6. Ordinances of the Church
(a) Baptism in Water
The ordinance of baptism by immersion is commanded
in the Scriptures. All who repent and believe on
Christ as Savior and Lord are to be baptized. Thus,
they declare to the world that they have die with
Christ and that they also have been raised with
Him to walk in newness of life. (Matt. 28:19; Mark
16:16; Acts 10:47, 48; Rom. 6:4).
(b) Holy Communion
The Lord's Supper, consisting of the elements
and bread and the fruit of the vine's 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 Cor. 11: 26); and a prophecy of
His second coming (1 Cor. 11:26); and is enjoined
on
all believers "till He come!"
7. The Baptism in the Holy Ghost
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 (Luke 24:49;
Acts 1:4, 8; 1 Cor. 12:1-31). This experience is
distinct from and subsequent to the experience
of the new birth facts 8:12-17; 10:44-46; 11:14-16;
15:7-9). With the baptism in the Holy Ghost come
such experiences as an overflowing fullness of
the Spirit (John 7:37-39; Acts 4:8). A deepened
reverence for God (Acts 2:43; Heb. 12:28), an intensified
consecration to God and dedication to His work
(Acts 2:42), and a more active love for Christ,
for, His Word and for the lost (Mark 16:20).
8. The Initial Physical Evidence
of the Baptism in the Holy Ghost
The baptism of believers in the Holy Ghost is witnessed
by the initial physical sign of speaking with other
tongues as the Spirit of God gives them utterance
(Acts 2:4). The speaking in tongues in this instance
is the same in essence as the gift of tongues (1
Cor. 12:4-10, 28), but different in purpose and
use.
9. Sanctification
Sanctification is an act of separation from that
which is evil, and of dedication unto God (Rom.
12:1. 2; 1 Thess. 5:23; Heb. 13:12). The Scriptures
teach a life of "holiness without which no
man shall see the Lord" (Heb. 12:14). By the
power of the Holy Ghost, we are able to obey the
command: "Be ye holy, for I am holy" (1
Pet. 1:15, 16). Sanctification is realized in
the believer by recognizing his identification
with
Christ in His death and resurrection, and by
faith reckoning daily upon the fact of that union.
and
by offering every faculty continually to the
dominion of the Holy Spirit (Rom. 6:1-11, 13;
8:1, 2, 13;
Gal. 2:20; Phil.2: 12, 13; 1 Peter 1:5). 10.
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 her great commission. Each believer, born
of the
Spirit, is an integral part of the General Assembly
and Church of the Firstborn, which are written
in heaven (Ephesians 1:22, 23; 2:22; Hebrews
12:23). Since God's purpose concerning man is
to seek and
to save that which is lost, to be worshiped by
man, and to build a body of believers in the
image of His Son, 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; Matthew 28:19, 20; Mark 16:15.
16).
b. To be a corporate body in which man may worship
God (1 Corinthians 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 (Ephesians 4:11-16; 1 Corinthians 12:28;
1 Corinthians 14:12).
10. The Assemblies of God exists expressly
to give continuing emphasis to this reason-for-being
in
the New Testament apostolicpattern 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; 3
Acts 4:29-31; Hebrews 2:3, 4).
b. Adds a necessary dimension to worshipful relationship
with God (1 Corinthians 2:10-16; 1 Corinthians
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 (Galatians
5:22-26; 1 Corinthians 14:12; Colossians 4:11,
12; 1 Corinthians 12:28; Colossians 1: 29).
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