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The
Creed
Introduction
First
Article: I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven
and earth (The Apostle’s Creed).
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 maintains them. He
also gives me clothing and shoes, food and drink, house and home,
wife and children, land, animals, and all my goods. 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 purely 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 (Martin Luther’s Small Catechism).
Second
Article: And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was
conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under
Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into
hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into
heaven and sits at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty. From
thence He will come to judge the living and the dead (The
Apostle’s Creed).
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 man, 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, even as He is risen from the dead, lives
and reigns to all eternity. This is most certainly true (The Small Catechism).
Third
Article: I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian
church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the
resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen (The
Apostle’s Creed).
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; even as 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 sins to me and all believers
and will on the Last Day will raise up me and all the dead, and give
to me and all believers in Christ eternal life. This is most
certainly true (The Small Catechism). |
