The Creed
Q28. What does this mean?
I believe that I cannot believe in Jesus Christ my Lord or come to him by my own thinking or effort. Instead, the Holy Spirit has called me through the gospel, enlightened me with his gifts, and made me holy and kept me in the true faith. In the same way, the Holy Spirit calls, gathers, enlightens, and makes holy the whole Christian church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith. In this Christian church, the Holy Spirit forgives all my sins and the sins of all believers every day. On the Last Day, he will raise me and all who have died and give eternal life to me and all who believe in Christ. This is most certainly true.
Scripture Proofs — King James Version
1 Corinthians 12:3
“Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.”
Romans 8:14–17
“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ.”
2 Thessalonians 2:13–14
“But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
1 Peter 5:10
“But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.”
1 Corinthians 15:51–57
“Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”
Parent Guide
Discuss this question together
Discussion Questions
- 1
Luther says he cannot believe in Jesus by his own effort. Why not?
- 2
What is the Holy Spirit's job according to this answer?
- 3
How does it comfort you to know that even your faith is a gift from God?
Illustration
A baby does not choose to be born. Someone else does all the work to bring that baby into the world. Coming to faith is the same. You did not pick God. The Holy Spirit called you through the gospel, opened your ears to hear it, and gave you the gift of believing it. Your faith is not your achievement. It is his gift to you.
Application
This week, when you pray, thank the Holy Spirit for giving you faith. You could not have come to Jesus on your own. Ask him to keep you in the true faith and to call others through the gospel too.
Read Luther’s expanded teaching
From the Large Catechism (1529)