Lessons in the Small Catechism of Dr. Martin Luther For the Senior Department of Lutheran Sunday-Schools and for General Use · George Mezger
LESSON 32.
The Third Article. The Holy Ghost Has Called Me. Which is the Third Article? _I believe in the Holy Ghost._ 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 Ghost has called me by the Gospel._ 1. We cannot by our own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, our Lord, or come to Him. The Holy Ghost alone is able to bring us to Christ, our Savior. How does He bring us to Christ? We confess as children of God that _the Holy Ghost has called me by the Gospel._ By calling me through the Gospel, the Holy Ghost has brought me to Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior. Let us see what this means.
2. Our Lord, in a parable, once spoke of a certain rich man who made a great supper for his guests. And he sent out his servants at supper-time to say to those who were bidden: _"Come, for all things are now ready."_ Luke 14,16.17. The meal was prepared, and the rich man invited his guests to come and partake of it. At dinner-time, when your mother has prepared dinner for the family, she calls to you, "Dinner is ready. Now come and eat! It is prepared for you too." In a similar manner the _Holy Ghost calls us and invites us to come to Christ and accept His salvation._ Christ, our Savior, has prepared all things; He has prepared forgiveness of all our sins, life, and salvation. All things necessary for our salvation are ready in Christ. All is finished. And now the Holy Ghost brings us these glad tidings: All things are now ready, all things needed for your salvation. Come, whosoever you are, come to your Savior! Come and take and enjoy what He in His great love has prepared for you. _We come to Jesus only by faith._ The Holy Ghost calls us and invites us, Come, _believe_ in your Savior, and You will be saved.
3. You do not see the Holy Ghost when He calls you. _The Holy Ghost calls you by the Gospel._ The Gospel, as you have learned (Lesson 14), _is the glad tidings of the grace of God for all men,_ the tidings of what Christ has done for us to save us. As the rich man in the parable, so the Holy Ghost sends His _servants._ These servants are all those who tell you the Gospel of Christ, your minister, your teacher, your parents, etc. When you hear the Gospel or read it, the Holy Ghost comes to you and calls you. In the Gospel He says to you: All things have been prepared by Christ; they are ready for you, for your salvation. In Christ you have forgiveness of your sins and salvation. _Come now, you lost and condemned sinner, and take what your Lord freely offers you. Believe in Christ, and you will be saved._ That is the call of the Holy Ghost by the Gospel. _"He called you by our Gospel to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ."_ 2 Thess. 2,14.
4. When your mother calls you to dinner, you must come by your own will and strength, and you have the strength to do so. We sinners have neither the will nor the strength to come to Jesus. The Holy Ghost knows that we cannot by our own strength come to our Savior. _By calling us He gives us the strength to hear and to follow His call._ By His call He brings us to Christ and works in us faith in our Lord, so that we willingly come to Him. The call of the Holy Ghost is God's call, full of power. This work of the Holy Ghost we also call _conversion._ The Holy Ghost alone converts us, that is, He turns us from our sins to Christ. "Turn Thou me, and I shall be turned; for Thou art the Lord, my God." Jer. 31,18. 5. Remember that the Holy Ghost brings you to Christ _by the Gospel._ Only through the Gospel does He work in the hearts of men. The Gospel is the means by which we obtain the grace of God and salvation. _If we do not read or hear the Word of God, the Gospel, the Holy Ghost cannot perform His work in us._ Therefore you should _diligently_ read and hear the Word of God, the Gospel. _"It is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth."_ Rom. 1,16.
1. _Christ has prepared your whole salvation. All is ready, ready for you. The Holy Ghost calls and invites you to come and partake freely of what Jesus has gained for you._ 2. _By His call the Holy Ghost gives you strength to follow His call, to come to your Lord. He Himself works by His call in your heart the true faith in your Savior and so brings you to Christ. This work of the Holy Ghost is also called conversion. Conversion is the work of the Holy Ghost alone. Our salvation is a free gift of God._ 3. _The Holy Ghost calls us by the Gospel of Christ. Diligently read and hear God's saving Word._ _Come, for all things are now ready._ Luke 14,17. _Turn Thou me, and I shall be turned; for Thou art the Lord, my God._ Jer. 31,18. _By grace are ye saved, through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not of works, lest any man should boast._ Eph. 2,8.9. _I am not ashame of the Gospel of Christ; for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth._ Rom. 1,16.
Text from Project Gutenberg, public domain in the United States.