Ye were dead in trespasses and sins.Eph. 2,1.
No man can say that Jesus is the Lord but by the Holy Ghost.1 Cor. 12,3.
By grace are ye saved, through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not of works, lest any man should boast.
QUESTIONS.
1. What has Christ done for our salvation? 2. In what manner did He gain for us the grace of God, forgiveness of sins, and life everlasting? 3. What is now the one thing necessary for our salvation? 4. What happens if we do not accept all that Christ offers us for our salvation? 5. How do we come to Christ and accept in true faith what He has gained for us? 6. What does it mean to believe in Christ? 7. In what respect may we compare our faith with a hand? 8. Which is the only way to heaven? 9. What do we confess in the Third Article about our coming to Christ and believing in Him? 10. Why are we not able to come to Christ by our own reason? 11. How do we always try to save ourselves? 12. Why do we not have strength to come to Jesus and believe in Him? 13. What does the apostle say 1 Cor. 12,3? 14. Who alone can bring us to Christ and work faith in us? 15. What moves the Holy Ghost to perform this work in us?
LESSON 32.The Third Article.
The Holy Ghost Has Called Me.
Which is the Third Article?
I believe in the Holy Ghost.
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 Ghost has called me by the Gospel.
1. We cannot by our own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, our Lord, or come to Him. The Holy Ghost alone is able to bring us to Christ, our Savior. How does He bring us to Christ? We confess as children of God thatthe Holy Ghost has called me by the Gospel.By calling me through the Gospel, the Holy Ghost has brought me to Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior. Let us see what this means.
2. Our Lord, in a parable, once spoke of a certain rich man who made a great supper for his guests. And he sent out his servants at supper-time to say to those who were bidden:"Come, for all things are now ready."Luke 14,16.17. The meal was prepared, and the rich man invited his guests to come and partake of it. At dinner-time, when your mother has prepared dinner for the family, she calls to you, "Dinner is ready. Now come and eat! It is prepared for you too." In a similar manner theHoly Ghost calls us and invites us to come to Christ and accept His salvation.Christ, our Savior, has prepared all things; He has prepared forgiveness of all our sins, life, and salvation. All things necessary for our salvation are ready in Christ. All is finished. And now the Holy Ghost brings us these glad tidings: All things are now ready, all things needed for your salvation. Come, whosoever you are, come to your Savior! Come and take and enjoy what He in His great love has prepared for you.We come to Jesus only by faith.The Holy Ghost calls us and invites us, Come,believein your Savior, and You will be saved.
3. You do not see the Holy Ghost when He calls you.The Holy Ghost calls you by the Gospel.The Gospel, as you have learned (Lesson 14),is the glad tidings of the grace of God for all men,the tidings of what Christ has done for us to save us. As the rich man in the parable, so the Holy Ghost sends Hisservants.These servants are all those who tell you the Gospel of Christ, your minister, your teacher, your parents, etc. When you hear the Gospel or read it, the Holy Ghost comes to you and calls you. In the Gospel He says to you: All things have been prepared by Christ; they are ready for you, for your salvation. In Christ you have forgiveness of your sins and salvation.Come now, you lost and condemned sinner, and take what your Lord freely offers you. Believe in Christ, and you will be saved.That is the call of the Holy Ghost by the Gospel."He called you by our Gospel to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ."2 Thess. 2,14.
4. When your mother calls you to dinner, you must come by your own will and strength, and you have the strength to do so. We sinners have neither the will nor the strength to come to Jesus. The Holy Ghost knows that we cannot by our own strength come to our Savior.By calling us He gives us the strength to hear and to follow His call.By His call He brings us to Christ and works in us faith in our Lord, so that we willingly come to Him. The call of the Holy Ghost is God's call, full of power. This work of the Holy Ghost we also callconversion.The Holy Ghost alone converts us, that is, He turns us from our sins to Christ. "Turn Thou me, and I shall be turned; for Thou art the Lord, my God." Jer. 31,18.
5. Remember that the Holy Ghost brings you to Christby the Gospel.Only through the Gospel does He work in the hearts of men. The Gospel is the means by which we obtain the grace of God and salvation.If we do not read or hear the Word of God, the Gospel, the Holy Ghost cannot perform His work in us.Therefore you shoulddiligentlyread and hear the Word of God, the Gospel."It is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth."Rom. 1,16.
REMEMBER:—
1.Christ has prepared your whole salvation. All is ready, ready for you. The Holy Ghost calls and invites you to come and partake freely of what Jesus has gained for you.
2.By His call the Holy Ghost gives you strength to follow His call, to come to your Lord. He Himself works by His call in your heart the true faith in your Savior and so brings you to Christ. This work of the Holy Ghost is also called conversion. Conversion is the work of the Holy Ghost alone. Our salvation is a free gift of God.
3.The Holy Ghost calls us by the Gospel of Christ. Diligently read and hear God's saving Word.
MEMORIZE:—
Come, for all things are now ready.Luke 14,17.
Turn Thou me, and I shall be turned; for Thou art the Lord, my God.Jer. 31,18.
By grace are ye saved, through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not of works, lest any man should boast.Eph. 2,8.9.
I am not ashame of the Gospel of Christ; for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth.Rom. 1,16.
QUESTIONS.
1. What do we confess in the Third Article concerning ourselves? 2. Whose work is it that we come to Christ? 3. Who has prepared all things necessary for our salvation? 4. Who calls us to come and partake of all that Christ has gained? 5. What do we mean when we say that the Holy Ghost calls us? 6. By what means does the Holy Ghost call us to Jesus? 7. What is the Gospel? 8. Who are the servants the Holy Ghost sends to us with the Gospel message? 9. What the Holy Ghost do when you hear or read the Gospel? 10. What are we not able to do of ourselves when the Holy Ghost calls us? 11. What does the Holy Ghost give us when He calls us? 12. What does He work in us by His call? 13. What other name have we for this work of the Holy Ghost? 14. Whose work alone is our conversion? 15. To whom does the Holy Ghost tun us when He converts us? 16. The Holy Ghost converts us by the Gospel; what should we therefore diligently do?
LESSON 33.The Third Article.
The Holy Ghost Has Enlightened, Sanctified, And Kept Me In The True Faith.
Which is the Third Article?
I believe in the Holy Ghost.
What does this mean?
I believe that the Holy Ghost has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith.
1. The Holy Ghost has called me by the Gospel, and in doing soHe has also enlightened me with His gifts.By calling me, He has kindled true faith in Christ in me, so that I know Christ and acknowledge Him to be my Savior, I believe and trust, rejoice and find comfort in Him alone for life and death. These are gifts of the Holy Ghost with which He enlightens every child of God:true knowledge of Christ as his Redeemer, true faith in Him, peace with God, his Father, joy and comfort in all distress.What wonderful gifts! How rich does the Holy Ghost make a child of God!Do not forget to thank Him daily for the precious gifts He bestows upon you.
2."The Holy Ghost has sanctified me,"that is,He has made me holy, and He does this every day, more and more.He sanctifies me"in the true faith."By His call the Holy Ghost has called forth in us true faith in our Lord. Through faith you have forgiveness of sins and are a child of God, with whom God, for Christ's sake, is well pleased.But it is God's will that His children lead a holy life,flee and shun all sin, and live according to His commandments."This is the will of God, even your sanctification."1 Thess. 4,3. Of ourselves we cannot do this, but the Holy Ghost comes to our aid.He sanctifies us, He makes us holy.Through faith He comes into our heart and dwells in us."Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?"1 Cor. 3,16. And the Holy Ghostworksin us, the children of God. In His strength we beginto hate the sinsthat we formerly loved, and to flee them. In His strength we beginto fear and love God above all things, and to trust in Him.We no longer serve the devil and our sins, but begin to serve our Lord who has redeemed us, and our Father in heaven.
3. True, we are notperfectly holy,nor do we become so as long as we live here on earth. True children of God also must confessthat they daily sin much and deserve nothing but punishment.But they are heartily sorry for this. They daily ask God's forgiveness for Christ's sake. And the Holy Ghostdailygives themnew strength and powerto fight and struggle against all temptations of the devil and the world and their own evil lusts. He daily gives them new strength to walk in godliness, to love God and their neighbor. Let us abide in Him, and we shall more and more overcome the devil, the world, and our sins, become more and more holy as our Lord and God is holy."He that abideth in Me and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit; for without Me ye can do nothing."John 15,5.
4."The Holy Ghost has kept me in the true faith,"so a child of God confesses. The Holy Ghost has already called and enlightened us and begun to sanctify usin Holy Baptism.There already He has brought us to Christ and has bestowed His precious gifts upon us. And to-day we still have the true faith; we believe in our Savior, and in Him we are children of God.That is not our own merit, it is the work of the Holy Ghost in us.He has worked in us by the Gospel, through our parents, through the Christian school and the church, and by the Gospel. He has kept us in the true faith."Ye are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation."1 Pet. 1,5.—And He has promised in His Wordthat He will keep us in this faith until our end. "He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ."Phil. 1,6.
5. This is the work of the Holy Ghost in all true believers, andHe is willing to perform this work in every one who hears the Gospel.God earnestly desires to save all men."God will have all men to be saved and to come unto the knowledge of the truth."1 Tim. 2,4. Christ died for all men; He redeemed all lost and condemned sinners. The Gospel is a power of God unto salvation to all who read and hear it.—And yet not all men are saved; most men are lost.What is the cause of this? They are lostby their own fault.Most men will not be saved. They obstinately resist the Holy Ghost and the saving Gospel, and so they do not come to Christ, but are condemned."O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself, but in Me is thine help."Hos. 13,9.
REMEMBER:—
1.The Holy Ghost has enlightened me and bestowed on me His precious gifts, the right knowledge of Christ, true faith in Him.
2.He sanctifies me and makes me holy. He daily gives me strength to struggle against Satan, world, and sin, to overcome them and to lead a godly life, to love God and my neighbor.
3.He has, by the Gospel, kept me in the true faith until this day, and He has promised me that He will do so until the end.
4.This work the Holy Ghost desires to perform in all that hear the Gospel. Whosoever is lost is lost by his own fault.
MEMORIZE:—
This is the will of God, even your sanctification.1 Thess. 4,3.
Ye are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.1 Pet. 1,5.
He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.Phil. 1,6.
God will have all men to be saved and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.1 Tim. 2,4.
QUESTIONS.
1. Which is the second work of the Holy Ghost mentioned in our Catechism? 2. With what does the Holy Ghost enlighten us? 3. What are His gifts? 4. What has the Holy Ghost by His call kindled in us? 5. Whose children are we through faith? 6. What is God's will regarding His children? (1 Cor. 3,16.) 7. What does the word "sanctify" mean? 8. Who performs this work in us? 9. What do we, by the grace of the Holy Ghost, begin to hate? 10. Whom do we begin to love? 11. What must even true believers confess? 12. What do we therefore daily ask of God? 13. And what does the Holy Ghost daily grant us? 14. Which is the last work which the Holy Ghost performs in us? 15. Since when has He kept us in the true faith? 16. How long has He promised to keep us in the faith? 17. In whom will the Holy Ghost perform this work He has begun in us? 18. What is the gracious will of God toward all men? 19. What is the reason that not all men are saved? 20. Whose fault is it that they are lost? 21. By whose work alone are we saved?
LESSON 34.The Third Article.
REVIEW LESSON.
1. In the Third Article of our Creed we learn about the Holy Ghost, about His person and His work. We confess that we believe in the Holy Ghost. In whom alone should we believe? What do we therefore confess of the Holy Ghost when we say that we believe in Him? How can we prove from Holy Scripture that the Holy Ghost is true God? 1 Cor. 3,16. Which divine work is ascribed to the Holy Ghost?
2. In whom do we believe according to the First Article? In whom according to the Second Article? And in whom according to the Third Article? In how many Persons of the Godhead do we believe, according to our Creed? There are three distinct Persons in whom we believe. We believe in them; what, therefore, are they? All these three persons are the true God. In whose name have we been baptized? On what occasion did these three divine Persons reveal themselves to us? How did they reveal themselves at the baptism of Christ? The Father is God, the Son is God, and tho Holy Ghost is God; how many Gods are there? In how many Persons did the one true God reveal Himself? Who, therefore, is the one true God? What do we call God because He is one and has revealed Himself in three Persons?—Why is the third Person of God called the Holy Ghost? The Holy Ghost makes us holy; what do we call this work of the Holy Spirit?
3. What has Christ done for our salvation? What has He gained for us in order to save us? What is now the one thing necessary for our salvation? What becomes of us if we do not come to Jesus and accept what He has merited for us? How do we come to Jesus and accept all that He offers us?—Believe in Jesus Christ, your Savior; that is the only way to heaven. But what must we confess concerning our believing and coming to Christ? Why can we not by our own reason and strength believe in Christ or come to Him? What do we read Eph. 2,1? Wo are dead in trespasses and sins. A dead person cannot do anything to raise himself from death to a new life. As far as we are concerned, we are lost and condemned creatures. Who took pity on us? Whom did God send to raise us from the death of our sins? To whom does the Holy Ghost bring us? Do we and can we help Him to perform this work in us? Whose work alone is it? By what is the Holy Ghost moved to bring us to Christ, our Lord, and thus to save us?
4. The Holy Ghost alone can bring us to Christ. Our Catechism tells us how the Spirit of God performs this work in us. What do we confess in the Third Article about this work of the Holy Ghost? The Holy Ghost has called me. In which parable does Christ Himself explain what this means? As this rich man had prepared a supper for His guests, so Christ has prepared, as it were, a supper for us, for all men. What is this supper which Christ has prepared for all men? In what manner did He prepare everything for our salvation? Who now calls us to the salvation Christ has prepared? What does the Holy Ghost say to us in this call? We come to our Lord and to the meal He has prepared for us by believing in Him. The Holy Ghost calls and invites us to believe in Jesus Christ, our Lord, and be saved.—By what means does the Holy Ghost call and invite us to Christ, to faith in Him? Who, generally, are the servants He sends out to call us to Christ by the Gospel? But who is it that really calls us when we hear the Gospel?—The Holy Ghost calls us by the Gospel. He says to us, Come to your Lord and be saved. What are we not able to do by our own strength when the Holy Ghost calls us? What does the Holy Ghost give us in calling us? What does He call forth in us by His call? What do we call this work of the Spirit? Who alone performs conversion in us? The Holy Ghost brings us to Christ, or converts us, only through the Gospel. When can the Holy Ghost not perform this work in us? What should we therefore diligently do?
5. What is the second work of the Holy Ghost? With what does the Holy Ghost enlighten us? What are His gifts?—The Holy Ghost sanctifies me; what does that mean? The Holy Ghost sanctifies us in the true faith. Whose children are we through faith? What is God's will toward His children? 1 Thess. 4,3. Who performs this work in us? The Holy Ghost dwells in our heart, and renews and sanctifies it. What do we hate now by the power He has granted us? Whom do we begin to love?—Our sanctification in this life is never perfect. What must also the children of God confess? What do they therefore ask of their Lord every day? But what does the Holy Ghost daily give them? Against whom do the children of God daily struggle and fight? In whose strength do they more and more overcome the devil, the world, and their own sins?—Which is the last work performed in us by the Holy Ghost? Since when has the Holy Ghost kept us in the true faith? How long has He promised to keep us with Christ?—In whom is the Holy Ghost willing to perform His work to the end in order to save them? What is God's gracious will towards all men? What additional proof can you give for the fact that God desires all men to be saved? How is it that not all men are saved? Whose fault is it that those are lost who are condemned? By whose grace and work alone are we saved?
LESSON 35.The Third Article.
The Holy Christian Church.
Which is the Third Article?
I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints.
What does this mean?
I believe that ... the Holy Ghost has called me, ... 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.
1. God the Holy Ghost has called me to Christ, sanctified me, and kept me in the true faith. The Holy Ghost, however, has performed this work of His gracenot only on me.Besides me He has called, and still calls, many poor lost sinners to Christ, enlightens them with His precious gifts, with faith in their Savior. All these the Holy Ghost also"gathers,"as our Catechism states. The Holy Ghost does not suffer those who have been converted by the Gospel tobe separate,but adds them to His disciples, as on that first Pentecost all those were added to the congregation of the disciples who had been converted by Peter's sermon. Acts 2,41. All true believers are Christ's own; through faith in Him they are closely united as brethren and sisters in the one Lord.All true believers, taken together are the holy Christian Church on earth, which the Holy Ghost sanctifies and keeps in the one true faith.
2. The Third Article calls the Christian Churchthe communion of saints.It is a communion, a congregation, ofsaints,that is, ofholy people.They are not holy in themselves, but the Holy Ghost has sanctified them, or made them holy, through faith in Christ. In Christ they haveforgiveness of all their sinsand are holy in the eyes of God.Only true believers in Christ therefore belong to the Christian Church; only they, but all of them.Instead of the communion of saints we might also saythe communion of true believers.—The Church is the communion of saints. All believers in Christ are acommunion,acongregation;they form, as it were, onebody.They do not all live together at one place, in one city, or in the same country,—we find them scattered over all the earth,—but they areclosely bound together by one and the same faith in Christ.They belong to one family, of which Christ is the Head and Master, and all are members.The Church is the communion of saints; for believers only, but all believers, are members of it.
3. Webelievethat the holy Christian Church is here on earth, but we do notseeit; it is invisible. Only true believers belong to the Church, and no man can look into another's heart and see hisfaith.Only One really knows who the members of the Church are."The Lord knoweth them that are His."2 Tim. 2,19. We cannot see the Church, butwe believe that it is here on earth;for holy Scripture assures us that the Holy Ghost by the Gospel at all times calls men to Christ and keeps them in the true faith to the end of the world. Our Lord says:"Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build My Church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."Matt. 16,18.—The Church isholybecause all its members areholy by faith in Christand in the strength of the Holy Ghostlead a godly lifeand serve their Lord in His kingdom in righteousness.—It is called theChristianChurch because it is built onChrist. "Other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ."1 Cor. 3,11. And He is not only its Foundation, but alsothe Head and King of the Church.
4. We do not see the Church,but we know where it is, where we can find it.The Holy Ghost calls and keeps the Church onlyby the Gospel.God has promised us that, where His Gospel is preached, it shall not remainwithout fruit;some of those who hear it will come to Christ and believe in Him.Wherever the Word of God is preached, and only where it is in use, the holy Christian Church is to be found.
5. Scripture also speaks of avisibleChurch, of visible congregations of Christians. A visible Church is the number of all those who call themselves Christians, whoprofess their faith in Christ and are gathered about God's Word.In these visible congregations there are not only true believers, but alsohypocrites,who indeed confess the Christian faith, but do not believe in their Savior. Among the visible churches there aremany false churches and one true visible Church.The true visible Church teaches and confesses the Word of Godin all its purity, without false doctrines. This true visible Church is the Evangelical Lutheran Church.To this Church we ought to belong, and to no other; for our Lord says:"If ye continue in My Word, then are ye My disciples indeed, and ye shall know the truth; and the truth shall make you free."John 8, 31.32."Beware of false prophets!"Matt. 7,15.
REMEMBER:—
1.Let it be your earnest concern to be and remain a member of the invisible Church of Christ; remain steadfast in the true faith. He that believes, and He only, shall be saved.
2.Let it also be your earnest concern to belong to the true visible Church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church. In this Church the pure Word is preached, the Gospel, which is the power of God unto salvation. Avoid all false churches. "Beware of false prophets!"
3.Pray and work with all diligence for your Church that it may be maintained and extended.Matt. 28,19.
MEMORIZE:—
The Lord knoweth them that are His.2 Tim. 2,19.
Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build My Church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.Matt. 16,18.
Other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.1 Cor. 3,11.
If ye continue in My Word, then are ye My disciples indeed, and ye shall know the truth; and the truth shall make you free.John 8,31.32.
QUESTIONS.
1. Who are the members of the holy Christian Church? 2. By whom was the Church founded? 3. In what way does the Holy Ghost build up and preserve the Church? 4. What is the Church also called in the Third Article? 5. Who are the saints? 6. Why are believers called saints? 7. How are they sanctified by the Holy Ghost? 8. What does the Word "communion" mean? 9. What binds true believers so closely together? 10. Why is the Church called theholyChurch? 11. Why is it called theChristianChurch? 12. Where do we find the true Church? 13. Why is this so? 14. What is the visible Church? 15. Who also, besides true believers, belongs to these visible churches? 16. Which is the true visible Church? 17. How is the true visible Church called? 18. Why should we belong to this Church and avoid all false churches?
LESSON 36.The Third Article.
The Forgiveness Of Sins.
Which is the Third Article?
I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins.
What does this mean?
In which Church He[the Holy Ghost]daily and richly forgives all sins to me and all believers.
1. We confess in our Catechism that the Holy Ghost forgives all sins to me and all believers.We believe that there is a forgiveness of sins.God's Word assures us of this."There is forgiveness with Thee."Ps. 130,4.How sorely do we need forgiveness of sins!You know that all men, also believers, commit sin. A child of God indeed earnestly strives against committing any sin, he tries not to transgress the commandments of his heavenly Father; but, alas! also God's children sin daily and much."There is not a just man upon earth that doeth good and sinneth not."Eccl. 7,20. With our sins we deserve nothing but God's punishment."The wages of sin is death."Rom. 6,23.Without forgiveness of sins we are lost.
2.But there is a forgiveness of sins with God.He assures us in His Word that by grace, for Christ's sake, He will forgive me all my sins. He will do sodaily and richly.Whenever we have sinned, we should come to Him and pray to Him: Forgive me my trespasses. Even as a child who has grieved his father by his disobedience penitently comes to him and asks his forgiveness, so we in true penitence should daily come to our heavenly Father, whom we have so sorely grieved, whose punishment we deserve, and ask His forgiveness.He will not cast us out.He will hear our prayer, and we will praise Him:"Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits; who forgiveth all thine iniquities, who healeth all thy diseases."Ps. 103,2.3. Thepublicancame into the Temple and humbly said:"God be merciful to me, a sinner!"and God was merciful to him; he went down to his housejustified.He had received forgiveness of his sins. Luke 18,9-14.
3. God forgives us our sins. He is moved to do thisnot by our good works or merits.God does not see anything in us which could induce Him to forgive us our trespasses. We deserve nothing but punishment.His free grace alone moves God to forgive us all our sins.Our God is a merciful God. He takes pity on us, His sinful children.—By grace Godforgivesus our sins, that is, He does not look upon our sins, does notimputethem to us, but declares us sinnersrighteous.In the beautiful parable of our Lord which we find Matt. 18,23 ff., the wicked servant asks his Lord to have patience with him, whom he owed so much. And the kind lord, moved with compassion, loosed the servant from his fetters and forgave him all his debts, which he never would have been able to pay.Thus God, moved with compassion, does not punish us as we have deserved, and declares us free from debt, declares us righteous, or in other words, God justifies us.
4. How can the just and holy God who has threatened to punish all who transgress His commandments forgive sins and declare sinners righteous? He does sofor Christ's sake. In Christwe have the forgiveness of sins."In Christ we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace."Eph. 1,7 Christ fulfilled the Law of God in our stead, He suffered the punishment for our sins, and so made good for us.He has earned full forgiveness for us; for His sake all our sins are forgiven.
5. Whoreceivesforgiveness of sins? We confess that God forgives all sinsto me and all believers.It is true, Christ hasprocuredforgivenessfor all men—Christ died for every sinner. God, in His grace,offersthis forgiveness by the Gospelto all who hear it.We read:"God was in Christ, reconciling the world[all men]unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the Word of Reconciliation."2 Cor. 5,19. Yet not all receive forgiveness, but only thosewho believe in Christ and thus accept the forgivenesswhich Christ has earned for all men. Without faith in Christ there is no forgiveness of sins.We are justified by faith alone.
6. We receive forgiveness of sins, we are justified before God,without the deeds of the Law, by grace alone, for Christ's sake, through faith in our Lord.This is thechief article of our Christian faith.This doctrine is taught only by the Christian Church.It gives all the glory for our salvation to God and affords true comfort to all sinners.
REMEMBER:—
1.God has promised in His Word to forgive us all our sins daily and richly. Come to Him every day and with true penitence, with a contrite heart, ask His forgiveness for Christ's sake. He will graciously grant it.
2.We are justified in the sight of God without the deeds of the Law, by His grace, for Christ's sake, through faith in Him. This is the chief doctrine of the Christian Church and the only one that gives lasting comfort to all sinners.
MEMORIZE:—
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits; who forgiveth all thine iniquities, who healeth all thy diseases.Ps. 103,2.3.
In Christ we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.Eph. 1,7.
God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them, and has committed unto us the Word of Reconciliation.2 Cor. 5,19.
QUESTIONS.
1. Why do we so sorely need daily forgiveness of sins? 2. What do we deserve with our sins before God? 3. Of what does God assure us in His Word with regard to our sins? 4. What should we therefore do every day? 5. How did the publican in the Temple ask for forgiveness 6. How did God answer his prayer? Luke 18, 13.14. 7. Why cannot our works and merits induce God to grant us forgiveness? 8. By what is God moved to forgive us our sins? 9. God forgives us our sins—what does that mean? 10. What do we also call this act of God by which He forgives us our sins? 11. For whose sake does God forgive, or justify, us? 12. Why do we have forgiveness of sins for Christ's sake? 13. Who only receives forgiveness of sins? 14. Why is faith in Christ necessary if we wish to receive forgiveness? 15. How are we justified before God? 16. Why is this doctrine the chief doctrine of our Church?
LESSON 37.The Third Article
The Resurrection Of The Body And Life Everlasting.
Which is the Third Article?
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.
What does this mean?
He[the Holy Ghost]will at the Last Day raise up me and all the dead and give unto me and all believers in Christ eternal life. This is most certainly true.
1.We believe the resurrection of the body,so we confess. We believe thatGod will raise up me and all the dead,so that our bodies which have died shall again be made alive and come forth from their graves. Our bodiesdieand are buried, and in the grave they decay.These same bodieswill live again. It is true, we cannotunderstandhow this is possible. To unbelievers it seems ridiculous, they laugh and mock at this doctrine. Still webelieveit; we are assured by the Word of God that our dead shall live again. And"the Word of the Lord is right."Ps. 33,4. Our Lord says:"The hour is coming in the which all that are in the graves shall hear His voice and shall come forth."John 5,28. Our God isalmighty,with Him nothing is impossible. Luke 1,37.
2. God will raiseme and all the dead. Allthat are in the graves shall hear His voice and shall come forth from their graves. Christ will not only raise His own, His believers, but all men, those, too, who did not believe in Him, but died in their sins.—"The hour is coming,"our Lord says: it is coming onthe Last Dayof the world. On that great day, when our Lord will come again to judge the quick and the dead, all the dead shall hear the almighty voice of the Son of God and whether they will or not, shall come forth from their graves to meet their God and Lord at His judgment-seat.
3. All the dead will be raised from death and the grave;but there will be a great difference in their resurrection.Our Lord says:"They that have done good[shall come forth]unto the resurrection of life, and they that have done evil unto the resurrection of damnation."John 5,29. Those who here on earth believed in Christ, and by the power of His grace served Him in His kingdom, and died in the Lord trusting in Him, will come forth to life everlasting and go with their Lord to His eternal glory.They that have done evil,those who rejected their Savior and died in their sins, will rise untothe resurrection of damnation.They will be thrown intohell,into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels. Matt. 25,41. May our heavenly Father keep us steadfast in the true faith and preserve us from hell and damnation!
4.They that have done good,those who believed in Christ and died in the Lord, shall come forth untothe resurrection of life. At the Last Day the risen Lord will raise all that fell asleep in Him, and will give them life everlasting, life without end.We confess that the Lord will "givemeand all believers eternal life." The Holy Ghost has called me by the Gospel, by His grace I believe in my Savior, by grace He has kept me in the faith, and soI am assuredthat He will givemeeternal life."Whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life."John 3,16. To me and all believers the Lord will give eternal life, butto believers only. "He that believeth on the Son hath eternal life, and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him."John 3,36.
5. God will give us believerseternal life.Christ will lead His own, His believers, soul and body, into His heavenly kingdom, there to live and reign with Him in everlasting joy and glory. In heaven there will beno sin;in perfect holiness we shall serve our Lord. There will be no moredeath,norsorrow,norcrying,norpain.Rev. 21,4. All these things shall have passed away. There will be pure andtrue joy and happiness forever and ever.We shall bewith God:we shall see Him, our heavenly King and Father, and His wondrous ways."We shall see Him as He is."1 John 3,2. We shallsee our dear Lord and Savior,whom we love now even without having seen Him. We shall see Himin His glory,in the glory which His Father has given Him. What unspeakable joy to see God, our Lord and Savior, to be and live with Him!"In Thy presence is fulness of joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures forevermore."Ps. 16,11.—Ourbodieswill share this joy. They will come forthglorified, freed from all sin, sickness, and infirmity, fashionedlike unto the glorious body of our risen Lord.
REMEMBER:—
1.It is most certainly true that the Holy Ghost by the Gospel has called me to Christ, my Lord, and enlightened me with His gifts, with true faith in my Savior.
2.It is most certainly true that in Christ I have forgiveness of all my sins, that I am justified before God without the deeds of the Law, by grace alone, for Christ's sake through faith.
3.It is most certainly true that the Holy Ghost will keep me in the true faith, and at the day of my Lord raise my glorified body and give to me and all believers in Christ eternal life. I am assured of all of this by the Word of God. This is what I firmly believe and hope for in life and death.
MEMORIZE:—
The hour is coming in the which all that are in the graves shall hear His voice and shall come forth: they that have done good unto the resurrection of life, and they that have done evil unto the resurrection of damnation.John 5,28.29.
We shall see Him as He is.1 John 3,2.
In Thy presence is fulness of joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures forevermore.Ps. 16,11.
He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life, and He that believeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him.John 3,36.
QUESTIONS.
1. "We believe the resurrection of the body"—what does this mean? 2. What happens to our bodies when we die? 3. Why do we believe that God will raise our bodies? 4. Why do we firmly believe that God can do this though to us it seems impossible? 5. Who will hear the voice of the Son of God when His hour has come? 6. When will His hour come? 7. What difference will there be in the resurrection of the dead? 8. Who are "they that have done good"? 9. Who are "they that have done evil"? 10. To what kind of resurrection will these come forth? 11. What will the Lord at the Last Day give unto me and all believers? 12. Why am I assured that He will give eternal life also to me? 13. What does our Lord say John 3,36? 14. What will there no longer be in eternal life? 15. What will give us everlasting joy and happiness in eternal life? 16. How will the bodies of the believers rise at that day? 17. Like unto whose body will they be fashioned? 18. Why do we believe that all we have confessed in the Third Article is most certainly true?
LESSON 38The Third Article.
Review Lesson.
1. God the Holy Ghost has called me to Christ, sanctified and kept me in the true faith. Besides me He has called and calls others. What does the Holy Ghost also do in regard to all that He has brought to Christ? What does it mean that He gathers them? What does Scripture call the whole number of all true believers?—What is the Christian Church also called in the Third Article? Why are the believers called saints? What does the wordcommunionsignify? Who only, therefore, belongs to the one true Christian Church?—Why is this Church invisible? The true Church is invisible; still we know and are convinced that it is always here on earth. Why are we certain about this? What does our Lord say concerning His Church Matt. 16,18? We call the Church theholyChurch; why do we do this? Why is the Church called theChristianChurch? Christ is the Foundation of the Church, what else?—We cannot see the Church, still we know where we can find it. Where is it to be found? Why can we be certain that the Church is where the Word of God, the Gospel, is preached and used?—There is one true Church of Christ, the congregation of all believers on earth. But Scripture also speaks of visible churches, visible congregations. What do we mean when we speak of visible churches? To these churches not only true believers belong, but who also? Of these visible churches, or denominations, there is quite a number. What difference exists among these churches? Which is the true visible Church? What is it called? To which Church should we belong?
2. In the Third Article we also confess the forgiveness of sins. Why do we so sorely need forgiveness of sins? What have we deserved with our sins? What will be our fate if we do not receive forgiveness of sins?— Of what does God assure us in His Word concerning our sins? We daily sin much and deserve nothing but punishment; what should we therefore do every day? How did the publican in the Temple pray to God for forgiveness? How do you know that God answered his prayer?—God forgives the sins of all who come to Him in true penitence. What does not move God to forgive us our sins? Why cannot anything He sees in us induce Him to grant us forgiveness? What moves God to forgive us our sins? What do we mean when we say that God forgives sin? For whose sake does the just and holy God grant us forgiveness? In whom have we redemption, the forgiveness of sins? What has Christ done to earn this forgiveness?—For whom has Christ procured forgiveness? How does God offer this forgiveness? What, however, is necessary if we wish to receive this precious gift of God? How, therefore, are we justified in the sight of God? Why is this doctrine of justification so important? We should by all means hold fast to this doctrine: We are justified without the deeds of the Law, by God's grace alone, for Christ's sake, through faith in Him, our Savior.
3. In the Third Article we furthermore confess the resurrection of the body. How does our Catechism explain these words? How is the doctrine of the resurrection of the body regarded by the unbelievers? Why do we nevertheless believe it?—God will raise the dead. How many of them will He bring to life again? All shall hear the voice of the Son of God and come forth. When will Christ raise all the dead? What is this "Last Day"? All the dead will rise again at the Last Day; but there will be a difference among them. What will this difference be? Who will come forth unto the resurrection of damnation? Who are they that have done evil? What will be their punishment on that day? May our heavenly Father preserve us from hell and damnation!—Who will come forth unto the resurrection of life? Who are they that have done good? What will God give to me and all believers on that day? From what shall we be free in eternal life? With whom shall we be? Not only shall we be with Him, united with Him by faith, what, too, has He promised us? 1 John 3,2. Whom also shall we see in the heavenly kingdom? What do we read Ps. 16,11? How will our bodies be after the resurrection? Like whose body will they be fashioned? What do we mean by adding: "This is most certainly true"?
And we confess the Holy Ghost,Who from both fore'er proceeds,Who upholds and comforts usIn the midst of fears and needs.Blest and holy Trinity,Praise forever be to Thee!
LESSON 39.The Lord's Prayer.
The Introduction.
Which is the Introduction?
Our Father who art in heaven.
What does this mean?
God would by these Words tenderly invite us to believe that He is our true Father, and that we are His true children, so that we may with all boldness and confidence ask Him as dear children ask their dear father.
1. We have thus far considered theTen Commandments,the holyLawof the Lord, in which our heavenly Father tells us what we should do and not do, how we, as His children, should live according to His will. We have considered the Law, which teaches us that we have not kept it, that we have sinned against God and therefore deserved His punishment, eternal death and damnation.—We have considered theThree Articles of the Christian Faith,which teach us theGospel,the glad tidings of what the Triune God, our Redeemer, has done and will do for us to save us from sin and death, that we may live in His kingdom in everlasting innocence, righteousness, and blessedness. In its Third Part our Catechism explains to us theLord's Prayer,that is, the prayer that our Lord once taught His apostles.
2. We read (Luke 11,1) that, at a certain time, the disciples saw and, probably heard their Master praying, speaking with His Father in heaven. This made so deep an impression upon them that one of them asked the Lord:"Lord, teach us to pray."The Lord gladly complied with this request and said:"When ye pray, say: Our Father who art in heaven,"etc. The Lord Himself gave His disciples this prayer, and therefore we call it the Lord's Prayer. We say this beautiful prayervery often, daily,and we should do so. Our Lord gave it to us. When we use this prayer, we know that we pray according to our Master's will. But reciting this prayer is not enough, we must also understand what we are praying. We should ever better learnwhat the words of this prayer mean.Let us see how our Catechism explains them.
3."Our Father who art in heaven,"thus our Lord teaches us to addressthe true God, the Triune God.What love God has bestowed upon us that we are called His children, and that we are permitted to call HimFather!1 John 3,1. Christ might have chosen different names to address God; but He teaches us to call God ourFather.Why does He do so?"God would by these words tenderly invite us to believe that He is our true Father and we are His true children."When we come to God to speak to Him in our prayers, we should always believe and remember that God is our true Father, and that we are His true children.You know that God is indeed your Father and you are His child.It is true, we are all sinners, and the holy God hates sin, but our dear Lord has redeemed us from all sins and has earned for us forgiveness of sins and righteousness in the sight of God.Through Christ, my Brother,I have become God's true child, and God has become my true Father.In Christ's nameI come to God and call Him Father, believing that for Christ's sake God really is my Father and I am His child."For this cause"(because Christ is my Brother)"I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named."Eph. 3,14.15. Remember that only those who believe in Jesus Christ may call God their Father.Only children of God, through faith in Christ, can really pray to God.
4. We pray to God, our Father. Howtenderlydoes this nameinviteus to come to Him in our need! How this name does give us courage,"so that we may with all boldness and confidence ask Him as dear children ask their dear father"!A child is not afraid to come to his beloved father, to tell him with confidence all that he wants and needs. He knows that hie dear father will gladly listen to him and help him. So it is with the children of God. They do not fear to come to their Father, for He loves them. They do not doubt, but confidently believe that their dear Fatherwill hear their prayer and help them.Our Father promised to do that. By the endearing name Father, God reminds us: I am your Father, you are my dear child. Come without fear and doubt; pray with ail confidence. I will hear your prayer.
5."Our Father who art in heaven."This Father of ours to whom we pray is not a weak, not an earthly father. God is theheavenly Father;He is the almighty God, the Lord of heaven and earth. He can do whatsoever He wills. With all confidence we come to Him and believe that He not only will hear our prayers, butis also able to help us in every need and trouble.
6. Our Lord teaches us to say:"OurFather who art in heaven." He reminds us of the fact thatall true believers are children of God, and that all children of God pray for and with each other."One God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in you all." Eph. 4,6. I am not the only one praying to God, but a great host of fellow- men, all my brethren in Christ, are praying with me and for me. In Christ's name I pray to my Father in heaven for and with all my brethren; should I not therefore with all confidence ask my dear Father, as dear children ask their dear father?
REMEMBER:—
1.Always pray in the name of Jesus Christ, your Savior. Through Him alone God is your true Father, and you are His true child. In His name you may and should ask your Father in heaven as dear children ask their dear father.
2.As God's child through Christ pray to your Father without fear and doubt, with the firm, confidence that He will hear and accept your prayer.
3.The Father to whom you pray is the heavenly Father, the almighty God. To Him we pray with all confidence that He not only will, but also can answer our prayers and help us in all our troubles.
MEMORIZE:—
Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us that we should be called the sons of God.1 John 3,1.
For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named.Eph. 3,14.15.
One God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in you all.Eph. 4,6.
QUESTIONS.
1. Of what does the Third Part of our Catechism treat? 2. Why do we call this prayer the Lord's Prayer? 3. On what occasion did the Lord teach His disciples this prayer? 4. Why do we Christians use this prayer so often? 5. But it is not enough to recite this prayer if we would use it correctly; what else is needed? 6. Whom do we address when we say "Our"Father"?[tr. note: punctuation is correct] 7. Why did Jesus teach us to use the name Father in this prayer? 8. How does God become our Father, and how do we become His children? 9. In whose name should we therefore always pray? 10. Who only can really pray to God? 11. Of what is a child certain when he asks his father for something? 12. What may we confidently expect when we pray to our dear Father? 13. Of what do the words "who art in heaven" remind us in our prayer? 14. Our Father to whom we pray is the almighty God; what can He therefore do regarding our prayers? 15. Why does our Lord teach us to say,"OurFather"?
LESSON 40.The Lord's Prayer.
The First Petition.
Which is the First Petition?
Our Father who art in heaven. Hallowed be Thy name.
What does this mean?
God's name is indeed holy in itself; but we pray in this petition that it may be holy among us also.
How is this done?
When the Word of God is taught in its truth and purity, and we, as the children of God, also lead a holy life according to it. This grant us, dear Father in heaven. But he that teaches and lives otherwise than God's Word teaches, profanes the name of God among us. From this preserve us, Heavenly Father!
1."Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name,"this is our first petition. It is a matter of utmost importance that God's name be hallowed among us; for this reason our Lord teaches us to pray for it in the first place."God's name is indeed holy in itself."God has a name above every other name. In heaven and earth there is no name higher or more sacred than the name of our heavenly Father; no name can be compared with it. It is holy in itself. We cannot and we need notmake it holy.What, then, do we ask for in this petition? Since the name of our Father in heaven is so holy and so exalted, we praythat it may be holy among us also,that we, His children, may hold it sacred and use it rightly both in words and deeds.
2.How is this done?We shall place God's name above every other name in heaven and on earth and hold it holy, sacred, only when we rightlyknow God as He is, and what He has done and will do for us His children.God has revealed Himself and His great nameonly in His Word.There alone we learn to know our heavenly Father and the great things He has done for our temporal and eternal welfare. We shall hold His name holy and sacred "when the Word of God is taught in its truth and purity." God's Word must be preached among us without the admixture of any human thoughts and errors, just as God has given it to us, just as it reads. In God's Word we learn how great God, our Father, is, the perfectly holy and just God, and yet gracious, ever ready to forgive all our sins and heal all our transgressions, when we come to Him in the name of Christ; the almighty Ruler of heaven and earth and yet our dear Father in Christ, who pities those that fear Him, as a father pities his children Ps. 103,13. The more we learn from His Word how great our God is, the more we shall hold His name sacred, the more we shall exalt and praise it.
3. It is not enough that God's Word is taught and preached among us in its truth and purity, that we only hear it; we must also, as God's children,lead a holy life according to it. By a holy life we honor the name of our Father.If a child disobeys his father, if he leads a bad life, committing sins and crimes, he will not only bring dishonor upon himself, but he will also disgrace his father's name. Remember how the sons of Eli, the high priest, brought dishonor upon their father's fair name. 1 Sam. 2,12. When, on the other hand, a child is obedient to his father, doing the will of his good father, leading an upright and honest life, his father will be honored by the good deeds of his son. We are children of God. We confess that He is our true Father. If we were to lead an ungodly life, how would His name be dishonored among men! But when we live according to our Father's Word and will, if we live in accordance with the Word of God, our friends and neighbors will see our good works. By our godly life we shall help others, too, to know and honor the great name of God. Our Savior says:"Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven."Matt. 5,16.—By our own strength we cannot preach the Word of God in its truth and purity among us, nor can we by our own strength lead a holy life according to it; therefore we pray:Grant us, O Heavenly Father, the pure doctrine of Thy Word and a Holy life according to it.
4. As the name of our Father is glorified here on earth by the preaching of His pure Word and by our holy life, so it is dishonored byfalse doctrine and an ungodly life.In our sinful hearts we are always inclinedto teach and live otherwise than God's Word teaches,and thus to profane the name of God."Thou that makest thy boast of the Law, through breaking the Law dishonorest thou God. For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you."Rom. 2,23.24. Therefore we pray:Preserve us, O Heavenly Father, for Christ's sake, from false doctrine and an ungodly life!
REMEMBER:—
We pray in this petition:—
1.Dear Heavenly Father, grant that we may always teach Thy Word in its truth and purity, and that we may always live in accordance with it, so that Thy name may be hallowed among us!
2.Dear Heavenly Father, preserve us from ever teaching and living otherwise than Thy Word teaches!
MEMORIZE:—
Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven.Matt. 5,16.
Thou that makest thy boast of the Law, through breaking the Law dishonorest thou God. For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you.Rom. 2,23.24.
QUESTIONS.
1. Why does Christ teach us to pray in the first place that God's name may be hallowed, held sacred, among us? 2. How is God's name in itself? 3. Why do we nevertheless pray that His name be hallowed? 4. What must we know before we shall hold God's name sacred as we should? 5. Where has God revealed Himself? 6. How, therefore, is God's name hallowed among us? 7. How must God's Word be taught among us? 8. What does it mean to teach God's Word in its truth and purity? 9. What, furthermore, is necessary if we wish to glorify our Father's name? 10. In what way is God's name honored by a godly life? 11. What does our Lord say Matt. 5,16? 12. Who profanes God's name among us? 13. From what do we ask God to preserve us? 14. What are the two things for which we pray in the First Petition?
LESSON 41.The Lord's Prayer.
The Second Petition.
Which is the Second Petition?
Our Father who art in heaven. Thy kingdom come.
What does this mean?
The kingdom of God comes indeed without our prayer, of itself; but we pray in this petition that it may come unto us also.
How is this done?
When our heavenly Father gives us His Holy Spirit, so that by His grace we believe His holy Word and lead a godly life, here in time and hereafter in eternity.
1."Thy kingdom come,"that is the Second Petition. We pray for the kingdom of our heavenly Father. In the Second Article of our faith we already heard of a kingdom, thekingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ.There we learned that our Lord has redeemed us from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil, in order that we may be His own, and in Hiskingdomlive under Him in everlasting innocence, righteousness, and blessedness.Christ's kingdom and our Father's kingdom is the same thing.Christ established this kingdom by His sufferings and death. All that believe in Christ belong to this kingdom. Christ is their Lord and King; He governs them, bestowing upon them in His kingdom all His gifts: forgiveness of sins, the grace of God, true righteousness, peace with God, etc. He protects them against all their enemies, against sin, Satan, and death. We also call this kingdom of our Father theKingdom of Grace,or thetrue Christian Church.It has its beginning here on earth; but when our Lord and King will come again at the Last Day, He will lead it to His glory in heaven. Then we shall call this kingdom theKingdom of Glory.
2. Our Lord teaches us to pray for thecomingof this kingdom. True,"the kingdom of God comes indeed without our prayer, of itself."Christ lives and reigns, and He gathers His congregation through the Gospel from all nations, and He will lead it to its heavenly glory even if we do not pray for it. But still the Lord teaches us to pray for the coming of His kingdom. We pray"that it may come to us also."It is God's will to giveusHis kingdom. Our Lord says:"Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom."Luke 12,32. But God wants us toprayfor His good gifts. We pray in this petition that our Father's kingdom may come to us also, that we, too, may belong to His kingdom and remain in it,"here in time and hereafter in eternity."
3."How is this done?"How does the kingdom of God come to us? The kingdom of God comes to us only through faith in Christ. Only those who believe in Him can enter the kingdom. But"I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Christ, or come to Him."(In what part of your Catechism did you learn this?) To bring us to Christ isthe work of the Holy Ghost.He has called me to Christ and His grace by the Gospel."Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."John 3,5. The kingdom of God, therefore, comes to us"when our heavenly Father gives us His Holy Spirit, so that by His grace we believe His holy Word and lead a godly life."The Holy Ghost can and will graciously, by the Gospel, work within our hearts, so that we believe God's holy Word, believe in Jesus Christ, our Savior; and in this way the kingdom of God will come to us.
4. The Holy Spirit does not only bring us to Christ, so that we, through faith, enter the kingdom of God, but He alsopreserves us in the true faith;by means of the Gospel He gives us strength to prove our faithby a godly lifeand thus remain in the kingdom to the end. He will lead us to the glory of our Lord, to the kingdom of glory in heaven."The Lord shall deliver me from every evil work and will preserve me unto His heavenly kingdom."2 Tim. 4,18. By the Holy Spirit the kingdom of God comes to me"here in time"(the Kingdom of Grace)"and hereafter in eternity"(the Kingdom of Glory). In this petition we especially pray our heavenly Father to grant usthe most precious gift —His Holy Ghost.
5. But we do not only pray that the kingdom of God would come tousand remain with us, we also pray that it may come toall menwho as yet are not members of this kingdom. We pray that all men may become true believers in Christ through the preaching of the Gospel. This work, preaching the Gospel to all nations, we callmission-work. The Second Petition is the great mission-prayer of the Church.The Lord admonishes us:"Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest that He will send forth laborers into His harvest."Matt. 9,38.
REMEMBER:—
1.In this petition we pray: Dear heavenly Father, grant me Thy Holy Spirit that by His grace I may believe in Jesus Christ, my King, and by faith in Him lead a godly life, so that I may be with my Savior in His kingdom, here in time and hereafter in eternity.
2.Do not forget to pray for our missions when you say this petition. Mission is the work our Lord has entrusted to all Christians, saying: "Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature."Mark 16,15.
MEMORIZE:—
Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.Luke 12,32.
Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest that He will send forth laborers into His harvest.Matt. 9,38.
The Lord shall deliver me from every evil work and will preserve me unto His heavenly kingdom.2 Tim. 4,18.
QUESTIONS.
1. How did Christ establish His kingdom on earth? 2. Who belongs to it? 3. Who is Lord and King of this kingdom? 4. What does Christ bestow upon His own in His kingdom? 5. From whom does He protect and against whom does He defend us? 6. What do we also call the kingdom of Christ? 7. What will Christ do with His kingdom when He shall come in His glory at the Last Day? 8. What shall we then call this kingdom? 9. What does our Lord teach us to pray in behalf of His kingdom? 10. What, indeed, is true concerning the coming of His kingdom? 11. Why do we nevertheless pray for His kingdom? 12. How does the kingdom of God come to us? 13. Why do we need the Holy Ghost for this purpose? 14. The Holy Spirit does not only bring us to Christ and into His kingdom, what does He also perform in us? 15. What do we call the work for which we are especially praying in this petition?
LESSON 42.The Lord's Prayer.
The Third Petition.
What is the Third Petition?
Our Father who art in heaven, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
What does this mean?
The good and gracious will of God is done indeed without our prayer; but we pray in this petition that it may be done among us also.
How is this done?
When God breaks and hinders every evil counsel and will which would not let us hallow God's name nor let His kingdom come, such as the will of the devil, the world, and our flesh; but strengthens and preserves us steadfast in His Word and faith unto our end. This is His gracious and good will.
1. We pray in this petition that the will of our Father in heaven may be done.His will is a good and gracious one.Being the will of our heavenly Father, how could it be otherwise than good and gracious? He wills, or desires, that His name be hallowed among us, that His kingdom may come to us and all men, or, in other words,that all men be saved. "God will have all men to be saved and to come unto the knowledge of the truth."1 Tim. 2,4. He earnestly desires that His saving Gospel be preached to all men, that all men, by the grace of the Holy Spirit, may believe in Christ and through Him have eternal life. This is most assuredly the good and gracious will of our heavenly Father.
2. We pray that this will of our Fathermay be done on earth, that it may prevail. "The goo and gracious will of God is done indeed without our prayer, but we pray in this petition that it may be done among us also,"that His gracious will may prevail against all such as try to hinder our salvation.
3.How is the will of our heavenly Father done?Our Catechism answers:"When God breaks and hinders every evil counsel and will which would not lat us hallow God's name nor let His kingdom come, such as the will of the devil, the world, and our flesh."There is an evil counsel and will here on earth. It is the will of thedevil,theworld,that is, all godless men, who are in the service of Satan, and of theflesh,our own sinful heart, which is always in accord with Satan and the world. These our enemies do not want us to hallow God's name, to come into Christ's kingdom or to remain therein, to remain steadfast in faith, to remain true to Christ, our Savior. Theirs is an evil will, which desires tolead us astray from God, our Father, into sin, into the power and the kingdom of the devil.If their evil will and counsel prevails, we are lost. Against these mighty enemies we are powerless; we ourselves have no strength whatever to resist them and their temptations. Therefore we daily pray our Father in heaven to break and hinder their evil will and counsel, in order that they may not be able to fulfil their evil desires.
4. God sincerely desires us to be saved, to obtain eternal life. But our Lord says:"He that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved."Matt. 24,13. We cannot endure by our own strength."Ye are kept by the power of God, through faith, unto salvation."1 Pet. 1,5. Therefore we pray our dear Father to"strengthen and preserve us steadfast in His Word and faith unto our end."We ask Him for Christ's sake to grant us strength to remain steadfast in HisWord,to continue to hear, read, and use it. By means of the Gospel the Holy Spirit willpreserve our faithin our Lord and Savior; through faith He will give us strength gladly to do His will and to live according to His commandments. In this way God will preserve usunto our end,to our dying hour, and thus His gracious and good will is done.
5. God, our dear Father,directs and guides our whole lifeaccording to this will of His to lead us to salvation. For this purpose our Father sometimes will permitsufferings and troublesto come over us. In such times especially we should pray:"Thy will be done,"my Father! Give me strength to remain steadfast and faithful in all sufferings and cheerfully to submit to your gracious will. Even our Lord Jesus Christ prayed in the hour of His deep agony:"Not as I will, but as Thou wilt."Matt. 26,39.
6. Thefirst three petitionsbelong together. They are connected by the words"on earth as it is in heaven."We pray that our Father's name may be hallowed on earth as it is hallowed in heaven, that His kingdom may come to us on earth as it is in heaven, and that His gracious will may be done among us on earth as it is done in heaven.We ask our heavenly Father for His heavenly gifts.These gifts we most urgently need, and therefore our Lord teaches us to pray for them first of all.
REMEMBER:—
1.We pray in this petition: My dear heavenly Father, break and hinder every evil will of my enemies, the devil, the world, and my own flesh, that I may hallow Thy name and Thy kingdom may come to me.
2.My dear heavenly Father, strengthen and preserve me in Thy Word and in true faith unto my end, to my dying hour, that Thy gracious and good will may be done.
MEMORIZE:—
God will have all men to be saved and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.1 Tim. 2,4.
Ye are kept by the power of God, through faith, unto salvation.1 Pet. 1,5.
He which has begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.Phil. 1,6.
QUESTIONS.
1. We pray that God's will may be done among us. What is God's will toward us? 2. What is this will, therefore, called in our Catechism? 3. This good and gracious will of God is indeed done without our prayer; why do we nevertheless pray that it may be done? 4. There is an evil will and counsel against us, the children of God. Whose will is this? 5. What is their evil will and desire against us? 6. Why must we ask God to break and hinder their evil will? 7. God earnestly desires us to be saved, to obtain eternal life. Who only will be saved and obtain eternal life? Matt. 24,13. 8. By whose power are we kept unto salvation? 1 Pet. 1,5. 9. How do we, therefore, pray? 10. Why is it necessary for us to remain steadfast in the Word of God? 11. Unto what time will God preserve our faith through the Gospel? 12. Why does God sometimes permit suffering and trouble to come over His children? 13. How should we pray especially in such times? 14. What gifts do we pray for in the first three petitions? 15. Why does Christ teach us to pray first of all for His heavenly gifts?
LESSON 43.The Lord's Prayer.
The Fourth Petition.
Which is the Fourth Petition?
Our Father who art in heaven, Give us this day our daily bread.
What does this mean?
God gives daily bread indeed without our prayer, also to all the wicked; but we pray in this petition that He would lead us to know it and to receive our daily bread with thanksgiving.
What, then, is meant by "daily bread"?
Everything that belongs to the support and wants of the body, such as food, drink, clothing, shoes, house, home, field, cattle, money, goods, a pious spouse, pious children, pious servants, pious and faithful rulers, good government, good weather, peace, health, discipline, honor, good friends, faithful neighbors, and the like.
1. Forour daily breadour Lord bids us pray in this petition. By daily bread everything is meant thatbelongs to the support and wants of our body,everything we need to support our life. Our Catechism enumerates quite a number of such things. For all these things we pray as far as we need them for our daily bread. We do not pray forriches,for many comforts or luxuries, but for that which we need. We pray:"Give me neither poverty nor riches, feed me with food convenient for me, lest I be full, and deny Thee, and say, Who is the Lord? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain."Prov. 30,8.9. The apostle says:"Having food and raiment, let us be therewith content."1 Tim. 6,8.