions more in the years to come.

We condemn the elective taking of human life whether by murder, abortion, infanticide, or euthanasia. Although there are circumstances that may require difficult choices in order to save the life of a pregnant woman, we wholeheartedly condemn elective abortions.

The use of modern medicine by Christians is legitimate but must never be a substitute for trusting God.

And while there is no obligation to use artificial means to prolong the life of one who is terminally ill, we do not object to such measures so long as they are aiding in natural processes and are compassionate measures that minimize suffering.

From its inception, the Assemblies of God has been unequivocally committed to abstinence from alcoholic beverages, a conviction firmly rooted in what the Bible teaches about the abuse of wine, the consumption of strong drink, and also in its cardinal ethical principle of love for God and others.

We oppose the drinking of alcoholic beverages, either moderately or otherwise.

As a Movement we affirm our loyalty to the government of the United States in war or peace. We shall continue to insist, as we have historically, on the right of each member to choose whether to declare their position as a combatant, a noncombatant, or a conscientious objector.

We therefore honor the right of our members to serve as conscientious objectors and not bear arms. We also encourage those who serve according to their conscience, in any and all capacities, to express courageous loyalty to country while serving in appropriate roles working “heartily, as to the Lord” (Colossians 3:23).