The Third Sunday in Lent (NTA)

1 Corinthians 12:1-11
1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed. 2 You know that when you were pagans you were led astray to mute idols, however you were led. 3 Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit.
4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8 For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.
The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001 (1 Co 12:1-11). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

This is probably one of my favorite confessional verses. I have long been reminding people, that we do not choose God but he chooses us. God has called his people out of darkness kicking and screaming. St Paul has reminded people repeatedly that we do not get to select God. We take no part in our salvation. We do not even take part in our so called confession of faith.

Jesus told Peter, "Blessed are you Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven." It is God who builds us up upon his Cornerstone. St Paul also says, "by grace you have been saved." The Holy Spirit cries in our heart, "Abba, Father!" The Holy Spirit places the words in our mouth. Without the Holy Spirit we would not be able to confess the name of Christ.

St Paul tells the Corinthians about the gifts of the Spirit. The Spirit offers gifts of Faith, Hope, and Love. The greatest of these is Faith, wait no it is LOVE. The greatest commandment is LOVE the LORD your God with all your Heart with all your soul and with all your mind. But here in The Holy Spirit gives us the gift of FAITH. St Paul will tell us, by Faith you have been saved. This is a gift from God.

No one can say "Jesus is Lord" except by the power of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will never say "Jesus be cursed." You have been given the true gift of the Holy Spirit. You have been given faith. I can not say it any better than Luther.

"I believe that by my own understanding or strength I cannot believe in Jesus Christ my LORD or come to him, but instead the Holy Spirit has called me through the gospel, enlightened me with his gifts, made me holy and kept me in the true faith, just as he calls, gathers, enlightens, and makes holy the whole Christian church on earth and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one common, true faith. Daily in this Christian church the Holy Spirit abundantly forgives all sins—mine and those of all believers. On the Last Day the Holy Spirit will raise me and all the dead and will give to me and all believers in Christ eternal life. This is most certainly true."
Kolb, R., Wengert, T. J., & Arand, C. P. (2000). The Book of Concord : The confessions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church (355–356). Minneapolis: Fortress Press.