"We trust in the one triune God,
the Holy One of Israel,
whom alone we worship and serve;
We trust in God the Holy Spirit,
everywhere the giver and renewer of life.
The Spirit justifies us by grace through faith,
sets us free to accept ourselves and to love God and neighbor
and binds us together with all believers."
(Brief statement of Faith)
This triune God is the creator of the universe; the
savior of the world who has been revealed as the perfect model of
humanity in Jesus Christ; and is the ongoing presence and power of God
in the world.
Biblical References
On Pentecost, the seventh Sunday after Easter,
Christians commemorate the coming of the Holy Spirit to Jesus' early
followers. But the Bible contains several earlier references to the
Spirit as well--for example, in the accounts of Mary's conception:
"...she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit" (Matthew
1:18) and "The Holy Spirit will come upon you..." (Luke
1:35); Jesus' baptism: "...he saw the Spirit of God
descending like a dove and alighting on him" (Matthew
3:16); and Jesus sending his disciples out for the first time:
"...do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to
say...for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father
speaking through you" (Matthew 10:19-20).
Through the Holy Spirit, God empowers us to grow in
faith, make more mature decisions and live more faithful lives. It gives
us the will, as Jesus said, to "be perfect, therefore, as your
heavenly Father is perfect" (Matthew 5:48).
It gives believers the authority to accurately interpret the Bible, just
as it enabled the original writers of Scripture to tell truthfully about
God, Jesus and everything else we need to know. It also gives authority
to the church to act in God's name for the good of humanity. It gives
every person a sense of "calling" to a special function in the
world, in keeping with God's providence and Jesus' summons to
"follow him." Among the "fruits of the spirit"
identified by the apostle Paul are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians
5:22). |
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The
Scots Confession says, "We confess that the Holy Ghost does
sanctify and regenerate us, without respect to any merit proceeding from
us, be it before or be it after our regeneration" (3
:12).
"I
believe in the Spirit's guidance just as surely as I believe in
God."
"Fredrik Wisloff, I
Believe In the Holy Spirit
"Therefore
I want you to understand that no one speaking by the Spirit of God ever
says "Let Jesus be cursed!" and no one can say "Jesus is
Lord" except by the Holy Spirit."
(1 Cor. 12:3) |
|
"Now
there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; To each is given the
manifestation of the Spirit for the common good."
(1 Cor. 12:4,7)
"By
contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience,
kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There
is no law against such things." (Gal.
5:22-23) |
Presbyterian
Confessions
The Westminster Confession of Faith, a historic
Presbyterian document, refers to the Holy Spirit as a source of God's
grace and "the only efficient agent in the application of
redemption". For all humans, the confession says, the Spirit
"convicts them of sin, moves them to repentance and persuades and
enables them to embrace Jesus Christ by faith." It further states
that God is willing to give the Spirit to all who ask.
The Brief Statement of Faith, the most recent
Presbyterian confessional document also speaks about the Holy
Spirit. To read this section in the Brief Statement of Faith, Click
Here.
|
