Luther’s Small Catechism with explanatory notes, by Joseph Stump, DD, LLD, LHD 1935. pp 100-111
The 3rd Article of God, the Holy Ghost or Sanctification , Chapter 20.
Article 3 and its explanation may be analyzed as follows. The Holy Ghost, number one, his person and nature. He is true God. Secondly, his work. He calls, enlightens, sanctifies, and preserves me in the true faith. Third, his work workmanship, the Holy Christian Church, and fourth, the fruits of his work, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.
The Holy Ghost
1, 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. He proceedeth from the Father and the Son, and with the Father and the Son Son together is worshiped and glorified. The Scriptures ascribed to him divine natures, 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. The Holy Spirit instructed the prophets and teachers of the Old Testament times, and was poured out upon the apostles on the day of Pentecost. He inspired the Holy Scriptures. He comes into our hearts. through the word of God and the sacraments.
The work of the Holy Ghost is sanctification. This word is used here at the head of the third article, in the wide sense that includes the Holy Spirit’s entire work upon our souls, namely, calling, enlightening, sanctification in the narrower sense, and preservation in the faith one, its necessity. If the Holy Spirit does not work in us, we cannot be saved. Hence we say into catechism, I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to him. for as I am by nature, my reason is so darkened by sin that I do not see my need of the Savior., and I am so lacking in spiritual strength, being dead and trespasses and sins that I am unable to believe in Christ. Consequently, it is necessary that the Holy Spirit should teach me to see in Christ my only Savior and give me strength to believe in Him.
2 its nature.
But the Holy Ghost has called me through the gospel. He has caused His word to be written and caused it to be proclaimed continually for the purpose of making God’s grace known to me and inviting me to share in it. He calls all men and means his call earnestly. He does not merely seem to call some, but actually calls all who hear or read his word. And along with the call, he gives us the strength, which we need in order to believe. Those who obey the call are the elect, or chosen ones, and obtain salvation, those who refuse to obey the call are lost., enlightening me by his gifts.
The Holy Ghost shows me my lost condition, and God saving mercy, and thus leads me to repentance through the law, and to faith through the gospel. Repentance includes
1, an acknowledgment and confession of sin,
2, Sincere sorrow for sin. It must be sorrow for the sin itself, and not merely for the consequences of sin.
3, the hating and forsaking of sin.
4. An earnest desire for forgiveness. True repentance always leads to faith, sorrow for sins which does not lead to faith is not repentance, but remorse, and often drives men to despair.
Faith includes
1, a knowledge of the facts of the gospel,
2, a belief of those facts,
3, trust or confidence in Christ, our Savior. This trust is is the chief part of the faith. True faith is not a mere matter of the head, but of the heart. It’s not a mere intellectual belief that God exists or that Christ lived and died, but it’s a firm confidence that Christ is actually our Savior, and that all our sins are washed away by His precious blood.
Faith says, “The Son of God loved me and gave himself for me.” True faith is always preceded by repentance. The impenitent have no promise of forgiveness, and therefore cannot have faith. They cannot believe a promise which has not been given to them.
Regeneration and conversion.
Those whom the Holy Spirit has brought to repentance and faith are in a state of regeneration and conversion. The change which has taken place in them is called the new birth, or regeneration, because a new life has been been planted in them. It is called conversion, because they have been converted or turned from sin to righteousness, from self to God.
It is not necessary that a Christian should be able to point to the exact time of his conversion. The important question is not, when were we connected converted, but are we now in a converted state? That is, are we now penitent and believing?
Justification.
All those who have true faith are justified, their sins are forgiven, and the righteousness of Christ is imputed, counted as belonging to them. When we believe in Christ, all that he has done and suffered for us is regarded by God, as if we had done and suffered it ourselves, for Christ was our substitute. Consequently, those who believe in Christ are justified for his sake. That is, they are pronounced by God to be righteous and fit to enter into heaven. by faith alone. We are justified and saved by faith alone without works. We shall enter heaven, not because we deserve to enter, but only because we believe in Christ.
Salvation is a gift, acquired for us by Christ’s holy life and innocent death, bestowed upon us freely by God God’s grace and acceptance by faith. Our faith is not a merit or account of which we are forgiven, but it is the hand with which we reach out and accept the free gift of forgiveness which God offers for Christ’s sake.
Our own works have nothing to do with our justification. If God took them into consideration at all, he would condemn us, for at best, we are imperfect and sinful creatures. In order to be said, we need a perfect righteousness. Christ’s righteousness alone is perfect. It becomes ours by faith. and sanctified. Those who have true faith or sanctified by the Holy Holy Spirit, that is, they are made holy in heart and life.
While good works do not save us, they do and must follow faith as its fruit. Believers do good works out of love to God and gratitude for his mercy faith that does not result in a holy life. is a dead faith and cannot save.
The Christian dare not live in sin. He has become a new creature, for he is born again, and consequently he leads a new life. We shall, indeed, never become sinless in this world, but we must honestly and earnestly try to do God’s will in all things. We should grow more and more holy every day. We cannot do this by our own power, but we can by the help of God. We should, therefore, be diligent and faithful in the use of the word of God and the sacraments, for these are the means which the Holy Ghost uses for our sanctification, and preserve me in the true faith, as it is the Holy Ghost who brings us to faith, so it is He who preserves us in it.
The world, the flesh and the devil are enemies, who seek to destroy our faith and to rob us of our salvation. We should constantly pray for strength to resist these enemies, and should obey the promptings of the Holy Spirit. We must avoid willful, intentional sin, and live a life of daily repentance. If we sin willfully, we will fall from grace and are lost unless we come to true and lasting repentance. If we faithfully use the means of grace and earnestly strive to lead a Christian life, the Holy Spirit will preserve us in the faith to the end. Faith in Christ does not at once make us perfectly holy and send sinless as some persons maintain, but it takes away the guilt of our sin. We are completely justified and forgiven as soon as we believe, but we are not completely sanctified. Sanctification is a gradual process which will be completed only when we are transformed and glorified in heaven.
Questions
Of what does the Third Article treat
What is to be said about the importance of the Holy Spirit’s work? Analyze the third article and its explanation.
What is to be said about the person and nature of the Holy Ghost?
How does the Holy Ghost come into our hearts?
Describe the work of the Holy Ghost.
Why can we not be saved if the Holy Spirit does not work in us?
How has the Holy Spirit called me?
How has he enlightened me?
How does the Holy Ghost bring me to repentance?
What does repentance include?
How does the Holy Ghost bring me to faith?
What does faith include?
What is true faith?
What is meant by regeneration?
What is meant by conversion?
Must a Christian know the exact time of his conversion?
What is meant by justification?
What is a relation of faith and works in salvation?
What is meant by sanctification?
What is a relation between faith and good works?
How are we preserved in the faith?
Scripture verses 1 2:14But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him, neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
John But these are written that ye may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing ye might have life through his name. Tim Who will have all men to be saved and and to come unto the knowledge of the truth?
Matthew 206. So the last shall be first and the first last, for many be called, but few chosen.
For I know whom I have believed, and I am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I I have committed unto him against that day.
Therefore , if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature. old things are passed away. behold, all things are become new.
Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
There is therefore now no condemnation to those which are in Christ Jesus., for the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set me free from the law of sin and death.
Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law, knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith of Jesus Christ.
“For by grace are ye saved through faith in that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest in any man should boast.. Therefore, by the deeds of the law, there shall no flesh be justified in his sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
For as many as are of the works of the law, are under the curse. for it is written, curse it is every one that continueth not in all things, which are written in the book of the law to do them. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh, but they that are after the spirit, the things of the spirit.
For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also
God forbid, how shall we that are dead to sin live any longer therein?
Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father, which is in heaven.
Being confident of this very thing that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.,
And pray that ye enter not into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God, which worketh in you both to will and to do His goodness pleasure.
Chapter 21 is on the Holy Ghost, and his workmanshipship. The Holy Christian Church, the communion of saints. What the church is.
The church is the communion of saints, the fellowship of believers. It consists of all all those persons who truly believe in Christ. We call it the workmanship of the Holy Ghost, because he brings men to faith and thus produces the church. He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian church on earth and preserves it in union with Jesus Christ in the true fa faith.
The church may also be called the Holy Spirit’s workshop, because he abides and works in it through the means of grace, the word of God, and the sacraments. When founded, the holy Christian church was founded on the day of Pentecost, when the Holy Ghost was poured out upon the disciples. On that day, the gospel of the crucified and risen Savior was first preached by the apostles. The first converts were made, and the first Christian baptisms were administered, visible or invisible. The church is invisible because we cannot read men’s hearts nor tell who are real believers.
But if we regard the Church as an external organization, which includes all who profess to believe, it is visible. In this outward visible church, there are many persons who are not real believers, but Christ knows his own, the angels on the day of judgment will separate the hypocrites from the true Christians, the marks of the church.
The church is found wherever the gospel is right rightly taught, and the sacraments are rightly administered, for wherever God’s word is preached, some persons believe it, and where believers are, there is the church. The church is one. It consists of the true believers out of all the different churchesches, denominations, and sects.
There is one flock with one shepherd. The church is the body of which Christ is the head. its names. The church is called holy because the Holy Spirit works in it and through it, and because its members, though not perfect, lead to holy lives. It is called Christian because it consists of those who believe in Christ. It is called Catholic or universal because it is meant to include all men everywhere. Catholic does not mean Roman Catholic.
Militant and triumphant, the church consisting of true believers is one and the same church on earth and in heaven. on earth, it is the church militant, because its members are still fighting the good fight of faith. In heaven it is the church triumphant, because its members have won the victory of faith. The only way into the church triumphant is through the church militant.
The church’s work.
The church is the agency or instrument which the Holy Spirit uses for the evangelization of the world. It is the institution through which he does his work of applying redemption to the souls of men. The church, therefore, has a work to do, namely, to make disciples of all men. the means through which the church, as an ag agency of the Holy Spirit is to do its work, or the word of God, and the sacraments, they are sufficient for the purpose for which they are intended, because the Holy Spirit works through them and endows them with supernatural power.
The workmen who are to preach the Word and administer the sacraments are the ministers, they must be properly called and ordained by the church. In the New Testament, all pastors are called elders or bishops. It was only at a latter period that the office of a bishop was made superior to that of elder, pastor, or minister, the office of an apostle was a separate and higher office.
The apostles were the witnesses of Christ’s redemption, and possessed miraculous powers. They have no successors.
Ministers are the ambassadors of Christ, beseeching men to be reconciled to God. Christ speaks through them. He who hears them hears Christ. He who despises them despises Christ. If a minister should happen to be a hypocrite, his official acts, such as baptism and the like, would still be valid.
Deacons, or officers, whose duty it is to assist the pastor and to look after the temporal interests of the congregation.
Deaconesses are consecrated to the work of love and mercy, and minister to the sick, the needy, the neglected, the ignorant, the fallen, and the friendless.
Certainly. Here is a more formal summary of the document:
⸻
The document presents a sermon focused on the pivotal role of the Holy Spirit in guiding, teaching, and comforting believers, supported by various scriptural references.
Revelation of Profound Truths: The Holy Spirit reveals profound truths that transcend human understanding, as noted in 1 Corinthians 2:10.
Role as Teacher and Illuminator: The Holy Spirit is depicted as a teacher, ensuring believers remember Christ’s teachings, as seen in John 14:26.
Guidance for the Faithful: The Holy Spirit guides believers in their actions, encouraging them to follow God’s will, as referenced in Romans 8:14.
Comforter and Advocate: The Holy Spirit acts as a comforter, interceding for believers in their weaknesses, as highlighted in Romans 8:26.
Connection to the Father and the Son: The Holy Spirit fosters a deep connection with God, allowing believers to call Him ‘Abba, Father’, as stated in Romans 8:15.
Practical Steps for Spiritual Growth: The document outlines practical ways for individuals and communities to seek the Holy Spirit’s illumination and deepen their understanding of scripture.
⸻
Jan R Putnam info 