Preface: How to Read This Book
This book sets out what Bible-believing Christians hold, and why. It follows the shape of the Assemblies of God Statement of Fundamental Truths, which has sixteen articles. It also uses the Foursquare Church’s four-fold gospel: Jesus the Saviour, the Baptizer with the Holy Spirit, the Healer, and the Coming King. And it reflects the convictions of Evangelical Baptists, who stand firm on the authority of Scripture, the new birth, believer’s baptism, and the local church.
These streams agree on most of what matters most. Where they differ, mainly on the baptism in the Holy Spirit, spiritual gifts, and whether a believer can fall away, this book says so plainly. Each chapter ends with a short note on where the traditions stand and a verse to carry with you.
A note on method. The only Bible used is the King James Version (1611), “the Authorized Version.” Citations appear in the text as (Book chapter:verse). A full reference list is at the end. The summaries of each tradition are in my own words. For exact wording, read each church’s own published statement of faith.