AOG vs COG Question

[CC1]

Can somebody tell me what the theological differences are between the Assembly of God denomination and the Church of God of Cleveland, Tennessee?

[Michael The Disciple]

I think the Cleveland Church believes in 3 works of grace. Saved, sanctified, filled with the Holy Ghost. The AOG believes saved then filled then sanctified.

Unless Cleveland has changed. I heard they relaxed their dress code a while back.

[bkstokes]

I think the COG believe in the third work of grace santification doctrine and the AGs don't it express it that way. I also know the the COG let go of their women's standards around 88 and the AG started to do so in the 50s and 60s. So I guess the COG would be classified as more conservative and also quite a bit smaller.

[CC1]

Originally Posted by Michael The Disciple

I think the Cleveland Church believes in 3 works of grace. Saved, sanctified, filled with the Holy Ghost. The AOG believes saved then filled then sanctified.

Unless Cleveland has changed. I heard they relaxed their dress code a while back.

Judging from the girls in the Lee University Choir and Acapella group their dress code is the same as the AOG and CC. Modest but with makeup, pants on women, cut hair, etc. 100%

I didn't realize that the COG had held on to standards so much longer than the AOG but then I have not been around any COG churches and don't know any COG people.

[chosenbyone]

I went to each churches official website and copied their Declaration of Faith (COG) and their Statement of Fundamental Truths (AOG) to post here. What stood out for me and what I knew growing up was that the COG promoted holiness living as God's standard not merely an individuals choice. I'll go into farther detail tomorrow, it's getting late and I need to hit the hay.

AOG -Statement of Fundamental Truths

WE BELIEVE...The Scriptures are Inspired by God and declare His design and plan for mankind.

WE BELIEVE...There is only One True God–revealed in three persons...Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (commonly known as the Trinity).

WE BELIEVE...In the Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ. As God's son Jesus was both human and divine.

WE BELIEVE...though originally good, Man Willingly Fell to Sin–ushering evil and death, both physical and spiritual, into the world.

WE BELIEVE...Every Person Can Have Restored Fellowship with God Through 'Salvation' (accepting Christ's offer of forgiveness for sin). [1 of 4 cardinal doctrines of the A/G]

WE BELIEVE...and practice two ordinances—(1) Water Baptism by Immersion after repenting of one's sins and receiving Christ's gift of salvation, and (2) Holy Communion (the Lord's Supper) as a symbolic remembrance of Christ's suffering and death for our salvation.

WE BELIEVE...the Baptism in the Holy Spirit is a Special Experience Following Salvation that empowers believers for witnessing and effective service, just as it did in New Testament times. [1 of 4 cardinal doctrines of the A/G]

WE BELIEVE... The Initial Physical Evidence of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit is ‘Speaking in Tongues,’ as experienced on the Day of Pentecost and referenced throughout Acts and the Epistles.

WE BELIEVE...Sanctification Initially Occurs at Salvation and is not only a declaration that a believer is holy, but also a progressive lifelong process of separating from evil as believers continually draw closer to God and become more Christlike.

WE BELIEVE...The Church has a Mission to seek and save all who are lost in sin. We believe 'the Church' is the Body of Christ and consists of the people who, throughout time, have accepted God's offer of redemption (regardless of religious denomination) through the sacrificial death of His son Jesus Christ.

WE BELIEVE...A Divinely Called and Scripturally Ordained Leadership Ministry Serves the Church. The Bible teaches that each of us under leadership must commit ourselves to reach others for Christ, to worship Him with other believers, and to build up or edify the body of believers–the Church.

WE BELIEVE...Divine Healing of the Sick is a Privilege for Christians Today and is provided for in Christ's atonement (His sacrificial death on the cross for our sins). [1 of 4 cardinal doctrines of the A/G]

WE BELIEVE...in The Blessed Hope—When Jesus Raptures His Church Prior to His Return to Earth (the second coming). At this future moment in time all believers who have died will rise from their graves and will meet the Lord in the air, and Christians who are alive will be caught up with them, to be with the Lord forever. [1 of 4 cardinal doctrines of the A/G]

WE BELIEVE...in The Millennial Reign of Christ when Jesus returns with His saints at His second coming and begins His benevolent rule over earth for 1,000 years. This millennial reign will bring the salvation of national Israel and the establishment of universal peace.

WE BELIEVE...A Final Judgment Will Take Place for those who have rejected Christ. They will be judged for their sin and consigned to eternal punishment in a punishing lake of fire.

WE BELIEVE...and look forward to the perfect New Heavens and a New Earth that Christ is preparing for all people, of all time, who have accepted Him. We will live and dwell with Him there forever following His millennial reign on Earth. 'And so shall we forever be with the Lord!'

[chosenbyone]

COG - Declaration of Faith

We Believe:

In the verbal inspiration of the Bible.
In one God eternally existing in three persons; namely, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
That Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of the Father, conceived of the Holy Ghost, and born of the Virgin Mary. That Jesus was crucified, buried, and raised from the dead. That He ascended to heaven and is today at the right hand of the Father as the Intercessor.
That all have sinned and come short of the glory of God and that repentance is commanded of God for all and necessary for forgiveness of sins.
That justification, regeneration, and the new birth are wrought by faith in the blood of Jesus Christ.
In sanctification subsequent to the new birth, through faith in the blood of Christ; through the Word, and by the Holy Ghost.
Holiness to be God's standard of living for His people.
In the baptism with the Holy Ghost subsequent to a clean heart.
In speaking with other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance and that it is the initial evidence of the baptism of the Holy Ghost.
In water baptism by immersion, and all who repent should be baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
Divine healing is provided for all in the atonement.
In the Lord's Supper and washing of the saints' feet.
In the premillennial second coming of Jesus. First, to resurrect the righteous dead and to catch away the living saints to Him in the air. Second, to reign on the earth a thousand years.
In the bodily resurrection; eternal life for the righteous, and eternal punishment for the wicked.

[CC1]

Thanks for the info!

[U376977]

This is a really good question, but it has not be completly answered. There is a doctrine called "santification." As it was preached by Church of God, Pentecostal Church of God and Pentecostal Holiness, a sinner:
1. receives salvation thru confession and believing "in your heart."
2. then is sanctified.
3. and finally is a candidate to receive the baptism of the Holy Ghost.
(water baptism into the the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, could be done at any time after number 1).
The AG did not accept that number 2 was an "experience" but a gradual process. That was the only doctrinal difference. It is called the "second definate work of grace." COG and the others believed in the "second definate" part but the AG thought it was a process.
Quite a silly thing to argue about in my opinion, but then so are some of the things that oneness people disagree about.

[PMBrown]

I have been working with both AG and CoG congregations, and to the tell the truth, theologically speaking, there isn't much of a real difference anymore. The impact of the theological position of the prior generation is mostly seen now in a practical sense, not in a clear doctrinal one. It's expressed through more conservative dress ethic ("dress code" really isn't the term for this one, since its never so clearly set as in many Oneness groups), greater conservativism in worship (slightly more old-fashioned), and more sectarian - they just don't mix with other groups outside of their denomination as much. We may not see much of a difference between the AG and the CoG when it comes to holiness since many of us come from a conservative background, but, believe me, the CoG isn't quite as 'out there' as the AG often is. As to the actual doctrine of sanctification, this is hardly ever preached much anymore -certainly not in the clear formulaic way, anyway. The last vistiges entire sanctification will probably be gone in the CoG with the coming generation.

[HolyFire]

If I am not mistaken, CoG follow the three works of grace model (saved, then sanctified, then filled), AoG follow the finished work model, in regards to sanctification (sanctified at salvation, then filled).