Nearly all protestant denominations claim to preach the teachings of Jesus and ask their members to follow them. But, that’s only on the surface. But if anyone scratches the surface to know more, you will find some of the very important doctrines contrary to the teachings of Jesus and lead its members not into eternal life. In this post, we will compare what Assemblies of God believe on how a person is saved to that of the teachings of Jesus.
AoG: How is a person saved?
The beliefs of Australian Christian Churches, which is the Assemblies of God are mentioned here. We will go through only the points regarding salvation to see how they reject the requirement of obedience to teachings of Jesus Christ for Salvation and add new things which He did not teach.
| Assemblies of God | Jesus Christ |
|---|---|
| 4.8 Salvation of Man We believe that salvation is received through repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. This experience is also known as the new birth and is an instantaneous and complete operation of the Holy Spirit whereby the believing sinner is regenerated, justified, and adopted into the family of God and becomes a new creation in Christ Jesus and heir of eternal life (Titus 2:11; 3:5-7; 1 Peter 1:23; 1 John 5:1). (For AoG, obedience to Jesus, holiness, righteousness is not required for salvation. If they don’t have any of these, they still believe they have salvation because they can blame the Holy Spirit for not saving them) | Matt 18:8-9 “If your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and cast [it] from you. It is better for you to enter into life lame or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into the everlasting fire. And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast [it] from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire. (Jesus taught being sinless is our responsibility and a requirement to enter life. It is not the responsibility of the Holy Spirit. Jesus will cast out all who believers who sin from His house – Joh 8:31-35. Christ is denying His believers access to tree of life – Rev 2:7, to get hurt from second death – Rev 2:11, fight against – Rev 2:16, push into great tribulation – Rev 2:22-23, blot the names from the book of life – Rev 3:4-5, not keep from the hour of trial – Rev 3:10, vomit out of His mouth – Rev 3:15-16, if they don’t overcome, commit sexual immorality, defile their garments and their works are lukewarm) |
| 4.12 Sanctification We believe that sanctification is an act of separation from that which is evil, and of dedication unto God. We believe it is the glorious provision for every believer in Christ to be made pure in heart and wholly sanctified, through the operation of the Holy Spirit, by the blood of Jesus and the Word of God (John 17:15-19; Acts 15:8-9; Romans 12:1-2; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-4; 5:23-24; Hebrews 2:11; 10:16-19). (John 17:15-19 is not about sanctification. The important point missing in the above belief is obedience to His Word) | John 3:20 “For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. (As we saw earlier in Matt 18:8-9, it is our responsibility to be seperate from evil and obey His Word, that is everything Christ taught. It is not the responsibility or operartion of the Holy Spirit or by His blood or by the Word of God) |
| 4.13 The Baptism in the Holy Spirit We believe that the baptism in the Holy Spirit is the bestowing of the believer with power to be an effective witness for Christ. This experience is distinct from, and subsequent to, the new birth; is received by faith, and is accompanied by the manifestation of speaking in tongues as the Spirit gives utterance, as the initial evidence (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-5, 8; 2:1-4; 8:15-19; 11:14-17; 19:1-7). | Neither Jesus, nor any of His disciples on their letters, or even in the book of Revelation, there is no mention of speaking of tongues. The only mention of speaking in tongues was in Mark 16:17 which is a well known later addition. Jesus taught about the Holy Spirit in several passsages of the gospels but not once He mentioned about speaking in tongues or any gifts. |
| 4.14 Gifts We believe in the present day operation of the nine supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit, as recorded in 1 Corinthians 12:8-10. We also believe in the ministry gifts of Christ, as recorded in Ephesians 4:11-13. | Neither Jesus, nor any of His disciples on their letters, or even in the book of Revelation, there is no mention of any gifts of Holy Spirit or speaking of tongues. The only mention is in Mark 16:17 which is a well known later addition. Jesus taught about the Holy Spirit in several passsages of the gospels but not once He mentioned about speaking in tongues or gifts. |
Conclusion
The doctrine of AoG for how a person is saved has nothing to do with obedience for the teachings of Jesus. Instead, they pass on their responsibility of being holy and righteous to the Holy Spirit. They also add strange new doctrines which neither Jesus in the gospels, nor His disciples in their letters mentioned or found in the book of Revelation.
He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me. These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.
John 14:24-26
Are you obeying the words of Jesus which the Holy Spirit is bringing to your remembrance? Or reject the requirement of being sinless for Salvation and expect the Holy Spirit to make you holy and righteous? Follow Jesus and obey His commandments for salvation, not any church or doctrines of men.
Acts 2:4, 10:45-46, & 19:6 all show that when a person recieved the Holy Spirit during the New Testament of which we are still in until the Lord returns for His church all spake with tongues immediately after they received the Holy Ghost.
We need to ask ourselves why only Paul’s letters and Paul-related books have speaking in tongues. We cannot find speaking in tongues in any of the gospels, any of the letters of his disciples or even in the book of revelation.
Perhaps there’s a mistake
You say “John 17:15-19 is not about sanctification”.
Yet these verses clearly talk about sanctification:
17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.
18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.
19 For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.
In John 17:14-19, Christ mentions that He had given His Father’s Word to His disciples and prays that they be sanctified by the Father’s Words. i.e, by obedience of His Words.
Sanctification differs in different denominations. It varies from being made clean and a slow transformation which often removes our responsibility of entering the narrow gate and walking on the difficult path. The statements in AoG seem to not give any indication of our role.
Cleansing the inside of our cup (Matt 23:25-26) by being obedient to His Word (Ps 119:9) is our responsibility. Yes, God does and can clean us but it also involves our responsibility of being obedient to His Word.