The
First Article: Creation
I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.
What does this
mean?
I believe that God has made me and all creatures; that He has given me
my body and soul, eyes, ears, and all my members, my reason and all my
senses, and still takes care of them. He also gives me clothing and
shoes, food and drink, house and home, wife and children, land, animals,
and all I have. He richly and daily
provides me with all that I need to support this body and life. He
defends me against all danger and guards and protects me from all evil.
All this He does only out of fatherly, divine goodness and mercy,
without any merit or worthiness in me. For all this it is my duty to
thank and praise, serve and obey Him. This is most
certainly true.
The Second
Article: Redemption
And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the
Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary; suffered under Pontius Pilate, was
crucified, dead, and buried; He descended into hell; the third day He
rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the
right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to
judge the quick and the dead.
What does this
mean?
I believe that Jesus Christ, true God, begotten of the Father from
eternity, and also true man, born of the Virgin Mary, is my Lord. Who
has redeemed me, a lost and condemned person, purchased and won me from
all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil; not with gold or
silver, but with His holy, precious blood and with His innocent
suffering and death, that I may be His own and live under Him in His
kingdom and serve Him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and
blessedness, just as He is risen from the dead, lives and reigns to all
eternity. This is most certainly true.
Third Article:
Sanctification
I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic* Church, the communion
of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and
the life everlasting. Amen.
What does this mean?
I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength 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. In this Christian church He daily and
richly forgives all my sins and the sins of all believers. On the Last
Day He will raise me and all the dead, and give eternal life to me and
all believers in Christ.This is most certainly true.
* catholic
means "universal" and is not a reference to the Roman Catholic Church.
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