What We Believe

Do we actually do what we say we do? Are we authentic in our claims of bringing all of Jesus to all the world?

In this module, you will learn more about what The Alliance believes, why we believe what we believe, and what it really means to proclaim our beliefs in word and deed, “in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (Col. 3:17).

Our Great Commission Mission


“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

– MATTHEW 28:18–20



We believe in the Great Commission; this is what Jesus calls His disciples (us) to in Matthew 28:18-20. Our call, as The Christian and Missionary Alliance, is the Great Commission. Everything we do is done in the Holy Spirit, by the Holy Spirit, and through the Holy Spirit in order to take all of Jesus to all the world. Our mission is to be Great Commission people, to make disciples of all nations. We do that through our work—both domestically in the U.S. and internationally.

Today, we continue our mission through 2,000 U.S. churches and more than 700 international workers serving in 80 countries. Over half a million Alliance believers worship in more than 38 languages and dialects. We long to see the name of Jesus proclaimed in our neighborhoods, cities, nations, and in every corner of the world.

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Identity

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Statement of Faith

What The Alliance believes about God, how He relates to us, and how we relate to Him is foundational in our teachings. The Alliance wholeheartedly serves God and the people of His world based soundly on the Bible. We live and die by these words and believe they bring the only life worth living—one wholly committed to our King Jesus.

We believe that Jesus is our Savior, Sanctifier, Healer, and Coming King—this is what we call “the Fourfold Gospel,” the C&MA’s spiritual DNA. Throughout its 100-plus year history, the C&MA has always been known for its distinctive, scripturally grounded views on a number of topics held within the Christian faith. Read more about our statements and perspectives below.

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COUNCIL 2025

Statement of Faith Recommendations

Edits to Sections 1.5, 1.7, 1.9, 1.10, and 1.11 (including a Preamble) were presented to 2023 General Council. All but one were adopted but need to be adopted verbatim at 2025 General Council in order to be final. The proposal to Section 1.7 was sent back to the Board of Directors for further refinement and will be brought back for adoption at two future General Councils.

Fourfold Gospel Book Cover

THE FOURFOLD GOSPEL

As we seek to know Jesus personally, being one with Him, He will reveal Himself as our Savior, Sanctifier, Healer, and Coming King. Simpson called this theology the Fourfold Gospel, the Christological summary, the core values, on which the spiritual DNA of The Christian and Missionary Alliance is built.

Through dramatic spiritual encounters that changed the course of his life, Simpson came to firmly believe that Christ was not only his Savior, but his Sanctifier and Healer, believing also that He was his Coming King.

The Fourfold Gospel in A. B. Simpson's words
The Cross: Christ Our Savior

Savior

The Laver: Christ Our Sanctifier

Sanctifier

The Pitcher: Christ Our Healer

Healer

The Crown: Christ Our Coming King

Coming King

our savior

The cross reminds us of His sacrificial death and Resurrection as the Atonement for the sins of humankind (Acts 4:12).

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” (John 3:16).

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.

The Cross: Christ Our Savior

Jesus’ death on the cross was the fulfillment of Old Testament law, which required blood atonement for sin. By His death and Resurrection, we are redeemed from eternal separation from God, justified, made righteous, and accepted in His name. Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to man by which we must be saved.

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OUR Sanctifier

The laver represents the daily cleansing from sin by the power of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 1:30).

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&rquo;s family. We believe He paid the price for our sin and that his followers are—set apart from those who are not born again—and are seen as holy because of what Christ has done.

The Laver: Christ Our Sanctifier

The laver symbol represents the daily cleansing from sin by the power of the Holy Spirit: “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness” (2 Pet. 1:3).

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our healer

The pitcher represents oil to anoint the sick for physical, emotional, and spiritual healing (James 5:15).

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.

The Pitcher: Christ Our Healer

This symbol represents a pitcher containing oil to anoint the sick for healing that comes through obedience to God’s Word: “And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up” (James 5:15).

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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.

The Crown: Christ Our Coming King

The crown represents Christ’s royalty as the King of Kings. His coming will be a visible, personal appearance: “You will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven” (Mark 14:62)?

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Dig Deeper

Featured resources, facts, quotes, videos, stories, and more.

Module 3: Alliance 101 Guide and Reflection Questions

This resource is designed for you—either as an individual or a group—to dig deeper, to lean into what God is saying, and to challenge you in your walk with Christ.

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Video: Rise Up and Walk (5:28)

Video: Christ Our Healer (3:35)