I believe. I am baptized. And I believe.

I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
Maker of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ,
His only Son, our Lord:
Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell.
On the third day He rose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven
and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty,
from there He shall come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Holy Christian Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Holy Christian Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.

I cannot connect this article (as I have said) to anything better than Sanctification. Through this article the Holy Spirit, with His office, is declared and shown: He makes people holy (I Corinthians 6:11). (LC, Part II, 35)

For there are many kinds of spirits mention in the Holy Scriptures, such as the spirit of man (I Corinthians 2:11), heavenly spirits (Hebrews 12:23), and evil spirits (Luke 7:21). But God's Spirit alone is called the Holy Spirit, that is, He who has sanctified and sill sanctifies us. For just as the Father is called "Creator" and the Son called "Redeemer," so the Holy Spirit, from His work, must be called "Sanctifier," or "One who makes holy." (LC, Part II, 36)

"What do you mean by the words I believe in the Holy Spirit?"

You can then answer, "I believe that the Holy Spirit makes me holy, as His name implies."

"But how does He accomplish this, or what are His methods and means to this end?"

Answer, "By the Christian Church, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting. For in the first place, the Spirit has His own congregation in the world, which is the mother that conceives and bears every Christian through God's Word (Galations 4:26). Through the Word He reveals and preaches, He illumines and enkindles hearts, so that they understand, accept, cling to, and persevere in the Word" (I Corinthians 2:12).

Where the Spirit does not cause the Word to be preached and roused in the heart so that it is understood, it is lost (Matthew 13:19). (LC, Part II, 40-43)

He begins and daily increases holiness upon earth through these two things: the Christian Church and the forgiveness of sin. But in our death He will accomplish it altogether in an instant (I Corinthians 15:52) and will forever preserve us therein by the last two parts [of the Creed]. (LC, Part II, 59)

Now this is the article of the Creed that must always be and remain in use. For we have already received creation. Redemption, too, is finished. But the Holy Spirit carries on His work without ceasing to the Last Day. (LC, Part II, 61)

Therefore, we believe in Him who daily brings us into the fellowship of this Christian Church through the Word. Through the same Word and the forgiveness of sins He bestows, increases, and strengthens faith. (LC, Part II, 62)

If nothing else, this teaching obliterates the "six steps to holiness" mentality of so very much instruction I have received over the years in other churches. We are made holy. We are holy by bearing His name. Nothing, absolutely nothing, we can do will make us one iota more sanctified, more holy, than before we completed that act.

In short, the Holy Spirit is the Sanctifier and the Giver of Faith, who is gathering the Church together. In doing so, He daily quickens, chastens, reveals, convicts, encourages, teaches, uplifts, consoles, sustains, illumines, refreshes, forgives, sanctifies, and brings us to Christ.

I believe.