5th Sunday of Easter (1) Framework

I. Fifth Sunday of Easter

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1. Theme of the Day

Christ the Cornerstone and Way to the Father establishes His Church, sustains it through His Word, and preserves it through suffering unto eternal life.

The readings together emphasize:

• Christ as the only way to the Father (John 14)
• The Church built on Christ the cornerstone (1 Peter 2)
• Faithful witness amid suffering (Acts 6-7)
• Trust in the LORD alone, not in human strength (Psalm 146)

2. Law and Gospel (Unified Across Readings)

Law

• Humanity trusts in princes and human systems rather than God ¹.
• Sinners reject Christ, the cornerstone, and resist the Holy Spirit ^2,3.
• Even God's people struggle with troubled hearts and weak faith ⁴.
• Sin leads to stumbling, spiritual blindness, and separation from God ⁵.

Gospel

• Jesus comforts: 'Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in Me' ⁶.
• Christ is the way, the truth, and the life, bringing sinners to the Father ⁷.
• Believers are built into a spiritual house on Christ, the cornerstone ⁸.
• God makes His people a chosen race, a royal priesthood, recipients of mercy ⁹.
• The LORD reigns forever and sustains His people, even through suffering ¹⁰.
• Christ receives His faithful saints into eternal life, as seen in Stephen ¹¹.

3. Key Doctrinal Themes

A. Christ the Only Way to Salvation

• Jesus is the exclusive way to the Father, rejecting all pluralism and works-righteousness ⁷.
• This affirms that justification is by faith alone in Christ alone ³⁰⁰.
• Access to God is given solely through Christ's saving work ^12,301.

B. Christ the Cornerstone and the Church's Identity

• The Church is built on Christ, the living cornerstone, rejected by men but chosen by God ⁸.
• Believers are God's chosen people, called out of darkness into light ⁹.
• This identity is entirely a result of God's mercy, not human merit ³⁰².

C. The Means of Grace and Growth in Faith

• Christians are nourished by the pure spiritual milk of the Word ¹³.
• The Holy Spirit works through the Word to create and sustain faith ³⁰³.
• The Church exists where the Gospel is preached and the Sacraments administered rightly ³⁰⁴.

D. The Theology of the Cross: Suffering and Witness

• Stephen's martyrdom shows that the Church's life includes suffering for Christ ³.
• Believers are called to faithful witness even unto death, trusting in Christ's victory ¹⁴.
• God works through suffering for the good of His people and the spread of the Gospel ^15,200.

E. Trust in God Alone

• Psalm 146 calls believers to reject trust in human power and rely on the LORD ¹.
• God alone is faithful, just, and eternal, unlike earthly rulers ¹⁰.
• Faith clings to God alone as the source of all good ³⁰⁵.

4. Christological Focus

• Jesus is:
• The Way - the only mediator between God and man ⁷
• The Cornerstone - the foundation of the Church ⁸
• The Righteous One - rejected and crucified, yet exalted ¹¹
• The Eternal King - reigning forever for His people ¹⁰
• In Him:
• Troubled hearts find peace and assurance ⁶
• Sinners receive mercy and new identity ⁹
• The Church is built and sustained
• Believers are brought safely to the Father's house ¹⁶

5. Application for the Church Today

• The Church must proclaim Christ as the only way of salvation, without compromise ^7,300.
• Christians should expect opposition and suffering , yet remain faithful in witness ^3,14.
• Believers are called to live as God's chosen people, reflecting His mercy in word and deed ^9,302.
• The Church must remain centered on the Word and Sacraments, through which God works faith ^13,303.
• In all circumstances, Christians trust not in earthly power but in the reigning Christ ^1,305.

6. Liturgical and Pastoral Connections

• This Sunday emphasizes Easter victory lived out in the Church's present life.
• It connects:
• Resurrection hope (Christ prepares a place)
• Ecclesiology (the Church built on Christ)
• Vocation and suffering (Stephen's witness)
• It is particularly suited for teaching on:
• The identity of the Church
• The exclusivity of Christ
• The Christian life under the cross

• Biblical References:
  • • 1. Psalm 146:3 - Do not trust in princes
  • • 2. 1 Peter 2:8 - Stumbling over the cornerstone
  • • 3. Acts 7:51-60 - Resistance to the Spirit and Stephen's martyrdom
  • • 4. John 14:1 - Troubled hearts
  • • 5. Isaiah 59:2 - Sin separates from God
  • • 6. John 14:1 - Believe in Christ
  • • 7. John 14:6 - Christ the way, truth, and life
  • • 8. 1 Peter 2:4-6 - Christ the cornerstone
  • • 9. 1 Peter 2:9-10 - Chosen people, recipients of mercy
  • • 10. Psalm 146:10 - The LORD reigns forever
  • • 11. Acts 7:55-56 - Christ at God's right hand
  • • 12. Ephesians 2:18 - Access to the Father through Christ
  • • 13. 1 Peter 2:2 - Spiritual milk of the Word
  • • 14. Revelation 2:10 - Faithful unto death
  • • 15. Romans 8:28 - God works through suffering
  • • 16. John 14:2-3 - Christ prepares a place

• External References:
  • • 200. The Lutheran Study Bible, Concordia Publishing House - The Church under persecution and God's providence
  • • 201. Concordia Self-Study Bible - Commentary on Easter themes and Church identity

• Confessional References:
  • • 300. AC IV, 1 - Justification by faith alone
  • • 301. AC XX, 27 - Prayer and access to God through Christ
  • • 302. AC VI, 1 - New obedience as fruit of faith
  • • 303. SC Apostles' Creed, 6 - The Holy Spirit creates and sustains faith
  • • 304. AC VII, 1 - The Church defined by the Gospel and Sacraments
  • • 305. LC Ten Commandments, 13 - Trust in God alone

II. Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 12:1-6

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1. Context and Setting

Isaiah 12 is a song of thanksgiving that follows the promises of judgment and salvation in Isaiah 11. It celebrates God's deliverance and the restoration of His people, culminating in joyful praise.

This passage reflects the response of faith to God's saving work: from wrath to comfort, from fear to trust, from silence to praise. It anticipates the Messianic salvation fulfilled in Christ ²⁰⁰.

2. Law and Gospel

Law

• God's righteous anger against sin is real: 'Though You were angry with me' ¹.
• Sin brings just judgment and separation from God ².
• Apart from God's intervention, sinners remain in fear and without true security ³.
• Human strength cannot save; reliance on self leads to spiritual emptiness ⁴.

Gospel

• God's anger is turned away, and He comforts His people ¹.
• 'Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid' ⁵.
• The LORD Himself becomes our strength, song, and salvation ⁶.
• With joy, believers draw water from the wells of salvation, receiving God's grace ⁷.
• God's salvation leads to public proclamation and praise among the nations ⁸.
• This salvation is fulfilled in Christ, who brings forgiveness and eternal life ²⁰¹.

3. Key Doctrinal Themes

A. Justification and Divine Comfort

• God's wrath is justly directed against sin, yet He turns it away through His saving work ^1,2.
• This reflects the doctrine of justification by grace, where sinners are forgiven and comforted ³⁰⁰.
• True comfort comes not from self but from God's reconciliation with sinners ^9,301.

B. Salvation Belongs to the LORD

• The confession 'God is my salvation' emphasizes that salvation is entirely God's work ⁵.
• Human effort contributes nothing; salvation is received by faith alone ³⁰⁰.
• This aligns with the teaching that God alone saves and sustains His people ³⁰².

C. The Means of Grace (Wells of Salvation)

• 'Draw water from the wells of salvation' points to the means by which God delivers His grace ⁷.
• In the New Testament, this is fulfilled in Word and Sacraments, especially Baptism ^10,303.
• These are the concrete ways God gives forgiveness, life, and salvation ²⁰⁰.

D. Praise and Proclamation

• Salvation leads to confession and proclamation among the nations ⁸.
• The Church is called to declare God's deeds, flowing from faith ¹¹.
• Praise is not a human achievement but the response created by the Gospel ³⁰⁴.

4. Christological Focus

• Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of Isaiah's song:
• He bears God's wrath so that it is turned away from sinners ^1,12.
• He is our salvation, the one in whom we trust without fear ⁵.
• He provides the living water from which believers draw salvation ¹⁰.
• In Christ, God becomes both the source and substance of salvation, bringing comfort and joy ²⁰¹.
• Through His death and resurrection, Christ transforms fear into confidence and praise ^6,302.

5. Application for the Church Today

• Christians confess that God's anger against sin is real, but so is His greater mercy in Christ ^1,300.
• Believers live in confidence, not fear, trusting in God's salvation ⁵.
• The Church continually receives from the wells of salvation through Word and Sacrament ^7,303.
• Christians are called to proclaim God's saving deeds, both in worship and in the world ^8,304.
• The life of faith is marked by joy, thanksgiving, and praise rooted in God's saving work.

6. Liturgical and Pastoral Connections

• This text is often associated with Easter and Baptismal themes, especially the imagery of drawing water.
• It is used in the Church's liturgy as a song of thanksgiving for salvation.
• It connects to the broader theme of God turning judgment into comfort through Christ.

• Biblical References:
  • • 1. Isaiah 12:1 - God's anger turned away and comfort given
  • • 2. Romans 3:23 - All have sinned
  • • 3. Hebrews 2:15 - Fear of death apart from Christ
  • • 4. Jeremiah 17:5 - Trust in man leads to curse
  • • 5. Isaiah 12:2 - God is my salvation; I will trust
  • • 6. Isaiah 12:2 - The LORD as strength and song
  • • 7. Isaiah 12:3 - Wells of salvation
  • • 8. Isaiah 12:4-5 - Proclaiming God's deeds among the nations
  • • 9. Romans 5:1 - Peace with God through justification
  • • 10. John 4:14 - Living water in Christ
  • • 11. Matthew 28:19 - Proclaiming to all nations
  • • 12. Romans 5:8-9 - Saved from wrath through Christ

• External References:
  • • 200. The Lutheran Study Bible, Concordia Publishing House - Notes on Isaiah 12 and salvation imagery
  • • 201. Concordia Self-Study Bible - Christological fulfillment of Isaiah's salvation themes

• Confessional References:
  • • 300. AC IV, 1 - Justification by faith alone
  • • 301. Ap IV, 103 - Comfort of the Gospel against God's wrath
  • • 302. LC Apostles' Creed, 31 - Christ's saving work and reign
  • • 303. SC Holy Baptism, 1 - Baptism gives forgiveness, life, and salvation
  • • 304. AC VI, 1 - New obedience as fruit of faith

III. Psalm: Psalm 66:1-8

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1. Context and Setting

Psalm 66 is a song of corporate praise, calling all the earth to glorify God for His mighty works. Verses 1-8 focus especially on God's saving acts in history, particularly His deliverance of Israel, as a basis for universal praise.

The psalm moves from God's past acts of salvation to present confidence and ongoing praise, emphasizing that God's deeds are both fearsome and gracious ²⁰⁰.

2. Law and Gospel

Law

• Humanity fails to rightly fear, love, and trust in God, despite His mighty works ¹.
• Sin blinds people to God's power, leading to ingratitude and false worship ².
• The call to 'come and see' exposes the reality that many ignore or reject God's deeds ³.
• Apart from faith, sinners stand in fear before God's awesome and terrifying works ⁴.

Gospel

• God invites all the earth to joyful praise, revealing His grace to all nations ⁵.
• His mighty deeds, especially deliverance, show that He is a saving God ⁶.
• The crossing of the sea and river points to God's power to rescue His people from death and bondage ⁷.
• God preserves the lives of His people, keeping them secure in His care ⁸.
• This salvation is fulfilled in Christ, through whom God delivers His people eternally ²⁰¹.

3. Key Doctrinal Themes

A. Universal Call to Worship

• 'Make a joyful noise... all the earth' shows that God's glory extends to all nations ⁵.
• Worship is not limited to Israel but anticipates the mission of the Church to the whole world ⁹.
• This aligns with the Church's calling to proclaim the Gospel universally ³⁰⁰.

B. God's Mighty Acts of Salvation

• The psalm recalls God's acts, such as turning the sea into dry land ⁷.
• These acts demonstrate both judgment and salvation, revealing God's character ⁶.
• They prefigure the greater salvation accomplished in Christ ²⁰¹.

C. The Fear of the LORD

• God's works are described as awesome, producing reverent fear ⁴.
• This fear is not terror for believers but reverence grounded in faith ³⁰¹.
• True fear, love, and trust in God fulfill the First Commandment ³⁰².

D. Preservation and Providence

• God keeps our soul among the living, preserving His people ⁸.
• This includes both temporal care and eternal salvation ¹⁰.
• Believers trust that God sustains and governs all things for their good ³⁰³.

4. Christological Focus

• Christ is the fulfillment of God's mighty saving acts:
• He brings the ultimate deliverance from sin, death, and the devil ¹¹.
• He leads His people through death into life, like Israel through the sea ^7,12.
• In Christ, God's 'awesome deeds' are fully revealed in the cross and resurrection ²⁰¹.
• Through Him, all nations are called to joyful worship and confession of God's name ^5,300.

5. Application for the Church Today

• The Church is called to proclaim God's mighty deeds to all nations ^5,300.
• Christians respond to God's works with joyful praise and thanksgiving.
• Believers live in reverent fear of God, trusting in His power and mercy ^4,301.
• The faithful rest in God's promise to preserve and sustain them, even in trials ^8,303.
• Worship is grounded not in emotion alone but in God's concrete acts of salvation.

6. Liturgical and Pastoral Connections

• This psalm fits the Easter season, emphasizing God's victory over death and His saving power.
• It connects with Baptism, especially the imagery of passing through water into life ¹².
• It supports the Church's mission emphasis: declaring God's works to the nations.

• Biblical References:
  • • 1. Psalm 66:1-2 - Call to praise God rightly
  • • 2. Romans 1:21 - Failure to honor and give thanks to God
  • • 3. Psalm 66:5 - Invitation to see God's works
  • • 4. Psalm 66:3, 5 - God's awesome and fearsome deeds
  • • 5. Psalm 66:1, 4 - All the earth called to worship
  • • 6. Psalm 66:3 - God's great power over His enemies
  • • 7. Psalm 66:6 - Crossing the sea and river
  • • 8. Psalm 66:8-9 - God preserves the lives of His people
  • • 9. Matthew 28:19 - Mission to all nations
  • • 10. Psalm 121:7 - The LORD preserves life
  • • 11. Colossians 2:15 - Christ's victory over powers
  • • 12. 1 Corinthians 10:1-2 - Passing through the sea as Baptism

• External References:
  • • 200. The Lutheran Study Bible, Concordia Publishing House - Notes on Psalm 66 and God's mighty acts
  • • 201. Concordia Self-Study Bible - Christological fulfillment of Old Testament deliverance

• Confessional References:
  • • 300. AC IV, 1 - Justification by faith proclaimed to all
  • • 301. LC Ten Commandments, 16 - Proper fear, love, and trust in God
  • • 302. SC Ten Commandments, 1 - We should fear, love, and trust in God above all things
  • • 303. LC Ten Commandments, 13 - God provides and preserves all things

IV. Epistle: James 1:16-21

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1. Context and Setting

James writes to Christians facing trials, exhorting them to live in accordance with the faith they confess. In this passage, he contrasts God's good gifts with human sin and calls believers to receive the Word with humility.

The focus is on the source of true life (God's gracious will) and the proper response of faith: hearing, receiving, and living according to the implanted Word ²⁰⁰.

2. Law and Gospel

Law

• 'Do not be deceived' exposes humanity's tendency to misattribute evil to God rather than to sin ¹.
• Sin arises from within and leads to death and corruption ².
• Human anger does not produce the righteousness of God, revealing the distortion of fallen nature ³.
• Christians often fail to be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger, showing ongoing sin ⁴.
• Impurity and wickedness must be put away, exposing the depth of human corruption ⁵.

Gospel

• 'Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights' ⁶.
• God does not change, and His goodness is constant toward His people ⁷.
• 'Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth', emphasizing new birth through the Gospel ⁸.
• The Word is implanted, able to save souls ⁹.
• Believers are made firstfruits of His creatures, belonging to God through His gracious work ¹⁰.
• Salvation is entirely God's doing, given through His Word ²⁰¹.

3. Key Doctrinal Themes

A. God as the Source of All Good

• God alone is the giver of every good and perfect gift, including salvation ⁶.
• He is unchanging, unlike the shifting nature of creation ⁷.
• This affirms that God is not the author of sin but of grace and life ³⁰⁰.

B. Sin and Human Nature

• Sin originates not in God but in fallen human nature, producing death ².
• Human anger and wickedness reveal the corruption of the heart ^3,5.
• This reflects the doctrine of original sin, which corrupts all people ³⁰¹.

C. The Means of Grace: The Word of Truth

• God brings forth new life through the Word of truth, not human effort ⁸.
• The Word is implanted, actively working salvation in believers ⁹.
• Faith is created and sustained through the external Word of the Gospel ^11,302.

D. The Christian Life: Hearing and Doing

• Believers are called to be quick to hear and receive the Word with meekness ^4,9.
• The Christian life includes putting away sin and living in accordance with faith ⁵.
• These works are not meritorious but are fruits of faith produced by the Gospel ³⁰³.

4. Christological Focus

• Jesus Christ is the embodiment of God's perfect gift, given for the salvation of sinners ^6,12.
• Through Him, God brings believers forth by the Word of truth, creating new life ⁸.
• Christ fulfills the righteousness that human anger cannot produce ³.
• The implanted Word is ultimately the Gospel of Christ, which saves and transforms ^9,201.

5. Application for the Church Today

• Christians are called to recognize God as the source of all good, rejecting false accusations against Him ^1,300.
• Believers must continually repent of sin and put away wickedness, trusting in God's mercy ^5,301.
• The Church must emphasize the centrality of the Word, through which God gives life and salvation ^8,302.
• Christians are to hear the Word humbly and live it out, reflecting faith in action ^4,303.
• The life of faith is marked by receiving God's gifts and responding in obedience.

6. Liturgical and Pastoral Connections

• This text highlights the importance of the Word in the life of the Church, fitting well with themes of growth in faith.
• It connects with Baptismal theology, where God brings forth new life through His Word.

• Biblical References:
  • • 1. James 1:16 - Do not be deceived about God
  • • 2. James 1:14-15 - Sin leading to death
  • • 3. James 1:20 - Human anger does not produce God's righteousness
  • • 4. James 1:19 - Quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger
  • • 5. James 1:21 - Put away all filthiness and wickedness
  • • 6. James 1:17 - Every good and perfect gift from above
  • • 7. James 1:17 - God does not change
  • • 8. James 1:18 - Brought forth by the Word of truth
  • • 9. James 1:21 - The implanted Word saves
  • • 10. James 1:18 - Firstfruits of His creatures
  • • 11. Romans 10:17 - Faith comes by hearing
  • • 12. John 3:16 - Christ as God's saving gift

• External References:
  • • 200. The Lutheran Study Bible, Concordia Publishing House - Notes on James 1 and the Word of truth
  • • 201. Concordia Self-Study Bible - Commentary on new birth through the Word

• Confessional References:
  • • 300. AC II, 1 - God not the author of sin
  • • 301. AC II, 1 - Original sin corrupts human nature
  • • 302. SC Apostles' Creed, 6 - The Holy Spirit works through the Word
  • • 303. AC VI, 1 - New obedience as fruit of faith

V. Gospel: John 16:5-15

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1. Context and Setting

This passage is part of Jesus' Farewell Discourse, where He prepares His disciples for His departure through death, resurrection, and ascension. Though His leaving brings sorrow, Jesus promises the coming of the Helper (the Holy Spirit), who will continue His work among them.

The focus is on the Spirit's work of convicting, guiding, and glorifying Christ, ensuring that the Gospel continues to be proclaimed and believed ²⁰⁰.

2. Law and Gospel

Law

• The world remains in unbelief, which the Spirit exposes as sin ¹.
• Humanity fails to recognize true righteousness, misunderstanding both sin and salvation ².
• The ruler of this world (the devil) holds people in deception and judgment ³.
• Even the disciples experience sorrow and confusion, reflecting weakness of faith ⁴.

Gospel

• Jesus promises the Helper, who comes for the good of the Church ⁵.
• The Spirit convicts the world concerning sin, righteousness, and judgment, leading to repentance ⁶.
• Christ's going to the Father establishes true righteousness, fulfilled in His saving work ⁷.
• The ruler of this world is judged, securing victory over the devil ⁸.
• The Spirit guides believers into all truth, delivering Christ's Word ⁹.
• He glorifies Christ by taking what is Christ's and declaring it to believers ¹⁰.
• All that belongs to the Father is given to the Son, and through Him to the Church ¹¹.

3. Key Doctrinal Themes

A. The Work of the Holy Spirit

• The Spirit convicts the world of:
• Sin - unbelief in Christ ¹
• Righteousness - revealed in Christ's ascension ⁷
• Judgment - the defeat of the devil ⁸
• This work is carried out through the proclamation of the Word ^12,301.
• The Spirit does not speak on His own but delivers what He receives from Christ ⁹.

B. Christ's Saving Work and Exaltation

• Jesus' departure to the Father refers to His death, resurrection, and ascension ⁷.
• His work establishes the righteousness that sinners lack ².
• Through His victory, the ruler of this world is judged and defeated ^8,13.

C. The Means of Grace

• The Spirit works through the Word to create and sustain faith ^12,301.
• He guides believers into truth not through new revelations apart from Scripture but through the apostolic Word ^9,200.
• The Church receives Christ's gifts through these means ³⁰².

D. The Trinity Revealed

• The passage reveals the unity of:
• The Father, who possesses all things ¹¹
• The Son, who receives and reveals them ¹⁰
• The Holy Spirit, who delivers them to believers ⁹
• This demonstrates the cooperative work of the Triune God in salvation ³⁰³.

4. Christological Focus

• Christ is the center of the Spirit's work:
• The Spirit glorifies Christ, not Himself ¹⁰.
• He delivers Christ's righteousness to sinners ⁷.
• He proclaims Christ's victory over sin, death, and the devil ⁸.
• Jesus' saving work is the basis for:
• The conviction of sin
• The declaration of righteousness
• The assurance of judgment over evil
• All that the Father has is given to Christ, and through Him to believers ^11,302.

5. Application for the Church Today

• The Church must trust that the Holy Spirit is actively working through the Word, even when results are not visible ^12,301.
• Christians should understand that conviction of sin is a work of the Spirit, leading to repentance and faith ⁶.
• Believers find comfort in knowing that Christ has already defeated the ruler of this world ^8,13.
• The Church must remain focused on Christ-centered preaching, since the Spirit glorifies Christ alone ¹⁰.
• Christians live in confidence that the Spirit guides them in the truth of the Gospel ^9,302.

6. Liturgical and Pastoral Connections

• This passage is often associated with the season leading to Pentecost, emphasizing the coming of the Holy Spirit.
• It highlights the Church's dependence on the Spirit's work through the Word.
• It is valuable for teaching on:
• The Third Article of the Creed
• The work of the Holy Spirit
• The certainty of Christ's victory

• Biblical References:
  • • 1. John 16:9 - Sin as unbelief
  • • 2. Romans 3:10 - Lack of human righteousness
  • • 3. John 12:31 - The ruler of this world
  • • 4. John 16:6 - Sorrow fills the disciples' hearts
  • • 5. John 16:7 - The coming of the Helper
  • • 6. John 16:8 - Conviction of sin, righteousness, and judgment
  • • 7. John 16:10 - Righteousness revealed in Christ's ascension
  • • 8. John 16:11 - Judgment of the ruler of this world
  • • 9. John 16:13 - The Spirit guides into all truth
  • • 10. John 16:14 - The Spirit glorifies Christ
  • • 11. John 16:15 - All that the Father has belongs to the Son
  • • 12. Romans 10:17 - Faith comes from hearing
  • • 13. Colossians 2:15 - Christ's victory over powers

• External References:
  • • 200. The Lutheran Study Bible, Concordia Publishing House - Notes on John 16 and the work of the Spirit
  • • 201. Concordia Self-Study Bible - Commentary on the Helper and conviction

• Confessional References:
  • • 301. SC Apostles' Creed, 6 - The Holy Spirit calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies
  • • 302. AC V, 1 - The ministry delivers the Gospel and Sacraments
  • • 303. Athanasian Creed - The unity of the Trinity in essence and work