V

I. II. III. IV. V. - VI. VII. - VIII. IX.

V. The Holy Spirit

87. What do we mean by "Holy Spirit"?

By holy spirit we mean the power of God, and its help for good, which clarifies the intellect, cleanses the heart and strengthens the will, thus enlightening, calming, encouraging and making one happy.

1 Corinthians 3,16: Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?

1 Corinthians 6,19: Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God? You are not your own...

88. Is the Holy Spirit a person?

The holy spirit cannot be a person, because it is the power of God.

II Timothy 1,7: ... for God did not give us a spirit of timidity but a spirit of power and love and self-control.

89. What do some Christian denominations teach about the Holy Spirit?

Some Christian denominations teach that both the holy spirit and Jesus are each separate divine persons, and express that as follows: God is one in essence but three in person: Father, Son (Jesus) and Holy Spirit. They call this the holy trinity.

We Unitarians do not teach the trinity, because we believe in the indivisible unity of God both in essence and in person.

90. In whom did the holy spirit work?

The holy spirit worked in the prophets, apostles and in all of those good and true people who loved God and humanity.

II Peter 1,21: Through him you have confidence in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory so that your faith and hope are in God.

91. In whom did the holy spirit work in the fullest measure?

The holy spirit worked most fully in Jesus.

92. Is the Spirit of God working in us today?

The spirit of God is working in us today as well, enlightening our reason, enabling us to know good and truth and strengthening our will to persistently remain close to good and truth. At the same time it makes our frailties known, causing us to reform and to improve ourselves.

Galatians 5,14-25: For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, "you shall love your neighbor as yourself." But if you bite and devour one another take heed that you are not consumed by one another.

But I say, walk by the Spirit and do not gratify the desire of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh; for these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from doing what you would. But if you are led by the Spirit you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are plain: immorality, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger, selfishness, dissension, party spirit, envy, drunkenness, carousing and the like. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit if love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh and its passions and desires.

If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.

93. How does the work of the Holy Spirit help us?

The work of the holy spirit helps us to practice the teachings of Jesus, to attend worship with a zealous spirit, to participate in services, to preserve the purity of the heart and to perform our moral religious duties.

Matthew 5,8: Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.

VI. The Unitarian Church

94. What do we mean by "The Unitarian Church"?

By "Unitarian Church" we mean the spiritual community of those people who, by following the teachings and example of Jesus, work for the building of the Kingdom of God.

Ephesians 2,19-22: So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built into it for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

95. In what is the Unitarian Church embodied?

The Unitarian Church is embodied in those congregations and communities in which Jesus' teachings are proclaimed and which endeavor to follow his example.

96. Who is the head of the Unitarian Church?

The head of the Unitarian Church is Jesus, whose co-workers are all those who are proclaiming his teachings in congregations and communities.

97. How does Jesus lead the Unitarian Church?

Jesus leads the Unitarian Church through his teachings. His teachings are proclaimed by ministers; the duties of believers are to listen, to know the Scripture and to live according its teachings.

98. Who are the leaders of the Unitarian Church?

The leaders of the Unitarian Church are as follows:

In congregations: The Minister, Curator(President), Cantor and the members of the Council.

In districts: The District Minister, the two District Curators (Presidents) and the District Notary.

In the general church: The Bishop, the two General Curators, and the General Notary.

The main governing bodies of the Unitarian Church are the General Assembly and the General Synod, the executive body of which is the Representative Council.

Matthew 20,26-28: It shall not be so among you; but whoever would be great among you must be your servants and whoever would be first among you must be your slave; even as the Son of man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

1 Peter 5,1-3: So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ as well as a partaker in the glory that is to be revealed. Tend the flock of God that is your charge, not by constraint but willingly, not for shameful gain but eagerly, not as domineering over those in your charge but being examples to the flock.

99. How must be treat those in the church who behave poorly?

Because we are all children of God, we cannot expel those who behave poorly from the church, but we must endeavor to recover them for the good way through brotherly love and exemplary life.

100. How must the members of different denominations behave toward each other?

The duty of members of different denominations is to love each other as brothers because that is the characteristic sign of Jesus' followers:

"By this all men will know that you are my disciples if you love one another." John 13,35.

I. II. III. IV. V. - VI. VII. - VIII. IX.