An Explanation of Luther's Small Catechism Part 17

A WARNING. An impenitent life will bring upon us G.o.d's punishment in time and eternity. WE SHOULD THEREFORE DREAD HIS DISPLEASURE, AND NOT ACT CONTRARILY TO THESE COMMANDMENTS.

AN ENCOURAGEMENT. A _G.o.dly life_ will bring upon us G.o.d's blessing in time and eternity. WE SHOULD THEREFORE LOVE AND TRUST IN HIM, CHEERFULLY DO WHAT HE HAS COMMANDED US.

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS CONDEMN US; for we have broken them by thought, word, and deed. [John 1:8-10+, Rom 3:23, Eccl 7:20, Jas 2:10+]

We are not able to keep them perfectly. [Rom 7:18-19] Consequently we cannot be saved by them. [Gal 3:11] They are meant to show us our sinfulness, [Rom 3:20] to lead us to repentance, and to direct as to Christ for salvation. [Gal 3:24] We can be saved only through Him. [John 14:6+, Acts 4:12+] We are taught concerning Christ, and confess our faith in Him in the Second Part of the Catechism which now follows, namely, The Creed.

QUESTIONS.--1. What does G.o.d mean when He says that He is a jealous G.o.d?

2. Whom will G.o.d punish? 3. Why will He punish? 4. How does He punish?

5. To whom does G.o.d promise grace and blessing? 6. Why will He bless them? 7. How will He bless them? 8. What warning is contained in the Conclusion of the Commandments? 9. What encouragement is contained in it? 10. Why can we not be saved by the Ten Commandments? 11. What are the Commandments meant to do? 12. How only can we be saved? 13, Where are we taught concerning Christ?

SCRIPTURE VERSES.--Rom. 1:18. For the wrath of G.o.d is revealed from heaven against all unG.o.dliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness.

Ezek. 18:4. The soul that sinneth, it shall die.

Rom. 6:23. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of G.o.d is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Gal. 6:7. Be not deceived; G.o.d is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

Gen. 18:25. Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?

Heb. 12:6. Whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth.

Rom. 2:10. But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good; to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile.

Rom. 3:23. For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of G.o.d.

Ps. 103:11. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.

Ps. 34:1-5. The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.

Rev. 2:10. Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

I John 1:8-9. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Jas. 2:10. For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

John 14:6. Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Acts 4:12. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

READING.--The Fall into Sin and its Punishment, Gen. 3.

ILl.u.s.tRATIONS.--_Punishment_: Adam and Eve; Cain, Gen. 4:9-15; The Deluge, Gen. 6-8; Sodom and Gomorrah, Gen. 19; The Ten Plagues, Exod.

7-12; Korah, Numb. 16; Saul, I Sam. 15; The a.s.syrian and Babylonian Captivities, II Kings 17, II Kings 25. _Blessing_: Abraham, Gen. 12:2; Joseph, Gen. 45:4-8; David, II Sam. 7:16; Cornelius, Acts 4:10.

PART II.

THE CREED.

CHAPTER XV.

CREEDS OR CONFESSIONS.

THE CREED, from the Latin _Credo, I believe_, means that which we as Christians believe. The Creed given in our Catechism is the Apostles'

Creed. It is so called, not because it was written by the apostles, but because it contains, in a brief summary, the doctrines which the apostles taught. It grew out of the words of the baptismal formula: "In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost." [Matt 28:19] It has come down to us from the early centuries of the Church's history, and is _her confession of faith_. It should be our confession also; we should say from the heart, "I believe in G.o.d, etc." There are

Two KINDS OF CREEDS or Confessions of Faith:--

I. _Oec.u.menical_ or Universal Creeds, which are accepted by the whole Christian Church throughout the world. They are

1. The Apostles' Creed.

2. The Nicene Creed.

3. The Athanasian Creed.

II. _Particular_ Creeds or Confessions, which are accepted by the various Churches and Denominations as their distinctive confessions.

Our Lutheran Confessions are:--

1. The Augsburg Confession.

2. The Apology (Defense) of the Augsburg Confession.

3. The Schmalcald Articles.

4. The Small Catechism.

5. The Large Catechism.

6. The Formula of Concord.

These nine confessions together form the Book of Concord.

THE APOSTLES' CREED CONTAINS, in Three Articles, a statement of what the Triune G.o.d, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, has done and still does for us.

Article I. treats of G.o.d the Father and His work of _Creation_.

Article II. treats of G.o.d the Son and His work of _Redemption_.