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The Foursquare Gospel
The
vision of the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel (ICFG) is
to present Jesus Christ, God's Son, to every person in every culture
and nation as The Savior, The Baptizer with the Holy Spirit, The Healer, and The Soon-Coming King.
Since its founding, in 1923, that vision has been realized through
evangelizing the lost and establishing local congregations in the
United States and abroad, through the nurturing and training of
believers into leadership on all levels of Church life, and in
cooperation with other members of the Body of Christ at large in the
fellowship of the Gospel and the fulfillment of the Biblical mandate to
be "light" and "salt" on the earth.
Today, the number of members and adherents in the Foursquare Church worldwide now stands at 4,113,981 worshiping in 38,217 churches and meeting places in 138 countries. At the end of the reporting year, there were 49,287 Foursquare ministers and workers.
Below is an abbreviated Foursquare Declaration of Faith, as drafted by Foursquare founder Aimee Semple McPherson. Click here for the full pdf version of our Declaration of Faith.
- THE HOLY SCRIPTURES
We believe the Bible is God-inspired (2 Timothy 3:16,17).
- THE ETERNAL GODHEAD
We believe God is Triune: Father, Son and Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 13:14).
- THE FALL OF MAN
We believe that man was created in the image of God, but that by voluntary disobedience he fell from perfection (Romans 5:12).
- THE PLAN OF SALVATION
We
believe that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us, signing the
pardon of all who believe on Him (John 3:16; Romans 5:8).
- SALVATION THROUGH GRACE
We believe that we have no righteousness and must come to God pleading the righteousness of Christ (Ephesians 2:8).
- REPENTANCE AND ACCEPTANCE
We believe that upon sincere repentance, and a whole-hearted acceptance of Christ, we are justified before God (I John 1:9).
- THE NEW BIRTH
We
believe that the change which takes place in the heart and life at
conversion is a very real one (2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 2:20).
- DAILY CHRISTIAN LIVING
We believe that it is the will of God that we be sanctified daily, growing constantly in the faith (Hebrews 6:1).
- BAPTISM AND THE LORD'S SUPPER
We
believe that baptism by immersion is an outward sign of an inward work
(Matt. 28:19). We believe in the commemoration of the Lord's Supper by
the symbolic use of the bread and juice of the vine (I Corinthians
11:24, 25).
- BAPTISM WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT
We
believe that the Baptism with the Holy Spirit is to endue the believer
with power; and that His incoming is after the same manner as in Bible
days (Acts 2:4).
- THE SPIRIT-FILLED LIFE
We believe that it is the will of God that we walk in the Spirit daily (Ephesians 4:30-32).
- THE GIFTS AND FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT
We
believe that the Holy Spirit has gifts to bestow upon the Christian;
and that we should show spiritual fruit as evidence of a Spirit-filled
life (I Corinthians 12:1-11; Galatians 5:22).
- MODERATION
We
believe that the experience and daily walk of the believer should never
lead him into extremes of fanaticism (Philippians 4:5).
- DIVINE HEALING
We
believe that divine healing is the power of Christ to heal the
physically sick in answer to the prayer of faith (James 5:14-16).
- THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST
We believe that the second coming of Christ is personal and imminent (I Thessalonians 4:16, 17).
- CHURCH RELATIONSHIP
We believe it is our sacred duty to identify ourselves with the visible Body of Christ (Acts 16:5; Hebrews 10:25).
- CIVIL GOVERNMENT
We believe that rulers should be upheld at all times except in things opposed to the will of God (Romans 13:1-5).
- THE FINAL JUDGEMENT
We
believe that all shall stand some day before the judgement seat of God,
and there receive eternal life or death (2 Corinthians 5:10).
- HEAVEN
We believe that Heaven is the glorious eternal home of born-again believers (John 14:1-3; Revelation 7:15-17).
- HELL
We believe that hell is the place of eternal torment for all who reject Christ as the Savior (Revelation 20:10,15).
- EVANGELISM
We believe that soul winning is the most important responsibility of the Church (James 5:20).
- TITHES AND OFFERINGS
We
believe that the method ordained of God for the support and spread of
His cause is by giving of tithes and free-will offerings (Malachi 3:10;
2 Corinthians 9:7).
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