Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.Anti-spam check. Do not fill this in! ==Beliefs== {{See also|Assemblies of God Statement of Fundamental Truths}} The central beliefs of the Pentecostal Assemblies are summarized in its Statement of Fundamental and Essential Truths.<ref name=Beliefs>Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada, [http://www.paoc.org/about/what-we-believe What We Believe] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080512153556/http://www.paoc.org/about/what-we-believe |date=2008-05-12 }}, accessed June 14, 2011.</ref> The statement is consistent with general evangelical and Pentecostal beliefs. The Pentecostal Assemblies, as stated in the Fundamental and Essential Truths, believe the [[Bible]] is the "all-sufficient source of faith and practice" and the "complete revelation and very Word of God inspired by the Holy Spirit". It subscribes to the doctrine of the [[Trinity]], believing that [[God in Christianity|God]] exists as three persons: the [[God the Father|Father]], the [[God the Son|Son]] who is [[Jesus Christ]], and the [[Holy Spirit (Christianity)|Holy Spirit]]. The Pentecostal Assemblies believes that [[Christian soteriology|salvation]] has been provided for all humanity through the [[Atonement in Christianity|atonement]] of Christ upon the [[Christian cross|cross]], and this was proven by his [[resurrection of Christ|resurrection from the dead]]. Those who have [[Faith in Christianity|faith]] in Christ and [[repent]] are [[Born again (Christianity)|born again]] of the Holy Spirit and receive eternal life. The person who repents and has faith in Christ is [[Justification (theology)|justified]], not because of the believer's own merit but solely because the believer has accepted Christ as savior.<ref name=SFET5.1-5.5>Statement of Fundamental and Essential Truths, 5.1-5.5.</ref> The Pentecostal Assemblies teach that the [[sanctification]] of a believer is both instantaneous and progressive. The believer is sanctified as the Holy Spirit teaches the believer through the [[Rhema|Word of God]] and produces within the believer the character of Christ. Consistent with Pentecostal theology, the denomination teaches that Christians should seek the [[baptism with the Holy Spirit]], which is an experience distinct from and subsequent to the new birth. With this experience comes a more intimate knowledge of Christ and an empowerment to witness and to grow spiritually. The initial evidence of receiving the baptism with the Holy Spirit is [[Glossolalia|speaking in other tongues]]. Through [[spiritual gift]]s believers can minister effectively by both building up the church and demonstrating the presence of God within the church. The Pentecostal Assemblies believes that [[divine healing]] is provided within Christ's atonement, and prayer for the sick and [[gifts of healing]] are encouraged.<ref name=SFET5.6>Statement of Fundamental and Essential Truths, 5.6.</ref> The denomination teaches that the universal church is the [[Body of Christ]] and includes as members all who have been born again. Local churches observe two ordinances: the [[Eucharist|Lord's Supper]] and water [[baptism]] by [[immersion baptism|immersion]]. The PAOC believes in a [[dispensationalist]] and [[premillennialist]] [[Christian eschatology|eschatology]] which includes the pre-[[Tribulation]] [[rapture]] of the church and the [[Second Coming of Christ]].<ref name=SFET5.7-5.8>Statement of Fundamental and Essential Truths, 5.7-5.8.</ref> The Pentecostal Assemblies believe that marriage is a lifelong union between one man and one woman. The marriage vow can only be broken by "marital unfaithfulness involving adultery, homosexuality, or incest". Even in those circumstances, however, the PAOC believes reconciliation is the desired option, and it discourages divorce for all other reasons. It views remarriage as acceptable in the event of a former spouse's death, in cases where the former spouse committed marital unfaithfulness, or if the former spouse has remarried.<ref name=SFET5.9.1-5.9.3>Statement of Fundamental and Essential Truths, 5.9.1-5.9.3.</ref> PAOC members are encouraged to [[tithe]].<ref name=SFET5.9.4>Statement of Fundamental and Essential Truths, 5.9.4.</ref> Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. If you do not want your writing to be edited mercilessly, then do not submit it here. You are also promising us that you wrote this yourself, or copied it from a public domain or similar free resource (see Christianpedia:Copyrights for details). Do not submit copyrighted work without permission! Cancel Editing help (opens in new window) Discuss this page