The person of the Holy Spirit receives little attention in the life of some churches. For many of us, the Spirit is our focus on Pentecost, and we may speak of the Spirit in a vague way when we address the thorny issue of sanctification, but our theology, teaching, and pondering often focus on the other two persons of the Trinity. "Charismatics" and "Pentecostals," of course, do not suffer such a deficiency. However, in traditions that are not so oriented toward gifts of the Spirit, there is a noticeable lack of discussion of the work of the Comforter. This lack of attention is unfortunate. The primary work, or office, of the Holy Spirit should not slip from Christian catechesis, preaching, and theological training. In this article I address the role of the Spirit in Martin Luther's theology of justification and sanctification and look at the practical implications for preaching and teaching that follow from his understanding of the Spirit active in faith.
