This is part of an ongoing series on the Cornerstone Confirmation Curriculum we are developing at First Trinity Lutheran Church. (Main Confirmation Page)
The third article of the Apostle’s Creed focuses on the Holy Spirit, who works faith in our hearts and keeps us in the faith each day.
The Holy Spirit is God
Read Acts 5:34
- Underline: Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit … You have not lied to man but to God
- Write: Circle Holy Spirit and God, then connect them with a line.
Read Matthew 28:19-20
The Holy Spirit is the third “person” of the Trinity. He is referred to as God by Peter in the story of Ananias and Sapphira. He is also connected with the Father and Son in the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20.
The Role of the Holy Spirit
Read 1 Corinthians 12:3
- Underline: no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit.
- Margin: Holy Spirit Converts
Read John 3:5-6
- Underline: that which is born of the Spirit is spirit
- Margin: Holy Spirit Converts
Read 1 Peter 5:7
- Underline: since you have been born again, … through the living and abiding word of God;
- Margin: Holy Spirit uses God’s Word
The Holy Spirit is responsible for bringing people to faith. While we have a “decision” to make regarding whether we believe in Jesus or not, we are only able to say “I believe in Jesus” because the Spirit has already worked faith in our hearts. Imagine you are falling off a cliff with nothing to grab onto. God reaches down through the Spirit and grabs your arm as you fall. You now have a choice: Grab on to God, or don’t. But you can only grab onto God because He first grabbed you. The Holy Spirit works through the Word of God. He uses the Bible to work faith in our hearts.
Read 2 Corinthians 5:17
- Underline: Entire verse
- Margin: I am a new creation!
In addition to working faith in our hearts, the Spirit renews us daily. Each day, we are being made new through the power of the Spirit. He makes us new not because we deserve it, but because we belong to Jesus.
Read Philippians 1:3-6
- Underline: he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
- Margin: Holy Spirit is still working
When you struggle with doubts about who Jesus is and whether you actually believe in Him or not, it is the Spirit that works through those doubts and fears to increase our faith. Paul promises in this passage that God, who started this “good work” or building faith in us, will not let it go unfinished. While we struggle with doubt, we are confident that God is still working to perfect our faith, making us believe in Him more and more each day.