The Third Article.
The Holy Ghost Has Called Me.
Which is the Third Article?
_I believe in the Holy Ghost._
What does this mean?
_I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus
Christ, my Lord, or come to Him, but the Holy Ghost has called me by the
Gospel._
1. We cannot by our own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, our
Lord, or come to Him. The Holy Ghost alone is able to bring us to
Christ, our Savior. How does He bring us to Christ? We confess as
children of God that _the Holy Ghost has called me by the Gospel._ By
calling me through the Gospel, the Holy Ghost has brought me to Jesus
Christ, my Lord and Savior. Let us see what this means.
2. Our Lord, in a parable, once spoke of a certain rich man who made a
great supper for his guests. And he sent out his servants at supper-time
to say to those who were bidden: _"Come, for all things are now ready."_
Luke 14,16.17. The meal was prepared, and the rich man invited his
guests to come and partake of it. At dinner-time, when your mother has
prepared dinner for the family, she calls to you, "Dinner is ready. Now
come and eat! It is prepared for you too." In a similar manner the _Holy
Ghost calls us and invites us to come to Christ and accept His
salvation._ Christ, our Savior, has prepared all things; He has prepared
forgiveness of all our sins, life, and salvation. All things necessary
for our salvation are ready in Christ. All is finished. And now the Holy
Ghost brings us these glad tidings: All things are now ready, all things
needed for your salvation. Come, whosoever you are, come to your Savior!
Come and take and enjoy what He in His great love has prepared for you.
_We come to Jesus only by faith._ The Holy Ghost calls us and invites
us, Come, _believe_ in your Savior, and You will be saved.
3. You do not see the Holy Ghost when He calls you. _The Holy Ghost
calls you by the Gospel._ The Gospel, as you have learned (Lesson 14),
_is the glad tidings of the grace of God for all men,_ the tidings of
what Christ has done for us to save us. As the rich man in the parable,
so the Holy Ghost sends His _servants._ These servants are all those who
tell you the Gospel of Christ, your minister, your teacher, your
parents, etc. When you hear the Gospel or read it, the Holy Ghost comes
to you and calls you. In the Gospel He says to you: All things have been
prepared by Christ; they are ready for you, for your salvation. In
Christ you have forgiveness of your sins and salvation. _Come now, you
lost and condemned sinner, and take what your Lord freely offers you.
Believe in Christ, and you will be saved._ That is the call of the Holy
Ghost by the Gospel. _"He called you by our Gospel to the obtaining of
the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ."_ 2 Thess. 2,14.
4. When your mother calls you to dinner, you must come by your own will
and strength, and you have the strength to do so. We sinners have
neither the will nor the strength to come to Jesus. The Holy Ghost knows
that we cannot by our own strength come to our Savior. _By calling us He
gives us the strength to hear and to follow His call._ By His call He
brings us to Christ and works in us faith in our Lord, so that we
willingly come to Him. The call of the Holy Ghost is God's call, full of
power. This work of the Holy Ghost we also call _conversion._ The Holy
Ghost alone converts us, that is, He turns us from our sins to Christ.
"Turn Thou me, and I shall be turned; for Thou art the Lord, my God."
Jer. 31,18.
5. Remember that the Holy Ghost brings you to Christ _by the Gospel._
Only through the Gospel does He work in the hearts of men. The Gospel is
the means by which we obtain the grace of God and salvation. _If we do
not read or hear the Word of God, the Gospel, the Holy Ghost cannot
perform His work in us._ Therefore you should _diligently_ read and hear
the Word of God, the Gospel. _"It is the power of God unto salvation to
every one that believeth."_ Rom. 1,16.