Luther hits the nail on the head with his explanation to the Third Article. “I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ my Lord, or come to Him;” Just as I cannot choose to be born, so I cannot choose to be born again. I cannot choose Jesus. I cannot decide for Jesus. I cannot dedicate my life to Him. I can do nothing except reject Him. I can only reject Him because that is my nature, my sinful human nature from conception.
“But the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel.” That is how Jesus works. He sends His Holy Spirit to work through the means of grace, the Word, the Bible, the Gospel, to call me to faith. The Holy Spirit “enlightens me with His gifts,” the gifts of His Sacraments, Holy Baptism and the Lord’s Supper and the means of Confession and Absolution. Through these means of grace I am enlightened. I know, I have the certain of forgiveness and life, but that is to come a little later in his explanation. The Holy Spirit has “sanctified and kept me in the one true faith.” The Holy Spirit works to make me holy and keep me in the one true faith.
“In the same way [the Holy Spirit] calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith.” Not only me, but all people, the Holy Spirit calls to faith. God’s will is that all people come to faith and have eternal life. The Holy Spirit calls all people to faith and works to keep them in faith.
“In this Christian church He daily and richly forgives all my sins and the sins of all believers.” What beautiful and wonderful words. We need to daily hear that our sins are forgiven. Our sins are daily and richly forgiven. Our sins and the sins of all believers. We hear these words of good news through the means of grace, the Word, the Bible and the Sacraments, Holy Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. We also hear these words through Confession and Absolution.
“On the Last Day He will raise me and all the dead, and give eternal life to me and all believers in Christ.” We hope, but our hope is not an uncertain hope. Our hope is the certainty of eternal life, by God’s grace, through faith, worked in our hearts by the Holy Spirit. God gives and we are given to, praise be the name of the Lord.
Dear Lord, fill me with Your Holy Spirit. Continue to work through Your means of grace to give me Your gifts of faith, strengthening of faith, forgiveness, life and salvation. Continue to work in me so that others may see Your working through me, to the praise and glory of Your Holy Name. For Jesus’ sake. Amen.
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