God in his love and mercy has reconciled the whole world to himself through the perfect life and innocent death of his Son. He has declared the whole world forgiven for Jesus' sake.

Yet in his wisdom the Lord has decreed that only those who trust in Jesus as their Savior will receive the benefits of his redemptive work. Our Savior tells us, "God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. . . . Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son" (John 3:16,18).

How then can a person come to faith? Since human beings are by nature dead in their transgressions and sins, they cannot come to faith on their own. The Holy Spirit must create new life within them. Paul writes, "Because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved" (Ephesians 2:4,5). The Holy Spirit makes a person spiritually alive, that is, he works faith and confidence in him. As the Bible tells us, "No one can say 'Jesus is Lord,' except by the Holy Spirit" (1 Corinthians 12:3).

The Holy Spirit works through the gospel

How does the Holy Spirit create saving faith? He does not work it directly. That is, he does not work without a means (immediately) to bring people to faith. He works through means (mediately), the means of grace.

In his Great Commission, our Savior tells his church, "Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you" (Matthew 28:19,20).

God's kingdom is extended through his Word and sacraments. That is God's perfect plan. As St. Paul writes, "God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Thessalonians 2:13,14).

We learned to confess that truth as children in catechism class. "I believe that I cannot by my own thinking or choosing believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to him. But the Holy Spirit has called me by the gospel, enlightened me with his gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith. In the same way he calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith" (Luther's Explanation to the Third Article).

The Holy Spirit works through the gospel promises in the sacraments