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Australian Christian Churches (ACC), formerly known as Assemblies of God in Australia (AOG), is a Pentecostal Christian denomination and the Australian branch of the World Assemblies of God Fellowship, the largest Pentecostal denomination in the world. With over 225,000 adherents,〔 it is the largest Pentecostal denomination in Australia and is the fifth most attended denomination after the Catholic, Anglican, Uniting, and Baptist churches.〔Bellamy, J & Castle, K: ("NCLS Occasional Paper 3: 2001 Church Attendance Estimates" ), pages 5-7. NCLS Research, 2004. See also ("Dramatic shifts in Australia's religious landscape" ).〕 There are over 1,100 churches in Australian Christian Churches across Australia.〔http://www.acc.org.au/AboutUs.aspx〕 The ACC was formed in 1937 when the Assemblies of God Queensland merged with the Pentecostal Church of Australia under the name Assemblies of God in Australia. In 2007, the denomination adopted ''Australian Christian Churches'' as its public name; however, it is still incorporated as the Assemblies of God in Australia. ==Beliefs== The Doctrinal Basis of Australian Christian Churches contains the central beliefs of the denomination.〔(The Doctrinal Basis of the Australian Christian Churches ). Accessed 23 November 2010.〕 Its 20 articles are summarized below: #There is only one true God who exists as a Trinity. #Jesus Christ is the Son of God and, as the second person of the Trinity, is God. #The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity. He convicts and regenerates the sinner and guides the believer into all truth. #The Bible is inspired by God and is "the supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct". #The devil is a real being who "seeks to destroy the faith of every believer in the Lord Jesus Christ". #Man was created good by God but, because of voluntary transgression, fell. As a result, men are "separated from original righteousness" (see original sin). #Christ's death on the cross has made full atonement for the world's sins. #Salvation "is received through repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ". In this "new birth", the believer is regenerated, justified, and adopted into the family of God. #The Church is the Body of Christ and consists of all people who accept Christ, regardless of Christian denomination. It is to work to fulfill the Great Commission. #Believer's baptism by single immersion as a declaration to the world of the believer's identification with Christ in his death, burial and resurrection. #Observance of the Lord's Supper as a symbolic remembrance of Christ's suffering and death. #Sanctification, "an act of separation from that which is evil, and of dedication unto God". #Baptism in the Holy Spirit is a separate and subsequent experience following conversion which brings empowerment to be an effective witness for Christ. Speaking in tongues is the initial evidence of this experience. #The nine supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit, as recorded in 1 Corinthians 12:8-10, continue to operate in the present day. The Assemblies of God also believes in the ministry gifts (apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers), as recorded in Epistle to the Ephesians 4:11-13. #Divine healing of the sick is provided for in the atonement. #The Second Coming of Christ will be a premillennial, imminent and personal return. #Christ will return to establish his millennial reign on the earth. #The wicked "who wilfully reject and despise the love of God" will face "everlasting punishment". #There will be new heavens and a new earth "in which righteousness dwells". #The heavens and earth and all original life forms "were made by the specific immediate creative acts of God as described in the account of origins presented in Genesis". In recent decades, there has been a noticeable decrease in emphasis on speaking in tongues as the initial evidence as well as the Second Coming of Christ as traditionally understood by Pentecostals.〔Clifton 2005, p. 227-228.〕 At the same time, the prosperity gospel has been embraced by influential ACC churches, such as Hillsong Church.〔Clifton 2005, p. 224-227.〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Australian Christian Churches」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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