Holy Spirit

We believe that the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity. He proceeds from the Father and the Son (John 15:26Open Link in New Window). His principle ministries since his advent at Pentecost are: to reveal Christ to all in the regeneration and sanctification of souls (John 16:12-16Open Link in New Window); to reprove or convict the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment (John 16:8-11Open Link in New Window); to restrain the progress of evil until God’s purposes are accomplished (II Thess. 2:7Open Link in New Window); to bear witness to the truth preached (Acts 5:30-32Open Link in New Window); to regenerate those who repent of their sins and exercise faith in Christ (John 3:3-8Open Link in New Window; Tit. 3:5Open Link in New Window); to instruct, comfort, and guide God’s children (John 14:16-18, 14Open Link in New Window:26, 16:13); to sanctify them (II Thess. 2:13Open Link in New Window; I Pet. 1:1-2Open Link in New Window); to empower them for life and service (Rom. 8:2Open Link in New Window; Acts 1:8Open Link in New Window; Eph. 3:16Open Link in New Window; I Cor. 2:1-4Open Link in New Window; I Thess. 1:5Open Link in New Window); to give life to their mortal bodies that he seals (Rom. 8:11Open Link in New Window; Eph. 1:13Open Link in New Window); to indwell the believer (Rom. 8:11Open Link in New Window); to intercede for the believer in his prayer life (Rom. 8:26-27Open Link in New Window); and, to bestow gifts sovereignly upon each believer (I Cor. 12:7-11Open Link in New Window). While certainly not a part of the modern-day charismatic movement, we do believe that the power of the Holy Spirit is available in our day and is absolutely necessary for the believer to live a holy life.