II. His Work: He Calls, Enlightens, Sanctifies, and Preserves me in the true Faith.
III. His Workmanship: The Holy Christian Church.
IV. The Fruits of His Work: 1. The Forgiveness of Sins. 2. The Resurrection of the Body, and the Life Everlasting.
THE HOLY GHOST.
I. HIS PERSON AND NATURE.
I BELIEVE IN THE HOLY GHOST. The Holy Ghost is true God. He is not simply a power or energy of God, but a Person. [Acts 5:3-4] "He proceedeth from the Father and the Son, and with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified." [John 14:26, John 15:26] The Scriptures ascribe to Him divine names, attributes, power, honor, and works. Christ commanded His disciples to baptize men in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. [Matt. 28:19]
The Holy Spirit instructed the prophets and teachers of Old Testament times, [II Peter 1:21] and was poured out upon the apostles on the day of Pentecost. [Acts 2] He inspired the Holy Scriptures. [II Tim. 3:16] He comes into our hearts through the Word of God and the Sacraments.
II. HIS WORK.
The work of the Holy Ghost is Sanctification. This word is used here, at the head of the Third Article, in the wide sense, and includes the Holy Spirit's entire work upon our souls; namely, Calling, Enlightening, Sanctification in the narrower sense, and Preservation in the Faith.
1. ITS NECESSITY. If the Holy Spirit does not work in us, we cannot be saved. Hence, we say in the catechism,