Tuesday after the Fourth Sunday after Easter, 5/15/01

Thessalonians 2:14 And it was for this He called you through our Gospel, that you may gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. --NASB

In the name of the One Who called us through the Gospel, amen.

There are those who say that the Holy Ghost needs no vehicle. A smart reply to that might be: "Why walk when you can ride?" The idea that the Holy Ghost doesn't need a vehicle comes from those who teach that the Holy Spirit does not work through means. In other words, they teach that the Holy Spirit works directly. Now, we agree that the Holy Spirit doesn't NEED a vehicle, or means, to work through. We also agree that sometimes, for some situations, the Holy Spirit does work directly. For example, He worked directly when He descended on the disciples and gave them complete understanding of the Scriptures.

But, when it comes to salvation and maintaining faith, the Holy Spirit has indicated that He works through the Gospel and the Sacraments; we should never expect Him to work directly. In fact, those who insist that the Holy Spirit needs no vehicle are actually rejecting the very methods that the Holy Spirit has indicated He uses in creating and maintaining faith. Any idea that we come to faith, or are kept in The Faith, except by the Gospel and Sacraments, is an idea that comes from Satan. Such ideas are quickly followed by supposed revelations from the Spirit that are in contradiction to God's Word.

The fact that the Holy Spirit works through the Gospel and the Sacraments is actually a blessing for us. It means that we can know for certain if salvation belongs to us, and if our doctrine is correct. God, in His mercy, has limited Himself to certain means so that we limited human beings can be certain about what is truth, and where we can find it. Amen.

Prayer: Dear Holy Spirit, You are far wiser and more powerful than we are. In Your wisdom You chose to limit Yourself to using certain means to bring us to faith and to keep us in that faith. Bless us with Your presence at all times. Keep us in Your word and our Baptisms so that we may always praise and thank You. Bless us with eternal life by our Savior's body and blood, amen.

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