Our Beliefs
God
There is one God(1), who is infinitely perfect(2), existing eternally in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit(3).
Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ is the true God and the true man(4). He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary(5). He died upon the cross, the Just for the unjust(6), as a substitutionary sacrifice(7), and all who believe in Him are justified on the ground of His shed blood(8). He arose from the dead according to the Scriptures(9). He is now at the right hand of Majesty on high as our great High Priest(10). He will come again to establish His kingdom, righteousness and peace(11).
The Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is a divine person(12), sent to indwell, guide, teach, empower the believer(13), and convince the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment(14).
The Bible
The Old and New Testaments, inerrant as originally given, were verbally inspired by God and are a complete revelation of His will for the salvation of men. They constitute the divine and only rule of Christian faith and practice(15).
Man
Man was originally created in the image and likeness of God(16): he fell through disobedience, incurring thereby both physical and spiritual death. All men are born with a sinful nature(17), are separated from the life of God, and can be saved only through the atoning work of the Lord Jesus Christ(18). The portion of the unrepentant and unbelieving is existence forever in conscious torment(19); and that of the believer, in everlasting joy and bliss(20).
Salvation
Salvation has been provided through Jesus Christ for all men; and those who repent and believe in Him are born again of the Holy Spirit, receive the gift of eternal life, and become the children of God(21).
Sanctification
It is the will of God that each believer should be filled with the Holy Spirit and be sanctified wholly(22), being separated from sin and the world and fully dedicated to the will of God, thereby receiving power for holy living and effective service(23). This is both a crisis and a progressive experience wrought in the life of the believer subsequent to conversion(24).
Healing
Provision is made in the redemptive work of the Lord Jesus Christ for the healing of the mortal body(25). Prayer for the sick and anointing with oil are taught in the Scriptures and are privileges for the Church in this present age(26).
The Church
The Church consists of all those who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, are redeemed through His blood, and are born again of the Holy Spirit. Christ is the Head of the Body, the Church(27), which has been commissioned by Him to go into all the world as a witness, preaching the gospel to all nations(28). The local church is a body of believers in Christ who are joined together for the worship of God, for edification through the Word of God, for prayer, fellowship, the proclamation of the gospel, and observance of the ordinances of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper(29).
Resurrection
There shall be a bodily resurrection of the just and of the unjust; for the former, a resurrection unto life(30); for the latter, a resurrection unto judgment(31).
The Second Coming of Jesus
The second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ is imminent(32) and will be personal, visible, and premillennial(33). This is the believer’s blessed hope and is a vital truth which is an incentive to holy living and faithful service(34).
[1] Deuteronomy 6:4, [2] Matthew 5:48, [3] Matthew 28:19, [4] Philippians 2:6–11, [5] Luke 1:34–38, [6] 1 Peter 3:18, [7] Hebrews 2:9, [8] Romans 5:9, [9] Acts 2:23–24, [10] Hebrews 8:1, [11] Matthew 26:64, [12] John 14:15–18, [13] John 16:13; Acts 1:8, [14] John 16:7–11, [15] 2 Peter 1:20–21; 2 Timothy 3:15–16, [16] Genesis 1:27, [17] Romans 3:23, [18] 1 Corinthians15:20–23, [19] Revelation 21:8, [20] Revelation 21:1–4, [21] Titus 3:4–7, [22] 1 Thessalonians 5:23, [23] Acts 1:8, [24] Romans 6:1–14, [25] Matthew 8:16–17, [26] James 5:13–16, [27] Ephesians 1:22–23, [28] Matthew 28:19–20, [29] Acts 2:41–47, [30] 1 Corinthians 15:20–23, [31] John 5:28–29, [32] Hebrews 10:37, [33] Luke 21:27, [34] Titus 2:11–14
Alliance founder Dr. A. B. Simpson defined the C&MA’s spiritual DNA more than 100 years ago, referring to it as the Fourfold Gospel; it’s the heart of what Alliance people believe about Jesus and forms the foundation of all that defines The Alliance movement.
The CROSS: Christ Our Savior
Acts 4:12
12 And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”
The LAVER: Christ Our Sanctifier
1 Corinthians 1:30
30 But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption,
The PITCHER: Christ Our Healer
James 5:15
15 and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him.
The CROWN: Christ Our Coming King
Acts 1:11
11 They also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.”
The Fourfold Gospel is the Christological summary on which the core values of The Christian and Missionary Alliance is based. Through dramatic spiritual encounters that changed the course of his life, Simpson came to firmly believe that Christ was not only his Savior, but also his Sanctifier and Healer.
Alliance people share this rich legacy, as well as our founder’s passion to complete the Great Commission—to take the light of Christ to places where there is little access to the truth—and bring back our Coming King.
Jesus Christ is our Savior
The Name of Jesus has impacted lives around the world for more than 2,000 years. He is a universal Savior, promising that: “whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
Jesus is an exclusive Savior. “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name in heaven given to men by which we must be saved” Acts 4:12. Contrary to what contemporary culture tells us, there are not multiple paths to God. There is only one—Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ is our Sanctifier
Many Christians understand God’s promise of salvation but do not experience the ongoing sanctifying work of Jesus Christ in their lives. For those who neither understand nor allow the Holy Spirit’s control in their lives, the results have a profound effect.
Unsuccessful struggle against sin and a lack of power in life and ministry frustrate those who have asked Jesus to be their Savior but not their Sanctifier, resulting in a lack of joy in their walk with Christ. At the point when we are born again, we become members of God’s family. We believe He paid the price for our sin and that his followers are—set apart from those are not born again—and are seen as holy because of what Christ has done.
Jesus Christ is our Healer
A great portion of Christ’s time was dedicated to healing the sick. He healed all kinds of people: the blind, the paralyzed, the lame, the deaf, lepers, those who had fevers, and many with chronic illnesses.
We find no record in the gospels of Jesus turning away anyone who came to him for healing, nor do we find that any disease was too difficult for him to heal. He even raised the dead. Miraculous healings still occur today—evidence that Christ is still our Healer.
Jesus Christ is our Coming King
The physical return of Jesus has been the subject of speculation and controversy since His ascension into the clouds, which is recorded in the New Testament Book of Acts. Knowing that countless millions still have not heard the gospel, The Alliance is committed to doing its part to complete Christ’s Great Commission before His imminent return.