1. Faith 101 Discovering the Faith
Lesson Six
The Holy Spirit and Conversion

2. I found it? I accepted Christ? How can this be when I am…
SPIRITUALLY DEAD Ephesians 2:1
SPIRITUALLY BLIND 1 Corinthians 2:14;
2 Corinthians 4
GOD’S ENEMIES Romans 8:6-7; 5:10
Eph 2:1 p827
1 Cor 2 p807
Rom 5:10 p800

3. I can’t Find Him…
“I BELIEVE THAT I CANNOT BY MY OWN REASON OR STRENGTH BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST MY LORD OR COME TO HIM…”
He Found Me!!!! Luke 15
Luke 15 is the story of the lost sheep. Shepherd left 99 and went off in search of the one, because he cared that much.
Tell the story with passion. Make it personal.

4. The Work of the Holy Spirit
“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 BY THE GOSPEL, ENLIGHTENED ME WITH HIS GIFTS, SANCTIFIED AND KEPT ME IN THE TRUE FAITH”
-Small Catechism’s explanation to the Third Article of the Apostle’s Creed

5. The Work of the Holy Spirit
Calls
He Brings Christ to Me John 14:26; 15:26
He Brings Me to Faith In Christ
1 Corinthians 12:3;
John 3:5-6
John 14:26 But the Counselor, 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. p764
John 15:26 "When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me. p765
1 cor 12:3 Therefore I tell you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus be cursed," and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit. p813
John 3:5 Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.
6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit {6 Or but spirit} gives birth to spirit. p752
In effect, conversion is the Holy Spirit’s work. Objective Just is Christ’s work, Subjective Just is Holy Spirit’s work.
Let’s say there is a woman who is very sick. She cannot move to help herself. The Doctor comes and examines her, and writes a prescription. Is she well? No, someone must fill prescription. Does that make her well? No, she must take medicine.
The work of God in healing a sick person is similar. The Father wrote the prescription: he made the plan of salvation. The Son filled the prescription by his death and resurrection. The HS applies Christ’s saving work to us through Word and the Sacraments.

6. The Work of the Holy Spirit
Enlightens—he helps me to grow in my faith
Often pray for the Holy Spirit to be with us and help us as we study Scripture

7. The Work of the Holy Spirit
Sanctifies (to make holy)
Broad sense
Describes both justification and sanctification
We must not mingle these two ideas
Narrow sense
Gives me power to resist sin
Gives me power to lead a Christian life
Gives me power to do good works
Explain broad and narrow sense of words: car/truck, coke/Dr. Pepper
Two Kinds of Righteousness: Justification and Sanctification. Keep separate. Draw diagram.
We are a good tree. Therefore, we produce good works.

8. The Work of the Holy Spirit
He Keeps Me in Christ
Phil. 1:6; 1 Peter 1:5; 1 Thess 2:13
Phil 1:6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. p830
1 peter 1: 5 who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. p857
1 Thess 2:13 And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe. p836

9. The Work of the Holy Spirit
Calls—plants seed in the heart
Enlightens—causes growth toward the light
Sanctifies—flowers and fruits (good works)
Keeps—waters and nurtures the plant of faith so it remains green and healthy

10. The Holy Spirit works through the Means of Grace
The means through which the Gospel comes
The means through which the Holy Spirit does His work in our hearts
Multiple pipelines, but the same stuff.
To get a drink of water, I can go:
-to the kitchen sink
-to the refrigerator for a bottle of water
-to the bathroom sink
-to the garden hose

11. The Means of Grace
The Bible – the Word taught, read and Proclaimed 2 Tim. 3:15-17; John 20:21-23; Romans 10:17
The Word also comes in Sacramental form
2 Tim 3:15 and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,
17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. p843
John 20:21Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.“ 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.“ p768
Rom 10:17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. p802

12. A Sacrament is… Commanded by God Which promises forgiveness of sins
Involves a visible element.

13. Two Sacraments Baptism Holy Communion
Confession and absolution—no visible element, but has been described as a sacrament by Lutherans.
Whether it is a sacrament or not, it is a valuable, helpful practice. Brings forgiveness, assurance, peace and comfort.
Not often practiced, but I found it to be valuable when at seminary.
If you desire, you can come to Pastor Braun or I for individual confession.
Focus: This brings us forgiveness of sins. God is serving us.

14. Why Sacraments? GOD APPEALS TO ALL FIVE SENSES
GOD LEAVES NO DOUBT - HIS GRACE AND FORGIVENESS ARE MEANT FOR US.
How does he appeal to the senses?
Sight
Sound
Taste
Touch
Smell
Activity: stand up, sit down, kneel, cross self

15. What About Direct Revelation?
The Spirit ordinarily works through the means of grace.
Can he work without those means?
The means of grace leave no doubt.