教會：聖靈的工作和成果
聖靈藉著上帝的話語，在世上召集一個聖潔的小群體，以基督為元首，由聖徒聚會而成。其中，信仰一致、一心一意，恩賜多樣，愛心相同，不分派別，沒有分裂。
第三段
我信聖靈，一聖基督教會，聖徒一體相通，罪得赦免、肉身復活、並且永生。阿們。
51 總結這一段的意義是：
我相信在地上有一個聖潔的小群體，以基督為元首（
53 聖靈住在此聖會眾（基督的國度）之中，直到末日。聖靈藉著這團契，帶領我們到基督面前，向我們教導和宣講聖道（約14:26）。藉著這道，他作成並促進信徒成聖，使這會眾日日成長，信心堅固。聖靈所結的果實每日壯大（
54 再者，我們相信，在這基督教會中罪得赦免，是藉著聖禮與赦罪禮，也藉著全部福音的安慰而得。所有應宣講的，關於聖禮、全部福音與基督教會所有的職務都指向罪得赦免。雖然基督獲得上帝的恩典，聖靈藉著上帝的道，在基督教會裡作合一和成聖的工作，但我們因自己的肉體拖累仍然常常犯罪。
55 我們在世上的每一日，都應當在教會裡藉著聖道和聖禮，得到罪的赦免，安慰和鼓舞我們的良心。除此之外，教會並不供應任何其他事物。基督教會裡一切事物都是為達此目的而設定的。因此，我們雖然有罪，聖靈的恩典不容許罪傷害我們，因為我們是在基督教會裡。在此沒有別的，只有持續不斷的赦免，彼此擔當，互相幫助（
56 但在基督教會以外，因為沒有福音，也就沒有赦免，更沒有成聖之事。因此，所有欲尋找、得到聖潔的人，如果不是藉著福音、罪得赦免，而是藉著他們的行為，就已經將自己逐出教會，與教會隔絕了（
57 因為，基督徒已經開始成聖，並且日日成長（
哥林多前書15:53 這必朽壞的總要變成不朽壞的，這必死的總要變成不死的。
59 這一切都是聖靈的職分和工作。藉著兩樣事物：基督教會和罪得赦免，他開始並每日增多地上的聖潔。但是，要到我們死時，祂就瞬間成全我們的聖潔（
60 但是，「肉身復活」也不十分恰當，當人聽到「肉身」時，只想到賣肉店。好的翻譯應該是「身體復活」。但這並不太重要，只要人理解就好了。
61 我們要常常讀這一段信經，因為，我們已經得到了創造之功；救贖之工也已完成。但聖靈仍要繼續他的工作直到最後一日。為此目的，他已經指定地上的一個團契。聖靈藉著她，宣聖道，行萬事。62 聖靈尚未聚齊基督教會所有的人（
註解：
註解一：回到原文以弗所書1:22 又將萬有服在他的腳下，使他為教會作萬有之首。
註解二：回到原文以弗所書4:5-8 5 一主，一信，一洗，6 一上帝，就是眾人的父，超乎眾人之上，貫乎眾人之中，也住在眾人之內。7 我們各人蒙恩，都是照基督所量給各人的恩賜。8 所以經上說：他升上高天的時候，擄掠了仇敵，將各樣的恩賜賞給人。
註解三：回到原文哥林多前書1:9 上帝是信實的，你們原是被他所召，好與他兒子－我們的主耶穌基督一同得分。
註解四：回到原文羅馬書8:17 既是兒女，便是後嗣，就是上帝的後嗣，和基督同作後嗣。如果我們和他一同受苦，也必和他一同得榮耀。
註解五：回到原文加拉太書3:1-2 1 無知的加拉太人哪，耶穌基督釘十字架，已經活畫在你們眼前，誰又迷惑了你們呢？2 我只要問你們這一件：你們受了聖靈，是因行律法呢？是因聽信福音呢？
註解六：回到原文羅馬書3:10-12 10 就如經上所記：沒有義人，連一個也沒有。11 沒有明白的；沒有尋求上帝的；12 都是偏離正路，一同變為無用。沒有行善的，連一個也沒有。
註解七：回到原文加拉太書5:22-23 22聖靈所結的果子，就是仁愛、喜樂、和平、忍耐、恩慈、良善、信實、23 溫柔、節制。
註解八：回到原文加拉太書6:1-2 1 弟兄們，若有人偶然被過犯所勝，你們屬靈的人就當用溫柔的心把他挽回過來；又當自己小心，恐怕也被引誘。2 你們各人的重擔要互相擔當，如此，就完全了基督的律法。
註解九：回到原文加拉太書5:4 你們這要靠律法稱義的，是與基督隔絕，從恩典中墜落了。
註解十：回到原文帖撒羅尼迦後書1:3 3 弟兄們，我們該為你們常常感謝上帝，這本是合宜的；因你們的信心格外增長，並且你們眾人彼此相愛的心也都充足。
註解十一：回到原文羅馬書6:4–11 4 所以，我們藉著洗禮歸入死，和他一同埋葬，原是叫我們一舉一動有新生的樣式，像基督藉著父的榮耀從死裏復活一樣。5 我們若在他死的形狀上與他聯合，也要在他復活的形狀上與他聯合；6 因為知道我們的舊人和他同釘十字架，使罪身滅絕，叫我們不再作罪的奴僕；7 因為已死的人是脫離了罪。8 我們若是與基督同死，就信必與他同活。9 因為知道基督既從死裏復活，就不再死，死也不再作他的主了。10 他死是向罪死了，只有一次；他活是向上帝活著。11 這樣，你們向罪也當看自己是死的；向上帝在基督耶穌裏，卻當看自己是活的。
註解十二：回到原文哥林多前書13:10 等那完全的來到，這有限的必歸於無有了。
註解十三：回到原文哥林多前書15:43 所種的是羞辱的，復活的是榮耀的；所種的是軟弱的，復活的是強壯的；
哥林多前書15:53 這必朽壞的總要變成不朽壞的，這必死的總要變成不死的。
註解十四：回到原文哥林多前書15:52 就在一霎時，眨眼之間，號筒末次吹響的時候。因號筒要響，死人要復活成為不朽壞的，我們也要改變。
註解十五：回到原文約翰福音10:16 我另外有羊，不是這圈裏的；我必須領他們來，他們也要聽我的聲音，並且要合成一群，歸一個牧人了。
THE THIRD ARTICLE OF APOSTLE’S CREED
Sanctification
I believe that there is upon earth a little holy group and congregation of pure saints, under one head, even Christ [Ephesians 1:22]. 52 This group is called together by the Holy Spirit in one faith, one mind, and understanding, with many different gifts, yet agreeing in love, without sects or schisms [Ephesians 4:5–8, 11]. I am also a part and member of this same group, a sharer and joint owner of all the goods it possesses [Romans 8:17]. I am brought to it and incorporated into it by the Holy Spirit through having heard and continuing to hear God’s Word [Galatians 3:1–2], which is the beginning of entering it. In the past, before we had attained to this, we were altogether of the devil, knowing nothing about God and about Christ [Romans 3:10–12]. 53 So, until the Last Day, the Holy Spirit abides with the holy congregation or Christendom [John 14:17]. Through this congregation He brings us to Christ and He teaches and preaches to us the Word [John 14:26]. By the Word He works and promotes sanctification, causing this congregation daily to grow and to become strong in the faith and its fruit, which He produces [Galatians 5].
54 We further believe that in this Christian Church we have forgiveness of sin, which is wrought through the holy Sacraments and Absolution [Matthew 26:28; Mark 1:4; John 20:23] and through all kinds of comforting promises from the entire Gospel. Therefore, whatever ought to be preached about the Sacraments belongs here. In short, the whole Gospel and all the offices of Christianity belong here, which also must be preached and taught without ceasing. God’s grace is secured through Christ [John 1:17], and sanctification is wrought by the Holy Spirit through God’s Word in the unity of the Christian Church. Yet because of our flesh, which we bear about with us, we are never without sin [Romans 7:23–24].
55 Everything, therefore, in the Christian Church is ordered toward this goal: we shall daily receive in the Church nothing but the forgiveness of sin through the Word and signs, to comfort and encourage our consciences as long as we live here. So even though we have sins, the ‹grace of the› Holy Spirit does not allow them to harm us. For we are in the Christian Church, where there is nothing but ‹continuous, uninterrupted› forgiveness of sin. This is because God forgives us and because we forgive, bear with, and help one another [Galatians 6:1–2].
56 But outside of this Christian Church, where the Gospel is not found, there is no forgiveness, as also there can be no holiness. Therefore, all who seek and wish to earn holiness not through the Gospel and forgiveness of sin, but by their works, have expelled and severed themselves ‹from this Church› [Galatians 5:4].
57 However, while sanctification has begun and is growing daily [2 Thessalonians 1:3], we expect that our flesh will be destroyed and buried with all its uncleanness [Romans 6:4–11]. Then we will come forth gloriously and arise in a new, eternal life of entire and perfect holiness. 58 For now we are only half pure and holy. So the Holy Spirit always has some reason to continue His work in us through the Word. He must daily administer forgiveness until we reach the life to come. At that time there will be no more forgiveness, but only perfectly pure and holy people [1 Corinthians 13:10]. We will be full of godliness and righteousness, removed and free from sin, death, and all evil, in a new, immortal, and glorified body [1 Corinthians 15:43, 53].
59 You see, all this is the Holy Spirit’s office and work. 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 [1 Corinthians 15:52] and will forever preserve us therein by the last two parts [of the Creed].
60 But the term “resurrection of the flesh” used here does not agree with good German wording. For when we Germans hear the word flesh [Fleisch], we think of nothing more than a butcher block. But in good German wording we would say “resurrection of the body.” However, it is not a big issue, as long as we understand the words right.
61 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. For that purpose He has appointed a congregation upon earth by which He speaks and does everything. 62 For He has not yet brought together all His Christian Church [Christenheit] [John 10:16] or granted all forgiveness. 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. So when He has done it all, and we abide in this and die to the world and to all evil, He may finally make us perfectly and forever holy. Even now we expect this in faith through the Word. (Concordia: The Lutheran Confessions Edited by McCain, P. T. (2005) p. 404–406 St. Louis, MO: Concordia Publishing House.)
