“I have said these things to you while I am still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and remind you of all that I have said to you.” (John 14:25-26)
This week we will look at the third article of the Creed – the article dedicated to the work of the Holy Spirit. This article is longer than the first article on creation – there is much the Spirit does! But it is shorter than the second article – there was less controversy about the Holy Spirit when the creeds were written centuries ago.
Once again, we notice that the creed lists a lot of outcomes of the Spirit’s work. The Spirit forms the church and gathers the saints throughout time and space. The Spirit makes forgiveness real, brings life out of death, and promises life is eternal.
In the Creedal Affirmation that we sometimes use in worship, we say that the Spirit “gives life to the people of God and makes Christ known in the world.” It is the Spirit’s work to bring life, order and love into being in the world. It is only by the Spirit that Christ is known in the world and among us. And it is this awareness (that we often call faith) that shapes us as God’s people.
In spite of the fact that much of American Christianity has descended into a transactional way of thinking – you believe and God will give you the goodies – Martin Luther believed that faith and the Christian life started as gifts. We don’t decide to believe and get what God offers. God offers freely and the Spirit opens us up to receive. It is not about our “decision” to believe. It is about God’s decision to love us and Christ’s work to demonstrate that love, no matter what the cost to God.
As we reflect on the work of the Spirit, start by being thankful for the Spirit’s work in and around you. The Spirit is unseen but the work of the Spirit and the fruits of the Spirit are all happening and available to be noticed. Know that where the Spirit is at work, God is continuing to do the work of Jesus. And where you notice the fruits, the crucified and risen Jesus is still at work among us.
