Sunday, May 27th, 2012: “He Will Testify About Me” (John 15:26) The Feast of Pentecost!

Dear Friends in Christ,

I have the impression that the Evangelical Lutheran confession gets short-changed in how some folks view our position when it comes to the precious Comforter, Counselor, and Advocate, who is the Third Person of the Holy Trinity: God the Holy Spirit. Any criticism that our confession is lacking might very well betray a simple lack of awareness of the facts. Consider for example the explanation of the third article of the Creed from Luther’s Small Catechism: 

“I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith. In the same way He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith. In this Christian church He daily and richly forgives all my sins and the sins of all believers. On the Last Day He will raise me and all the dead, and give eternal life to me and all believers in Christ. This is most certainly true.”

Furthermore, our Gospel tomorrow from John chapter 15 records our Savior testifying to the fact that the Holy Spirit would (and does today) “testify about [Christ]” (John 15:26). There would be no proclamation of the saving Gospel that consists of the saving Christ without the saving ministry of the Holy Spirit. Without Him, our lips would never form to confess, pray, or proclaim any aspect of the saving faith. “No one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord’ except by the Holy Spirit.’ (1st Cor. 12:3b).”

The ministry of the Holy Spirit is indeed connected to Pentecost. In the Old Testament this day was associated with the new harvest. So today when the Holy Spirit is given through the Word and Sacrament of Christ, the Holy Spirit produces a harvest of new life in the one who receives Him and “if anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation! (2nd Cor. 5:17)”. The Holy Spirit is absolutely indispensable to the Church of Christ; without Him there is no worship, no prayer, no love, no good works…there would be no faith and no salvation, but with Him we rejoice! With Him, Christ is kept before us; with Him we are united to the Lord; and with Him and His constant testimony of our Savior, we are kept overflowing with the new life that comes from Jesus.

Let us rejoice in the Holy Spirit. Let us walk with Him and pray in accordance with His guidance that all of our prayers and all of our lives remain in Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.

The Holy Spirit is also responsible for causing our congregation to grow: tomorrow we celebrate the Holy Baptisms of Jason Brashears and his daughter Grace and their son Judah (“Jude”); then Jason and Tracy will be confirmed into the Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod. We will also receive via transfer Bill and Ali Frank, Dr. Scott and Ann Ashmon with their children Gunnar and Elsa, and also Andrew and Elizabeth Snyder.

In Christ,

Dr. Espinosa

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