I Believe in the Holy Spirit
For Meditation
The Apostles’ Creed is arranged in three sections, each addressing one of the Persons of the Trinity. We first looked at the God the Father, “the maker of heaven and earth.” We then moved to God the Son, and followed the story of Jesus through his conception, birth, life, death, resurrection, ascension, and promise to return. In the final section of the Creed, we shift to the third Person of the Trinity: the Holy Spirit. Everything that we will look at from now on in the Creed is in some ways an outworking of the theology of the Spirit. The Spirit is the one who makes the Christian life possible, who makes the church possible, who makes a life of hope and courage possible.
Using Jesus’ words from John 14:15-27, we’ll look this Sunday both at the Person and the Work of the Spirit. The Heidelberg Catechism puts it like this:
Q. What do you believe concerning “the Holy Spirit”?
A. First, that the Spirit, with the Father and the Son, is eternal God. Second, that the Spirit is given also to me, so that, through true faith, he makes me share in Christ and all his benefits, comforts me, and will remain with me forever.
A couple things worth noting here. First, the Spirit is eternal God, just as much as the Father and the Son. The Spirit is not a thing, an “It”, or a “force,” but a Person in the Godhead every bit as personal as the Father and the Son.
Second, the Spirit does not work on his own, but is interconnected with the Father and the Son, and enables us to “share in Christ and all his benefits.” The Spirit empowers our connection to Jesus and enables us to live in him and to be empowered by him.
In preparation for worship this week, read through John 14:15-27, and note all the different ways that Jesus describes the work of the Spirit. Pray that the Lord will deepen our experience of the Spirit as a church.
John 14:15–27
15 “If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.
18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”
22 Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?”
23 Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. 24 Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.
25 “All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
Play along from home this week!
We’ve created parts for band and orchestral instruments, so you can play along to some of our worship songs this week! Find the parts here.