Personal, divine, coequal with Father and Son; works justification and sanctification
The LCMS teaches that the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity, fully divine, coequal and coeternal with the Father and the Son. The Spirit is a distinct personal being, not merely an impersonal force or power, though the exact nature of the hypostatic distinction within the Trinity remains mysterious.
The work of the Holy Spirit is central to LCMS theology. The Spirit sanctifies sinners, calls them to faith through the means of grace (Word and sacraments), regenerates the human heart, indwells believers, and leads them progressively in holiness (sanctification). The Spirit enables repentance, preserves faith, produces spiritual fruits and virtues, and equips the church with gifts for ministry and edification.
The LCMS affirms a cessationist position regarding the spectacular gifts (tongues, prophecy, miraculous healing); these are understood as temporary gifts given by the Spirit in the apostolic age for the purpose of authenticating apostolic preaching. The normative means of the Spirit's work in the present age are the Word of God (read, proclaimed, taught) and the sacraments (Baptism and the Lord's Supper). Extraordinary gifts are not expected or promoted in LCMS teaching.
Key Distinctions
- Personhood:
- Word and sacraments are the ordinary means of the Spirit's work
- Spiritual gifts view:
- cessationist — tongues and prophecy ceased with the apostolic era
Scripture References
Sources
- Book of Concord: Augsburg Confession, Article II.C (Holy Spirit); Nicene Creed
- Formula of Concord on spiritual gifts and Christian renewal