An Explanation of Luther's Small Catechism Part 22

and from the devil? 6. How has Christ redeemed me? 7. Why was the shedding of Christ's blood necessary? 8. Why did Christ suffer and die if He was innocent? 9. What is meant when we say that Christ was our subst.i.tute? 10. Why has Christ redeemed me? 11. To whom do I now belong, and what is my duty therefore? 12. What is meant by living under Christ in His kingdom? 13. In what spirit am I to serve Him? 14. What hope has Christ secured for me? 15. What three things are most certainly true according to this second article?

SCRIPTURE VERSES.--I Pet. 2:24. Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

I John 2:2. And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

John 1:29. Behold the Lamb of G.o.d, which taketh away the sin of the world.

Gal. 2:20. I live by the faith of the Son of G.o.d, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Isa. 53:6. All we like sheep have gone astray.

II Cor. 5:21. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of G.o.d in him.

I John 3:8. For this purpose the Son of G.o.d was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

I Pet. 1:18, 19. Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.

I John 1:7. The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

I Pet. 3:18. For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to G.o.d.

Rom. 5:7, 8. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But G.o.d commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

II Cor. 5:15. He died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.

Gal. 2:20. I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of G.o.d, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

I Pet. 2:9. But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.

Matt. 16:24. Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

READING.--Jesus our High Priest, Heb. 9:11-15.

CHAPTER XX.

THE THIRD ARTICLE

OF G.o.d THE HOLY GHOST, OR SANCTIFICATION

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.

_What is meant by this article?_

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 through the Gospel, enlightened me by His gifts, and sanctified and preserved me in the true faith; in like manner as He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian Church on earth, and preserves it in union with Jesus Christ in the true faith; in which Christian Church He daily forgives abundantly all my sins, and the sins of all believers, and will raise up me and all the dead at the last Day, and will grant everlasting life to me and to all who believe in Christ. This is most certainly true.

THE THIRD ARTICLE treats of G.o.d THE HOLY GHOST and His work of SANCTIFICATION. It tells us how we become partakers of the Redemption which is described in the Second Article. Christ _has accomplished_ our redemption, and the Holy Ghost _applies_ that redemption to our souls.

The work of the Holy Ghost _in_ us is as necessary for our salvation as the [Cor. 2:14] work of Christ _for_ us. We must believe in Christ, if we would be saved; [Mark 16:16] and it is the Holy Ghost who causes us to believe. [1 Cor. 12:3]

Article. III, and its Explanation may be a.n.a.lyzed as follows:--

THE HOLY GHOST,

I. _His Person and Nature_: He is True G.o.d.

II. _His Work_: He Calls, Enlightens, Sanctifies, and Preserves me in the true Faith.

III. _His Workmanship_: The Holy Christian Church.

IV. _The Fruits of His Work_: 1. The Forgiveness of Sins. 2. The Resurrection of the Body, and the Life Everlasting.

THE HOLY GHOST.

I. HIS PERSON AND NATURE.

I BELIEVE IN THE HOLY GHOST. The Holy Ghost is true G.o.d. He is not simply a power or energy of G.o.d, but a Person. [Acts 5:3-4] "He proceedeth from the Father and the Son, and with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified." [John 14:26, John 15:26] The Scriptures ascribe to Him divine names, attributes, power, honor, and works. Christ commanded His disciples to baptize men in the name of the Father and of the Son _and of the Holy Ghost_. [Matt. 28:19]

The Holy Spirit instructed the prophets and teachers of Old Testament times, [II Peter 1:21] and was poured out upon the apostles on the day of Pentecost. [Acts 2] He inspired the Holy Scriptures. [II Tim. 3:16]

He comes into our hearts through the Word of G.o.d and the Sacraments.

II. HIS WORK.

The work of the Holy Ghost is _Sanctification_. This word is used here, at the head of the Third Article, in the wide sense, and includes the Holy Spirit's entire work upon our souls; namely, Calling, Enlightening, Sanctification in the narrower sense, and Preservation in the Faith.

1. ITS NECESSITY. If the Holy Spirit does not work in us, we cannot be saved. Hence, we say in the catechism,

I BELIEVE THAT I CANNOT BY MY OWN REASON OR STRENGTH BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST MY LORD, OR COME TO HIM. For as I am by nature, my _reason_ is so darkened by sin, [I Cor. 2:14+] that I do not see my need of the Saviour; and I am so lacking in spiritual _strength_ (being dead in trespa.s.ses and sins), [Eph. 2:1] that I am unable to believe in Christ.

Consequently it is necessary that the Holy Spirit should teach me to see in Christ my only Saviour, and give me strength to believe in Him.

2. ITS NATURE. BUT THE HOLY GHOST HAS

CALLED ME THROUGH THE GOSPEL. [II Tim. 1:9] He has caused His Word to be written [II Thess. 2:14, II Tim. 3:16] and causes it to be continually proclaimed [John 20:31+, II Cor. 5:20, I Cor. 1:21] for the purpose of making G.o.d's grace known to me, and inviting me to share in it. He calls all men, and means His call earnestly. He does not merely seem to call some, but actually calls all who hear or read His Word. [I Tim. 2:4+, I Pet. 3:9] And along with the call, He gives us the strength which we need in order to believe. [Eph. 2:4-6] Those who obey the call are the Elect or Chosen [Matt. 20:16] ones, and obtain salvation. Those who refuse to obey the call are lost. [Mark 16:16]

ENLIGHTENED ME BY HIS GIFTS. The Holy Ghost shows me my lost condition and G.o.d's saving mercy, and thus leads me to Repentance through the Law, [John 16:8, Rom. 3:20] and to Faith through the Gospel. [John 15:26, John 1:17]

_Repentance_ includes

1. An Acknowledgment and Confession of Sin. [Ps. 51:3, 4]

2. Sincere Sorrow for Sin. [Luke 22:62] It must be sorrow for the sin itself, and not merely for the consequences of sin.

3. The Hating and Forsaking of Sin. [Ps. 51:10]