IV. THE HOLY SPIRIT

We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine person; equal with God the Father and God the Son and of the same nature; that He was active in the creation; that in His relation to the unbelieving world, He restrains the Evil One until God’s purpose is fulfilled; that He convicts of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment; that He bears witness to the Truth of the Gospel in preaching and testimony; that He is the agent in the New Birth; that He seals, baptizes, endues, guides, teaches, witnesses, sanctifies, and helps the believer. (Genesis 1:1-3; Matthew 3:11; Matthew 28:19; Mark 1:8; Luke 1:35; Luke 3:16; Luke 24:49; John 1:33; John 3:5-6; John 14:16-17,26; John 15:26-27; John 16:8-11,13; Acts 5:30-32; Acts 11:16; Romans 8:14,16,26,27; Ephesians 1:13-14; II Thessalonians 2:7,13; Hebrews 9:14; I Peter 1:2)

Regarding the ministry of spiritual gifts, we believe that God is sovereign in the bestowment of all His gifts; that the gifts of evangelists, Pastors, and teachers are sufficient for the perfecting of the saints today; that speaking in tongues and the working of sign miracles gradually ceased as the New Testament Scriptures were completed and their authority became established. (I Corinthians 12:4-11; II Corinthians 12:12; Ephesians 4:7-12)

We believe that God does hear and answer the prayer of faith, in accord with His own will, for the sick and afflicted. ( John 15:7; James 5:14-15; l John 5:14-15)