An Explanation of Luther's Small CatechismLuther, Martin
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An Explanation of Luther's Small Catechism
Luther, Martin
Lutheran Church -- Catechisms -- English
I Pet. 2:9. But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy
nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him
who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.
Matt. 16:24. Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come
after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
READING.--Jesus our High Priest, Heb. 9:11-15.
CHAPTER XX.
THE THIRD ARTICLE
OF GOD THE HOLY GHOST, OR SANCTIFICATION
I believe in the Holy Ghost; the Holy Christian Church, the Communion of
Saints; the Forgiveness of sins; the Resurrection of the Body; and the
Life Everlasting. Amen.
_What is meant by this article?_
I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus
Christ my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Ghost has called me through
the Gospel, enlightened me by His gifts, and sanctified and preserved me
in the true faith; in like manner as He calls, gathers, enlightens, and
sanctifies the whole Christian Church on earth, and preserves it in
union with Jesus Christ in the true faith; in which Christian Church He
daily forgives abundantly all my sins, and the sins of all believers,
and will raise up me and all the dead at the last Day, and will grant
everlasting life to me and to all who believe in Christ. This is most
certainly true.
* * * * *
THE THIRD ARTICLE treats of GOD THE HOLY GHOST and His work of
SANCTIFICATION. It tells us how we become partakers of the Redemption
which is described in the Second Article. Christ _has accomplished_ our
redemption, and the Holy Ghost _applies_ that redemption to our souls.
The work of the Holy Ghost _in_ us is as necessary for our salvation as
the [Cor. 2:14] work of Christ _for_ us. We must believe in Christ, if
we would be saved; [Mark 16:16] and it is the Holy Ghost who causes us
to believe. [1 Cor. 12:3]
Article. III, and its Explanation may be analyzed as follows:--
THE HOLY GHOST,
I. _His Person and Nature_: He is True God.
II. _His Work_: He Calls, Enlightens, Sanctifies, and Preserves me in
the true Faith.
III. _His Workmanship_: The Holy Christian Church.
IV. _The Fruits of His Work_: 1. The Forgiveness of Sins. 2. The
Resurrection of the Body, and the Life Everlasting.
THE HOLY GHOST.
I. HIS PERSON AND NATURE.
I BELIEVE IN THE HOLY GHOST. The Holy Ghost is true God. He is not
simply a power or energy of God, but a Person. [Acts 5:3-4] "He
proceedeth from the Father and the Son, and with the Father and the Son
together is worshipped and glorified." [John 14:26, John 15:26] The
Scriptures ascribe to Him divine names, attributes, power, honor, and
works. Christ commanded His disciples to baptize men in the name of the
Father and of the Son _and of the Holy Ghost_. [Matt. 28:19]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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