John Edward Cooper’s Notes

A summary statement of Fundamental Truths used to appear in the “official organ” of Assemblies of God in Great Britain and Ireland, Redemption Tidings (later called just Redemption). This is a copy of a clipping I found from 1983:

WE BELIEVE in the Bible (that is the Old and New Testaments, excluding the Apocrypha) as the Inspired Word of God, the Infallible and All-sufficient Rule for Faith and Conduct; in the Unity of the One True and Living God revealed in Three Persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit; in the Virgin Birth, Sinless Life, Miraculous Ministry, Substitutionary Atoning Death, Bodily Resurrection, Triumphant Ascension and Abiding Intercession of the Lord Jesus Christ and in His pre-Millennial Second Advent; in the Fall of Man; in Salvation through Faith in Christ; in the Baptism of Believers by Immersion in Water; in the Baptism in the Spirit with the Initial Evidence of Speaking with Other Tongues; in the Gifts of the Holy Spirit and Offices set by God in the Church; in Holiness of Life and Conduct; in Deliverance from Sickness by Divine Healing; in the Breaking of Bread; in the Everlasting Conscious Bliss of all Believers, and the Everlasting Conscious Punishment of all whose names are not written in the Book of Life.

This is the full Statement of Fundamental Truths of Assemblies of God as I found it in my writings, dated Monday 5th September 1994:

On 28 May 2012 I found that the Great Britain Assemblies of God website had simplified and “softened” the statement. On 16 April 2016, though, I found that it had restored the original one. 

1. We believe that the Bible, that is the Old and New Testaments, excluding the Apocrypha, is the inspired Word of God, the infallible and all-sufficient rule for faith and practice.

   On 28 May 2012 the equivalent clause on the Great Britain Assemblies of God website was:

   The Bible is the world’s best-selling book of all time. We believe it is the Word of God. It is total truth and provides us with principles for every area of life.

2. We believe in the unity of the one true and living God, who is the eternal self-existent I AM, who has also revealed himself as one Being in three Persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

   On 28 May 2012 the equivalent clause on the Great Britain Assemblies of God website was:

   We believe in One True God. We believe He is alive and wants to have a personal relationship with us. He co-exists in three Persons — Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

3. We believe in the virgin birth, sinless life, miraculous ministry, substitutionary atoning death, bodily resurrection, triumphant ascension, and abiding intercession of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in his pre-millennial second advent as the blessed hope set out before all believers.

   On 28 May 2012 the equivalent clause on the Great Britain Assemblies of God website was:

   We believe that Jesus is the Son of God. He was born of a virgin and lived a sinless life. While He lived on earth He performed supernatural miracles. He died to take away the sins of the world. He was crucified on a cross, buried in a tomb, was resurrected from the dead and He ascended into heaven. We believe He will return to earth a second time in the future.

4. We believe in the fall of man, who was created pure and upright, but fell by voluntary transgression.

   On 28 May 2012 the equivalent clause on the Great Britain Assemblies of God website was:

   We believe man has sinned against God. Adam and Eve were the first humans and were created pure but wilfully broke God's laws. As a result all of us have sinned and need forgiveness.

5. We believe in salvation through faith in Christ, who died for our sins according to the scriptures, was buried, and was raised from among the dead on the third day according to the scriptures, and through his blood we have redemption. This experience is also known as the New Birth, and is an instantaneous and complete operation of the Holy Spirit upon initial faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

   On 28 May 2012 the equivalent clauses on the Great Britain Assemblies of God website were:

   We believe there is salvation only through faith in Jesus Christ. He died on the cross that our sins may be forgiven. He was buried and after three days He was raised from the dead. Sin and death could not defeat Him.

   We believe you must be born again to go to heaven. When you put your trust in Jesus and believe in what He did for you, the Holy Spirit changes you on the inside.

6. We believe that baptism by immersion in water is enjoined upon all who have really repented and have truly believed with all their hearts in Christ as Saviour.

   On 28 May 2012 the equivalent clause on the Great Britain Assemblies of God website was:

   We believe in water baptism, not by sprinkling water on your head but by being fully immersed in water. In this way we follow Jesus' example.

7. We believe in the baptism in the Holy Spirit, the initial evidence of which is the speaking with other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance.

   On 28 May 2012 the equivalent clause on the Great Britain Assemblies of God website was:

   We believe in the Holy Spirit baptism. The evidence of the Holy Spirit baptism is the supernatural ability to speak in tongues — a language we have not learned or have known.

8. We believe that the gifts of the Holy Spirit and the offices have been set by God in the church as recorded in the New Testament.

   On 28 May 2012 the equivalent clause on the Great Britain Assemblies of God website was:

   We believe the Holy Spirit gives us special gifts. He empowers us and gives us the ability to do what Jesus did here on earth.

9. We believe in holiness of life and conduct, in obedience to the command of God, “Be ye holy, for I am holy.”

   On 28 May 2012 the equivalent clause on the Great Britain Assemblies of God website was:

   We believe we should live holy lives. Through obedience to the principles and teachings in the Bible we can live lives that please God.

10. We believe that deliverance from sickness by divine healing is provided for in the atonement.

    On 28 May 2012 the equivalent clause on the Great Britain Assemblies of God website was:

    We believe in supernatural healing. We pray for the sick because we believe God still works miracles today.

11. We believe that the breaking of bread is enjoined upon all believers until the Lord comes.

    On 28 May 2012 the equivalent clause on the Great Britain Assemblies of God website was:

    We believe that everyone who has become a Christian should remember Him by regularly participating in communion.

12. We believe in the bodily resurrection of all men, the everlasting conscious bliss of all who truly believe in our Lord Jesus Christ, and that everlasting conscious punishment is the portion of all whose names are not written in the Book of Life.

    On 28 May 2012 the equivalent clause on the Great Britain Assemblies of God website was:

    We believe in eternal life and judgement. Those who have committed their lives to following Jesus will spend eternity with Him in heaven. However those who have not will be punished for their sins.