It continues as a process in which we mature in grace, truth, love, understanding, and power

Salvation is found in his name alone, for there is no one else who has the power to save us; there is no other name by which people can be eternally saved from sin and death and restored to relationship with God

Humankind: We believe that God created humans, male and female, in his own image and likeness, creating them as free and responsible moral agents with the choice to faithfully serve, follow, and obey the Creator God. However, everyone has sinned against God and has fallen short of God’s glory and intended purpose. All people are dead in their sins and offenses. (Gen. 1–3; Rom. 3:23; Rom. 5:12–14, 17–21; Rom. 6:23; Ps. 51:3–6; Ps. –16)

Through personal repentance and faith, we can enter into a living, vibrant relationship with Christ by the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit

Salvation: We believe the Son of God, Jesus Christ, willingly offered once and for all the one supreme sacrifice for the sins of the world-a perfect sacrifice through which he has made us perfectly holy and complete in justification, sanctification, and glorification. We believe that personal repentance, faith in Jesus Christ, and the regenerative work of the Holy Spirit are absolutely essential for the eternal salvation of sinful and lost humans. (Jn. 1:12; Jn. 3:16; Acts ; 2 Pet. 3:9; Eph. 1:7–8; Eph. 2:8–9; 1 Cor. –22; 2 Cor. 5:17–21; Rom. 6:23; Heb. 10:1–18; 1 Jn. 5:11–13)

Baptism of the Holy Spirit: Given at Pentecost, we believe the baptism of the Holy Spirit is the promise of the Father, sent by Jesus after his ascension, to empower the church to preach the gospel throughout the whole earth and to live holy lives through the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit. (2 Cor. 5:17; Eph. 4:22–24; Rom. 12:1–2; 1 Pet. 1:13–2:3; Rom. 8:5–17; Gal. 5:13–25; Phil. 3:7–14)

Sanctification: We believe that God in his great love has called us through his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to be saved from the power of sin and to live lives for him in holiness and effective service for Christ. We believe that through the cross of Christ, we can be freed from sin’s control and from selfish desires. The Spirit is given to fill us, is effective in working Christ’s character within us, and is revealed through us. This experience, which we call sanctification, is initiated by an act of faith and full surrender to God. Sanctification is not the result of human effort, self-initiated works, acts of willpower, or modified behavior. (2 Cor. 5:17; Eph. 4:22–24; Rom. 12:1–2; 1 Pet. 1:13–2:3; Rom. 8:5–17; Gal. 5:13–25; Phil. 3:7–14)

Gifts of the Holy Spirit: We believe the Holy Spirit is manifested in the lives of all believers through the continuation of a variety of spiritual grace-gifts, graciously given by God to build up, sanctify, and edify the church and to advance the gospel-mission of the kingdom of God. All believers are commanded to earnestly desire and seek the manifestation of these grace-gifts in their lives. It is the Holy Spirit who determines their distribution, activation, and operation in the body of Christ as he chooses for each believer. These grace-gifts always operate in harmony with Scripture and should never be used in violation of the biblical parameters outlined in the New Testament. (Acts 1:8, 2:1–4; 1 Cor. 12:1–6; 1 Cor. 14:1–25)

Continuation of Spiritual Grace-Gifts: Since there is no scriptural reason to believe otherwise, we believe the spiritual grace-gifts outlined in the New Testament and portrayed during the life of Jesus and the apostles continue to be operative today, just as http://hookupdate.net/romancetale-review they were in operation during the earliest days of the church from the day of Pentecost. The Holy Spirit has graciously filled every believer with these supernatural gifts for the purpose of serving God in power and ability, building up and strengthening the entire church, and bearing witness to the gospel of Christ and kingdom of God. These continued grace-gifts include such abilities as revelation-knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discernment, leadership, and the speaking in and interpretation of tongues. (Rom. 12:3–8; 1 Cor 12:4–11, 27–30; 1 Cor –39; 1 Pet. 4:11)