Today we conclude a brief look at the Apostle’s Creed by looking at what Martin Luther wrote in his Small Catechism about the Third Article.  The Holy Spirit is the person of the Triune God who makes us holy by leading us to faith and works to keep us holy, leading us to do good works that show our gratitude to God while showing our faith to the world.

 Sanctification

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

What does this mean?

I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith. In the same way He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith. In this Christian church He daily and richly forgives all my sins and the sins of all believers. On the Last Day He will raise me and all the dead, and give eternal life to me and all believers in Christ. This is most certainly true.

 This explanation has always been one of my favorite parts of the Catechism. It starts by saying, “I believe that I cannot believe in Jesus by my own power.” It is not my decision, but the power of the Holy Spirit working in me that leads me to faith. Even faith itself is a gift of God, affirming that if we are saved, it is all God’s doing and not our own. Our salvation doesn’t depend on us and what we do, but on Jesus and what He did for us all.

I rest in that knowledge.

1 Corinthians 12:3b …no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.