Primary Elements of Renewal

Substitutionary atonement is the heart of the gospel. The father of American liberalism, Horace Bushnell, commented late in his life that there is something in the sacrificial view of Christ's death which speaks to needs deep in the human heart as nothing else can. It is certainly empirically true in history that a failure to assert the Trinity and the sacrifical death of Christ has invoolved a waning of spiritual life in the church. Lets review some of the characteristics of renewal.

1) Justification. Substitutionary atonement is the heart of the gospel.
2) Sanctification. Salvation is repentant faith, this faith starts the process that transforms the believer.
3) The Indwelling Holy Spirit. During this century it is mainly among Pentecostal and Charismatic Christians that there has been a full recognition of the Holy Spirit's place in the church. There is a dimension of corporate waiting upon the Spirit for missionary outreach which is necessary to transcend a self-oriented individualistic piety and begin to carry out the acts of Jesus in the earth today.
4) Authority in Spiritual Conflict. Christ's death and resurrection resulted in the defeat and destrctuion of hte powers of darkness (1 Jn 3:8)