Pentecostals and Penal Substitution
You see, more and more, I'm encountering claims either that Pentecostals don't really believe in penal substitution or that, even though most Pentecostals do believe it, it's only by accident that they do. But is that what we find in official Pentecostal statements of their beliefs on the atonement? Not at all! So I thought it might be useful to collect a number of official Pentecostal statements here for reference. Some are very explicitly statements of penal substitution, others are only explicit about the substitutionary aspect, but the wider context and their customary interpretation in denominational writings imply this substitution is a penal substitution. All of the following are excerpts from official statements of doctrine. And this isn't an exhaustive list, just a variety of examples from all over the world.
The Apostolic Church
The Father, in His infinite mercy and love, has sent His Only-Begotten Son into the world to be the Propitiation ... and sin-offering for us on the Cross of Calvary ... by bearing our sins in His body on the tree.
(Athrawiaethau Sylfeinol yr Eglwys Apostolaidd, iii)
Christ in His death took our place in the bearing of the punishment for sin.
(Introducing the Apostolic Church: A Manual of Belief, Practice and History, p.129)
It was a sacrificial death in that He died for the sins of the whole world. It was according to the will of the Father who laid on Him the iniquity of us all ... The Blood of Christ is ... the Propitiation for sin.
(Fundamentals of the Apostolic Church, On Tenet 3)
How did Christ atone for our sins? By offering Himself as the sinless Lamb of God, a vicarious sacrifice to God, thus shedding His blood and giving up His life for us once and for all ... and bore in His own body the penalty [of the transgressed law].
(Asked and Answered: A Catechism of Apostolic Principles, On Tenet 3)
His Atoning and Substitutionary Death.
(Belgian Apostolic Church Confession of Faith)
The Azusa Street Apostolic Faith Mission
The offering of Christ, once made, is that perfect redemption, propitiation, and satisfaction for all the sins of the whole world, both original and actual.
(Articles of Religion XX, in Doctrines and Discipline)
A sure trust that Christ died for my sins, that he loved me and gave Himself for me.
(Catechism on Faith, 4, in Doctrines and Discipline)
The Elim Pentecostal Church
Through the death and risen power of Christ, all who believe can be saved from the penalty and power of sin.
(1928 Statement of Fundamental Truths)
All who receive salvation through Jesus Christ have deliverance from the penalty and power of sin through His precious blood.
(1916 Elim Christ Church, What We Believe)
The Foursquare Church
We believe that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us, the Just for the unjust; freely, and
by divine appointment of the Father, taking the sinner’s place, bearing his sins, receiving his
condemnation, dying his death, fully paying his penalty.
The World Assemblies of God Fellowship
We believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, the second person of the triune Godhead, who was and is the eternal
Son of God; that He became incarnate by the Holy Spirit and was born of the virgin Mary.
We believe in His sinless life, miraculous ministry, substitutionary atoning death, bodily resurrection,
triumphant ascension, and abiding intercession
We believe in salvation through faith in Christ, who died for our sins, was buried, and was raised from the dead on
the third day. By His atoning blood, salvation has been provided for all humanity through the sacrifice of Christ
upon the cross.
The Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada
He died upon the cross, the Just for the unjust, as a substitution sacrifice.
Salvation has been provided for all people through the sacrifice of Christ upon the cross. It is the
only perfect redemption and substitution atonement for all the sins of the world, both original and
actual.
The Church of Pentecost
The Church of God of Prophecy
The Church of God in Christ
The death of Christ is a
sacrificial one for the benefit and even in the place of His
people.
(Articles of Religion, Official Manual, p.76)
Assembleias de Deus, Brazil
Vicarious death means substitutionary death ... transfer of guilt from the sinner to the victim ... The iniquities of all sinners were transferred to the Suffering Servant mentioned in that oracle of Isaiah. His death was in our place ... The Lord Jesus offered himself as a voluntary sacrifice, and this pleased the Father.
NB With 22.5 million members, the Brazilian Assembleias de Deus is the largest Pentecostal denomination in the world.
Hillsong
The Pentecostal Church in Indonesia
(Statement of Faith, 4)
Pentecostal/Charismatic Churches of North America
Pentecostal European Fellowship
His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood.