acquired some Scriptural knowledge＇； these three articles may all be
expanded and divided into as many parts as there are words。 But now for
young scholars let it suffice to indicate the most necessary points；
namely； as we have said； that this article refers to the Creation： that
we emphasize the words： Creator of heaven and earth But what is the
force of this； or what do you mean by these words： I believe in God the
Father Almighty； Maker； etc。？ Answer： This is what I mean and believe；
that I am a creature of God； that is； that He has given and constantly
preserves to me my body； soul； and life； members great and small； all
my senses； reason； and understanding； and so on； food and drink；
clothing and support； wife and children； domestics； house and home；
etc。 Besides； He causes all creatures to serve for the uses and
necessities of life sun； moon and stars in the firmament； day and
night； air； fire； water； earth； and whatever it bears and produces；
birds and fishes； beasts； grain； and all kinds of produce； and whatever
else there is of bodily and temporal goods； good government； peace；
security。 Thus we learn from this article that none of us has of
himself； nor can preserve； his life nor anything that is here
enumerated or can be enumerated； however small and unimportant a thing
it might be； for all is comprehended in the word Creator。
Moreover； we also confess that God the Father has not only given us all
that we have and see before our eyes； but daily preserves and defends
us against all evil and misfortune； averts all sorts of danger and
calamity； and that He does all this out of pure love and goodness；
without our merit； as a benevolent Father； who cares for us that no
evil befall us。 But to speak more of this belongs in the other two
parts of this article； where we say： Father Almighty
Now； since： all that we possess； and； moreover； whatever； in addition；
is in heaven and upon the earth； is daily given； preserved； and kept
for us by God； it is readily inferred and concluded that it is our duty
to love； praise； and thank Him for it without ceasing； and； in short；
to serve Him with all these things as He demands and has enjoined in
the Ten Commandments。
Here we could say much if we were to expatiate； how few there are that
believe this article。 For we all pass over it； hear it and say it； but
neither see nor consider what the words teach us。 For if we believed it
with the heart； we would also act accordingly； and not stalk about
proudly； act defiantly； and boast as though we had life； riches； power；
and honor； etc。； of ourselves； so that others must fear and serve us；
as is the practice of the wretched； perverse world； which is drowned in
blindness； and abuses all the good things and gifts of God only for its
own pride； avarice； lust； and luxury； and never once regards God； so
as to thank Him or acknowledge Him as Lord and Creator。
Therefore； this article ought to humble and terrify us all； if we
believed it。 For we sin daily with eyes； ears； hands； body and soul；
money and possessions； and with everything we have； especially those
who even fight against the Word of God。 Yet Christians have this
advantage； that they acknowledge themselves in duty bound to serve God
for all these things； and to be obedient to Him ＇which the world knows
not how to do＇。
We ought； therefore； daily to practice this article； impress it upon
our mind； and to remember it in all that meets our eyes； and in all
good that falls to our lot； and wherever we escape from calamity or
danger； that it is God who gives and does all these things； that
therein we sense and see His paternal heart and His transcendent love
toward us。 Thereby the heart would be warmed and kindled to be
thankful； and to employ all such good things to the honor and praise of
God。
Thus we have most briefly presented the meaning of this article； as
much as is at first necessary for the most simple to learn； both as to
what we have and receive from God； and what we owe in return； which is
a most excellent knowledge； but a far greater treasure。 For here we see
how the Father has given Himself to us； together with all creatures；
and has most richly provided for us in this life； besides that He has
overwhelmed us with unspeakable； eternal treasures by His Son and the
Holy Ghost； as we shall hear。
Article II。
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。
Here we learn to know the Second Person of the Godhead； so that we see
what we have from God over and above the temporal goods
aforementioned； namely； how He has completely poured forth Himself and
withheld nothing from us that He has not given us。 Now； this article is
very rich and broad； but in order to expound it also briefly and in a
childlike way； we shall take up one word and sum up in that the entire
article； namely （as we have said）； that we may here learn how we have
been redeemed； and we shall base this on these words： In Jesus Christ；
our Lord。
If now you are asked； What do you believe in the Second Article of
Jesus Christ？ answer briefly： I believe that Jesus Christ； true Son of
God； has become my Lord。 But what is it to become Lord？ It is this；
that He has redeemed me from sin； from the devil； from death； and all
evil。 For before I had no Lord nor King； but was captive under the
power of the devil； condemned to death； enmeshed in sin and blindness。
For when we had been created by God the Father； and had received from
Him all manner of good； the devil came and led us into disobedience；
sin； death； and all evil； so that we fell under His wrath and
displeasure and were doomed to eternal damnation； as we had merited and
deserved。 There was no counsel； help； or comfort until this only and
eternal Son of God in His unfathomable goodness had compassion upon our
misery and wretchedness； and came from heaven to help us。 Those tyrants
and jailers； then； are all expelled now； and in their place has come
Jesus Christ； Lord of life； righteousness； every blessing； and
salvation； and has delivered us poor lost men from the jaws of hell；
has won us； made us free； and brought us again into the favor and grace
of the Father； and has taken us as His own property under His shelter
and protection； that He may govern us by His righteousness； wisdom；
power； life； and blessedness。
Let this then； be the sum of this article that the little word Lord
signifies simply as much as Redeemer； i。e。； He who has brought us from
Satan to God； from death to life； from sin to righteousness； and who
preserves us in the same。 But all the points which follow in order in
this article serve no other end than to explain and express this
redemption； how and whereby it was accomplished； that is； how much it
cost Him； and what He spent and risked that He might win us and bring
us under His dominion； namely； that He became man； conceived and born
without ＇any stain of＇ sin； of the Holy Ghost and of the Virgin Mary；
that He might overcome sin； moreover； that He suffered； died and was
buried； that He might make satisfaction for me and pay what I owe； not
with silver nor gold； but with His own precious blood。 And all this； in
order to become my Lord； for He did none of these for Himself； nor had
He any need of it。 And after that He rose again from the dead；
swallowed up and devoured death； and finally ascended into heaven and
assumed the government at the Father's right hand； so that the devil
and all powers must be subject to Him and lie at His feet； until
finally； at the last day； He will completely part and separate us from
the wicked world； the devil； death； sin； etc。
But to explain all these single points separately belongs not to brief
sermons for children； but rather to the ampler sermons that extend
throughout the entire year； especially at those times which are
appointed for the purpose of treating at length of each article of
the birth； sufferings； resurrection； ascension of Christ； etc。
Ay； the entire Gospel which we preach is based on this； that we
properly understand this article as that upon which our salvation and
all our happiness rest； and which is so rich and comprehensive that we
never can learn it fully。
Article III。
I believe in the Holy Ghost； the holy Christian Church； the communion
of saints； the forgiveness of sins； the resurrection of the body； and
the life everlasting。 Amen。
This article （as I have said） I cannot relate better than to
Sanctification； that through the same the Holy Ghost； with His office；
is declared and depicted； namely； that He makes holy。 Therefore we must
take our stand upon the word Holy Ghost； because it is so precise and
comprehensive that we cannot find another。 For there are； besides； many
kinds of spirits mentioned in the Holy Scriptures； as； the spirit of
man； heavenly spirits； and evil spirits。 But the Spirit of God alone is
called Holy Ghost； that is； He who has sanctified and still sanctifies
us。 For as the Father is called Creator； the Son Redeemer； so the Holy
Ghost； from His work； must be called Sanctifier； or One that makes
holy。 But how is such sanctifying done？ Answer： Just as the Son obtains
dominion； whereby He wins us； through His birth； death； resurrection；
etc。； so also the Holy Ghost effects our sanctification by the
following parts； namely； by the communion of saints or the Christian
Church； the forgiveness of sins； the resurrection of the body； and the
life everlasting； that is； He first leads us into His holy
congregation； and places us in the bosom of the Church； whereby He
preaches to us and brings us to Christ。
For neither you nor I could ever know anything of Christ； or believe on
Him； and obtain Him for our Lord； unless it were offered to us and
granted to our hearts by the Holy Ghost through the preaching of the
Gospel。 The work is done and accomplished； for Christ has acquired an