THE CONCLUSION OF THE COMMANDMENTS.
PUNISHMENT OR BLESSING.
_What does God declare concerning these Commandments?_
He says: "I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of
the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of
them that hate me, and showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me
and keep my commandments."
_What in meant by this Declaration?_
God threatens to punish all those who transgress these commandments; we
should therefore dread His displeasure and not act contrarily to these
commandments. But He promises grace and every blessing to all who keep
them; we should therefore love and trust in him, and cheerfully do what
he has commanded us.
* * * * *
A JEALOUS GOD. God claims our highest love, and is grieved and offended
if we turn our affections away from Him and disobey His law. He will
punish or bless men according as they hate or love Him: [Rom. 2:6-10,
Deut. 11:26-28, Gal. 6:7-8] "to the third and fourth generation of them
that hate him," and "unto thousands of them that love Him and keep His
commandments."
I. PUNISHMENT.
GOD THREATENS TO PUNISH
1. _Whom?_ ALL THOSE WHO TRANSGRESS THESE COMMANDMENTS [Rom: 1:18+, Lev
26:14-15, Isa 59:2, Ezek. 18:4+, Rom. 6:23+] by commission, (doing what
is forbidden) or omission (not doing what is commanded), whether it be
transgression by deed or word or thought. Every transgression, great or
small, is sin, and makes men guilty and punishable. [Gal. 3:10]
2. _Why?_ Because justice demands it. [Gal. 6:7+] God cannot be unjust.
He cannot overlook or excuse sin. [Eccl. 11:9] Earthly governments must
and do punish offenders, or they would be unjust to those persons who
obey the law. A law without a penalty would amount to nothing. God, who
governs the universe, is and must be just. [Gen. 18:25+]
3. _How?_
_In this World_ God punishes sin by Pangs of Conscience; [Matt. 26:75,
Matt. 27:3-4] Pains and Sufferings which are the results of wrong-doing,
[Jer. 17:10] _e.g._, the results of drunkenness and licentiousness;
Legal Penalties which the State, as God's servant to punish crime,
inflicts by fines, imprisonment and hanging; [Rom. 13:4] Special
Judgments upon individuals [1 Cor. 10:5] in the form of sickness,
accidents and reverses, though we must remember that afflictions are not
always a judgment, but are often sent upon the godly as a chastening;
[Heb. 12:6+] General Judgments upon wicked communities, such as that
which God sent upon Sodom and Gomorrah. [Gen. 19:24]
Children are often obliged to suffer for the sins of their parents.
[Jer. 31:29] If the children also are wicked, their sufferings are a
punishment; [Ezek. 18:20, Prov. 3:12, Rom. 8:28] if they are godly,
their sufferings are a chastening.
_In the Next World_ God will punish by Exclusion from Heaven and from
His Presence; [Matt. 22:13] and by Eternal Misery in Hell. [Rev. 21:8,
Matt. 25:41]
II. BLESSING.
GOD PROMISES GRACE AND EVERY BLESSING. [Rom. 2:10+]
1. _To Whom?_ TO ALL WHO KEEP THESE COMMANDMENTS. It is true, all men
are sinners, and no one keeps these commandments perfectly. [Rom. 3:23+]
But the godly try earnestly to keep them, [I Cor. 9:27] and are truly
sorry for every failure to do so. [Rom. 7:24] To them, therefore, God
promises grace and every blessing.
2. _Why?_ God will bless them, not because they have earned a reward,
but because He is merciful and gracious. [Ps. 103:11+, Joel 2:13] We
cannot earn anything from God but punishment. His blessing is bestowed
upon us solely as a gift of grace.
3. _How?_
_In this World_ God blesses the godly with: Peace of Heart; [John 14:27]
His Favor and Guidance; [Ps. 34:15+] True Success in Life; [Rom. 8:28]
and a Blessed Hope of Salvation. [Rev. 2:10+]
Children and remote descendants share in the blessing of godly
ancestors.
_In the Next World_ God will grant them: Entrance into Heaven for
Christ's Sake; [Matt. 25:34] and Eternal Glory and Blessedness. [John
14:2-3, Rev. 3:21]
A WARNING. An impenitent life will bring upon us God's punishment in
time and eternity. WE SHOULD THEREFORE DREAD HIS DISPLEASURE, AND NOT
ACT CONTRARILY TO THESE COMMANDMENTS.
AN ENCOURAGEMENT. A _godly life_ will bring upon us God'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 God mean when He says that He is a jealous God?
2. Whom will God punish? 3. Why will He punish? 4. How does He punish?
5. To whom does God 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 God is revealed from
heaven against all ungodliness 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 God is eternal
life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Gal. 6:7. Be not deceived; God 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 God.
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.
ILLUSTRATIONS.--_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 Assyrian 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 God, etc." There are
Two KINDS OF CREEDS or Confessions of Faith:--
I. _Oecumenical_ 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 God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, has done and still
does for us.
Article I. treats of God the Father and His work of _Creation_.
Article II. treats of God the Son and His work of _Redemption_.
Article III. treats of God the Holy Ghost and His work of
_Sanctification_.
THE TRINITY. There is only one God, [Deut. 6:4] but there are three
Persons, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Hence, we say that God is the Holy
Trinity, or the Three in One. We cannot understand or explain how God
can be three Persons and yet only one God. But we must not expect with
our finite mind to comprehend the infinite God. We must accept the truth
concerning God as He himself has revealed it to us in His Word. He
plainly tells us that He is One; for He says, "_I_ am the Lord thy God;
thou shalt have no other gods before _Me_." [Exod. 20:2-3] Yet He also
plainly tells us that there are three Persons. They are expressly
mentioned in Christ's command to His disciples, "Go ye, and make
disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and
of the Son and of the Holy Ghost." [Matt. 28:19] And they were all
revealed at the baptism of Jesus, when the Father spoke from heaven and
said, "This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased," and the Holy
Ghost descended on Jesus in the form of a dove. [Matt. 3:16-17] Each
Person of the Holy Trinity has a share in the work of our salvation. The
Father sent His Son to save us; [John 3:16] the Son became man and died
for us; [Rom. 5:8] and the Holy Spirit applies redemption to our souls
[I Cor. 12:3] through the Word of God and the Sacraments.
QUESTIONS.--1. Define the word Creed. 2. Why is the Apostles' Creed so
called? 3. How did it originate? 4. What two kinds of creeds are there?
5. Name the oecumenical creeds. 6. Name the particular creeds or
confessions of the Lutheran Church? 7. What does the Apostles' Creed
contain? 8. Of what do the three articles of the Apostles' Creed treat?
9. What is meant by the Holy Trinity? 10. How do we know that God is
only one God? 11. How do we know there are three Persons? 12. How do the
three Persons of the Trinity share in the work of our salvation?
CHAPTER XVI.
THE FIRST ARTICLE.
OF GOD THE FATHER, OR CREATION.
I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.
_What is meant by this Article?_
I believe that God has created me and all that exists; that He has given
and still preserves to me my body and soul, with all my limbs and
senses, my reason and all the faculties of my mind, together with my
raiment, food, home and family, and all my property: that He daily
provides me abundantly with all the necessaries of life, protects me
from all danger, and preserves me and guards me against all evil; all
which He does out of pure, paternal and divine goodness and mercy,
without any merit or worthiness in me; for all which I am in duty bound
to thank, praise, serve and obey Him. This is most certainly true.
I BELIEVE IN, that is, I trust in, I rely upon.
GOD THE FATHER, He is the Father of my Lord Jesus Christ, [Matt. 11:25]
and the first Person of the Holy Trinity. Through Christ He is also my
Father. [John 20:17, Eph. 1:3+]
ALMIGHTY, He is able to do all things, and to help me in every time of
need.
MAKER OF HEAVEN AND EARTH. [Ps. 102:25] He has made all things,--the
universe and all that it contains. The world did not come into being of
itself or by chance, nor did it exist from eternity. God made it out of
nothing. In the beginning He created the heaven and the earth. [Gen.
1:1+, Ps 33:6, 9] They were at first a formless mass; [Gen. 1:2] but in
six days God fashioned the formless mass into the world as it now
exists. On these six days He created, 1. Light, 2. The Firmament, 3.
Land and Sea, 4. Sun, moon and stars, 5. Fishes and birds, 6. Beasts and
man. [Gen 1:3-31]
God's Chief Creatures are the angels in heaven and men on earth. All His
creatures, as they came from His hands, were very good. [Gen. 3:31] But
some of the angels sinned, and became bad angels or devils. [II Pet.
2:4] And man also, though created in the image of God, fell into sin,
and lost his original righteousness and holiness. [Gen. 3, Gen. 8:21,
Eph. 4:24]
Luther's explanation of this Article in the catechism tells us:
I. What God has done and still does for me,
II. Why God does all this for me,
III. What I owe to God in return.
I. WHAT GOD HAS DONE AND STILL DOES FOR ME.
I BELIEVE THAT GOD HAS
1. CREATED ME [Job. 33:4+] AND ALL THAT EXISTS; [Neh. 9:6, Col. 1:16+]
THAT HE HAS GIVEN TO ME
MY BODY,--WITH ALL MY LIMBS AND SENSES. Though my body, like that of the
beasts, is made of the dust of the ground, [Gen. 2:7+] it is vastly
superior to their bodies, and is a marvelous piece of divine
workmanship, [Ps. 139:14] exquisitely adapted to be the earthly
tabernacle of the soul which inhabits it.
MY SOUL, [Gen. 2:7+]--MY REASON AND ALL THE FACULTIES OF MY MIND, by
which I am placed so far above the brute creation. God made the human
soul to be a likeness of Himself; [Gen. 1:27, Gen. 9:6] that is, He gave
to man in a limited measure those powers and faculties which He Himself
possesses in unlimited and infinite measure. And while the human mind
has become dimmed by the fall, its powers and faculties are still most
wonderful.
2. PRESERVES ME. [Neh. 9:6] All that has helped to support my life has
been God's gift; namely, MY RAIMENT, FOOD, HOME AND FAMILY, AND ALL MY
PROPERTY. I continue to live because He sustains me. [Jas. 1:17+, Acts
17:28+]
HE DAILY PROVIDES ME ABUNDANTLY WITH ALL THE NECESSARIES OF LIFE. [Ps.
115:15-16+] His care for me is a constant, daily care. His mercies are
new every morning. [Matt. 6:31-32+, Lam. 3:22-23+]
HE PROTECTS ME FROM ALL DANGER, SEEN AND UNSEEN. [Ps. 34:7, Matt. 10:30]
I am beset with perils on every hand. If God withdrew His protecting
hand, I should perish immediately.
HE PRESERVES ME AND GUARDS ME AGAINST ALL EVIL. [Ps 121:5, 8+] No real
evil can come upon God's children. What seems an evil is meant for a
good purpose, and is a blessing in disguise. [Rom. 8:28+, Isa. 55:8-9,
Jer. 29:11, Ps. 23:4+]
II. WHY GOD DOES ALL THIS FOR ME.
He does it purely
1. OUT OF PATERNAL AND DIVINE GOODNESS AND MERCY. [Ps. 103:13+] It is
PATERNAL or fatherly [Ps 103:13+] goodness and mercy, because He is my
Father through Jesus Christ, and loves me as His child. It is
DIVINE goodness and mercy, because God is love, [I John 4:16+] and only
His unspeakable love could move Him to bestow His great benefits upon
sinful men, even upon the wicked and unthankful. [Matt. 5:45+]
2. WITHOUT ANY MERIT OR WORTHINESS IN ME. [Gen. 32:10+] I have merited
(deserved) nothing and I am worthy of nothing but punishment; for I am a
sinful being, [Ps. 51:5] and I have broken God's law many times by
thoughts and words and deeds. [Jer. 14:7]
III. WHAT I OWE TO GOD IN RETURN.
For all His goodness and mercy
I AM IN DUTY BOUND [Ps. 116:12+, Ps. 50:14]
1. TO THANK AND PRAISE HIM. I must not receive God's benefits as a
matter of course, but must recognize them as gifts of His grace, and
daily thank and praise Him in my heart and with my lips. [Ps. 103:1+]
2. TO SERVE AND OBEY HIM. I must show my gratitude in my life by obeying
God's commandments and giving myself with all my heart to His service.
[Rom. 12:1+]
THIS IS MOST CERTAINLY TRUE; namely, 1. That all the blessings I enjoy
come from God, 2. That they are the gifts of His grace and that I am
unworthy of them, 3. That I owe to God the fullest gratitude of heart
and life.
QUESTIONS.--1. What does "I believe" mean? 2. Why do we say "God the
_Father_"? 3. What does "Almighty" mean? 4. What has God made? 5. Name
His chief creatures. 6. What three things does Luther's explanation of
this article tell us? 7. What has God done and what does He still do for
us? 8. In creating us, what has God given us? 9. How does He preserve
us? 10. Why does God do all this for us? 11. Why are we not worthy of
it? 12. What do we owe to God in return? 13. What is meant by thanking
and praising Him? 14. What is meant by serving and obeying Him? 15. What
is most certainly true according to this article?
SCRIPTURE VERSES.--Eph. 1:3. Blessed be the God and father of our Lord
Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in
heavenly places in Christ.
Gen. 1:1. In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
Job 33:4. The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty
hath given me life.
Col. 1:16. For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and
that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or
dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him,
and for him.
Gen. 2:7. And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and
breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living
soul.
Jas. 1:17. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and
cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness,
neither shadow of turning.
Acts 17:28. For in him we live, and move, and have our being.
Ps. 145:15, 16. The eyes of all wait upon thee; and thou givest them
their meat in due season. Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the
desire of every living thing.
Matt. 6:31, 32 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or,
What shall we drink, or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all
these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth
that ye have need of all these things.
Lam 3:22, 23. It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed,
because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning.
Ps. 34:7. The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear
him, and delivereth them.
Ps. 121:5, 8. The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy
right hand. The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from
this time forth, and even for evermore.
Rom. 8:28. And we know that all things work together for good to them
that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Ps. 23:4. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they
comfort me.
Ps. 103:13. Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth
them that fear him.
I John 4:16. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God,
and God in him.
Matt. 5:45. He maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and
sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
Gen. 32:10. I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all
the truth, which thou hast shewed unto thy servant.
Ps. 116:12. What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits
toward me?
Ps. 103:1. Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless
his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his
benefits.
Rom. 12:1. I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God,
that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto
God, which is your reasonable service.
READING.--The Creation of the World, Gen. 1.
ILLUSTRATIONS.--_Provides_: Manna, Exod. 16:14; Elijah, I Kings 17:6,
14; Feeding the Five Thousand, Matt. 14:15-21. _Protects_: The
Israelites, Exod. 14:19 _seq._; Daniel, Dan. 6:22; Paul, Acts 22:12-33;
Acts 27: 42-44. _Guards from evil_: Joseph; Job. _Thankfulness_: Noah,
Gen. 8:20; The Samaritan, Luke 17:15,16.
CHAPTER XVII.
THE SECOND ARTICLE
OF GOD THE SON, OR REDEMPTION.
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.
_What is meant by this Article?_
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 creature, secured and delivered me
from all sins, from death and from the power of the devil, not with
silver and gold, but with His holy and precious blood, and with His
innocent sufferings and death, in order that I might be His, live under
Him in His kingdom, and serve Him in everlasting righteousness,
innocence, and blessedness, even as He is risen from the dead, and lives
and reigns to all eternity. This is most certainly true.
* * * * *
The Second Article treats of Jesus Christ, THE SON OF GOD, and his work
of REDEMPTION. Prompted by His infinite love, God pitied our lost race,
and determined to save us by sending a Redeemer in the person of His
only Son. [John 3:16+, I Tim. 1:15+] Throughout the centuries of Old
Testament history He repeatedly gave the promise of redemption: In Eden,
[Gen. 3:15] to the patriarchs, [Gen. 12:3, Gen. 26:4] to David, [II Sam.
7:12-13] and through the prophets. [Isa. 9:2-7, Mic. 5:2] In the fulness
of time God seat His Son into the world. [Gal. 4:4]
Article II. and its Explanation may be analyzed as follows:--
I. OUR LORD.
1. _His Names_: Jesus, Christ.
2. _His Person and Nature_: True God and True Man.
3. _His Life_: His Humiliation and His Exaltation.
II. HIS WORK OF REDEMPTION.
1. _Whom He has redeemed._
2. _From what He has redeemed me._
3. _How He has redeemed me._
4. _Why He has redeemed me._
OUR LORD.
I. HIS NAMES.
I BELIEVE THAT
JESUS. This was our Lord's personal name, given to Him by the angel.
[Matt. 1:21] It signified, "He shall save."
CHRIST. This was His official name, corresponding with the Old Testament
name "Messiah," [John 1:41] and signified "The Anointed One." God
anointed Him with the Holy Spirit for the work of redemption, [Luke
4:18-21] to a threefold office:--
1. As Prophet, to teach us God's will. [Acts 3:22]
2. As Priest, to atone for our sins, and to intercede for us. [Heb.
4:14]
3. As King, [Matt. 21:5, Rev. 17:14] to reign over us in the Kingdom of
Power, of Grace, and of Glory.
II. HIS PERSON AND NATURE.
He is
TRUE GOD, BEGOTTEN OF THE FATHER FROM ETERNITY. Christ is true God,
[Rom. 9:5+] just as the Father is God. [John 5:23+, John 20:28+, John
8:58+, Mat. 16:16] He is the Son of God, not as a good or great man who
has been received or adopted as God's son, but He is in His very nature
the Son of God, _begotten by His Father_ [John 3:16+] _from all
eternity_. [John 1:1, John 17:5] He is "God of God, Light of Light, Very
God of Very God, Begotten, not made, being of one substance with the
Father." [John 10:30+] The Scriptures show this by ascribing to Him
divine names, attributes, power, honor, and works. At His baptism and at
His transfiguration the Father spoke from heaven, and said, "This is my
beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." [Matt. 3:17, Matt. 17:5] His
divine nature is proved by His teaching, His miracles, His holy life,
and especially by His resurrection from the dead.
ALSO TRUE MAN, BORN OF THE VIRGIN MARY. Christ was in all respects a
human being such as we are, except that He was without sin. [I Pet.
2:22+] He was "conceived by the Holy Ghost," and thus had God alone for
His Father. [Luke 1:35] But He was "born of the Virgin Mary," [Luke 2:7]
with a human body [Heb. 2:14] and soul. [Matt. 26:38] He grew, increased
in wisdom and stature, [Luke 2:52] and reached the age of manhood. He
suffered our human wants, [Matt. 4:2, John 4:6-7] such as hunger,
thirst, weariness, and pain. He was moved by human emotions, [Luke
10:21, Matt. 26:38, Matt. 21:12] such as joy, sorrow, and indignation.
He wept, [John 11:35] prayed, [Matt. 26:39] suffered, and died. [I Pet.
2:23-24] He could not have done these things if He had not been true
man.
Christ is therefore both God and man in one Person. [Rom. 1:3-4, John
1:14+] Consequently He is the _God-Man._ It was necessary that the
Redeemer should be both God and man. [I Tim. 1:15+] If He had not been
God, but only man, He could not have paid a sufficient ransom for our
deliverance from sin, nor have acquired any merit to bestow upon us.
Even a sinless man could have saved no one but himself. On the other
hand, if Christ had not become man, but remained God only, He could not
have put Himself in our place under the law, nor have suffered and died
in our stead. But as the _God-man_, Christ was able to accomplish, and
did perfectly accomplish, our redemption. [Rom. 3:24+] Thus He became
and
IS MY LORD, WHO HAS REDEEMED ME, and in whom I trust for salvation.
[Rom. 8:38-39, Rom. 5:1+]
QUESTIONS.--1. Of what does the Second Article treat? 2. How did God
plan to save man? 3. Analyze the Second Article and its Explanation. 4.
Give the meaning of the names of our Lord. 5. What was Christ's
threefold office? 6. What is to be said about the person and nature of
Christ? 7. In what sense is Christ the Son of God, and how do we know
it? 8. How do you know that Christ was true man? 9. Why was it necessary
that the Redeemer should be both God and man? 10. What name do we give
to Christ in view of His two-fold nature?
SCRIPTURE VERSES.--John 3:16. For God so loved the world, that he gave
his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not
perish, but have everlasting life.
I Tim. 1:15. This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation,
that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am
chief.
Rom. 9:5. Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever.
John 5:23. That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the
Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which
hath sent him.
John 20:28. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.
John 8:58. Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before
Abraham was, I am.
John 10:30. I and my Father are one.
I Pet. 2:22. Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth.
John 1:14. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we
beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full
of grace and truth.
Rom. 3:24. Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption
that is in Christ Jesus.
Rom. 5:1. Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God
through our Lord Jesus Christ.
READING.--The Birth of Jesus, Luke 2:1-20; or, The Eternal Word, John
1:1-18.
CHAPTER XVIII.
OUR LORD.
III. HIS LIFE.
The Saviour's life includes two states; namely, His Humiliation and His
Exaltation.
HIS HUMILIATION.
Christ's state of humiliation comprises His life on earth, during which
He laid aside the full use of His divine glory and was content to appear
among men in the form of a servant. He humbled Himself, and became
obedient unto death, even the death of the cross, [Phil. 2:8+] in order
that He might redeem us. He gave men glimpses of His divine glory: in
the authority with which He taught, [Matt. 7:28-29] in the holy life
which He led, [John 8:46] and in the miracles which He performed. [John
2:11] But in general He appeared like other men.
This state of humiliation includes five stages:--He was
1. CONCEIVED BY THE HOLY GHOST, BORN OF THE VIRGIN MARY. Christ might
have appeared among men in the full splendor of His divine glory and
majesty. But, in order to redeem us, He was content to be born in
poverty, [Luke 2:7, II Cor. 8:9+, Matt. 8:20+] to grow up in obscurity,
[Matt. 2:23] and to appear to most men as if He were simply a man.
2. SUFFERED UNDER PONTIUS PILATE. The whole life of Jesus on earth was a
life of suffering endured for our sakes. He bore all the trials and
hardships which have come upon our race as a result of its sinfulness.
He also suffered constant persecution at the hands of his enemies. [Heb.
12:3; John 1:11] But His greatest sufferings came at the end of His
life, in the agony of Gethsemane, [Matt. 26:36-46] in the mock-trial
before the Jewish Council, [Matt. 26:57-75] and in His sufferings under
Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor. [Matt. 27:1-30] He was mocked,
spitefully entreated, spitted on, crowned with thorns, and scourged; and
then He
3. WAS CRUCIFIED. [Luke 23:33] Though innocent and holy, He was treated
as though He were a malefactor, and was put to a cruel and shameful
death. He was nailed to a cross, and left suspended there till He died.
So great was His agony, that He cried out, "My God, my God, why hast
Thou forsaken me?" [Mark 15:34]
4. DEAD. After unspeakable sufferings, Jesus died on the cross. [Mark
15:37] He was really, and not seemingly, dead. [John 19:33-34] He
voluntarily gave up His life for ours. [John 10:18-19+] His death was
_vicarious_. He suffered the penalty for our sins. [I Pet. 3:18, Isa.
53:5+]
5. BURIED. His body was laid away in the grave, where our bodies shall
decay. But since Christ was "the Holy One of God," His body could not
"see corruption." [Ps. 16:10]
HIS EXALTATION.
After the work of redemption was completed, Christ assumed the full use
of the glory and majesty which had belonged to Him as the Son of God
from eternity; His human nature was exalted to a full share in the glory
of His divine nature. [Phil. 2:9-11+] He had humbled Himself as a man;
and He was exalted as a man. His divine nature, being unchangeable, can
neither be humbled nor exalted. [Heb. 13:8]
Christ's exaltation, like His humiliation, includes five stages:--
1. HE DESCENDED INTO HELL. Immediately before His resurrection He
descended into the place of the departed spirits and proclaimed His
victory. [I Pet. 3:19]
2. THE THIRD DAY HE ROSE AGAIN FROM THE DEAD. Having paid in full the
penalty for our sins, He rose again from the dead, triumphant, on the
third day (Easter). He had power to lay down His life, and power to take
it again. [John 10:19] As His death had been a real death, so His
resurrection was a real resurrection. He re-appeared to His disciples,
not as a spirit, but with the same body that was crucified, the prints
of the nails and of the spear being plain in His hands and side. [Luke
24:36-40] But His body was a transformed and glorified body, with new
properties and powers. [John 20:19]
_The Resurrection a Fact_. The reality of the resurrection is
established beyond all doubt. The strongest proof of its reality is
found in the fact that the disciples themselves were so unwilling to
believe it, but were obliged to do so by the evidence of their own
senses. Even the doubting Thomas exclaimed, "My Lord, and my God." [John
20:28] During the forty days between His resurrection and His ascension
the Lord gave His disciples so many proofs of His resurrection that all
their doubts were removed. [Acts 1:3] The women on Easter morn found the
grave empty and were told by an angel that He had risen. [Mark 16:6] He
was seen by Mary in the Garden, [John 20:14-16] by Peter, [Luke 24:34]
by the two disciples at Emmaus, [Luke 24:15] twice by the eleven as they
were gathered together, [John 20:19-29] by seven disciples at the Sea of
Tiberias, [John 21:1] by more than five hundred brethren at once, [I
Cor. 15:6] by James, [I Cor. 15:7] and by the eleven when He accompanied
them to Mount Olivet and ascended before their eyes to heaven. [Acts
1:9-12] The wonderful change which took place in the apostles when the
risen and ascended Christ had sent the Holy Spirit upon them, [Acts 2]
and the wonderful change which took place in Paul, [Acts 9:1-29] are
further proofs of the reality of the resurrection of Christ.
_The Resurrection proves_ 1. That Jesus is the Son of God. [John 20:28,
Rom. 1:4+, Acts 2:36] 2. That the sacrifice which He made for sin was
sufficient and accepted. [Rom. 8:34, I Thess. 1:10] 3. That we also
shall rise from the dead. [Rom. 4:25+, I Cor. 15:19-20+, I Cor. 6:14]
3. HE ASCENDED INTO HEAVEN from Mount Olivet forty days after His
resurrection. [Acts 1:9] Having finished His work on earth, He returned
to the heaven from which He had come. He has gone to prepare a place for
us. [Acts 14:2]
4. AND SITTETH ON THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD THE FATHER ALMIGHTY; that is, on
the right hand of God's power. As the God-man He now wields all power in
heaven and earth. [Matt. 28:18+, Eph. 1:20-22+] He rules over all
creatures in the realm of Power; over the believers in the realm of
Grace (the Church on earth); and over angels and saints in the realm of
Glory in heaven. He continues His office of High-priest, and intercedes
for us with the Father. [Rom. 8:34+, Heb. 4:14-16]
5. FROM THENCE HE SHALL COME TO JUDGE THE QUICK AND THE DEAD. At the end
of the world Christ will come again visibly, [Mark 13:26+] suddenly, and
unexpectedly, [Matt. 24:36-42, Luke 21:27] with power and great glory,
to judge both the quick (living) and the dead. [II Cor. 5:10+, Matt.
25:31-46] He will separate the believing from the unbelieving; receive
the believers unto Himself; and cast the impenitent and unbelieving into
outer darkness and torment. His coming will fill the believers with joy,
[Luke 21:28] and the unbelievers with dismay. [Rev. 6:15-17] No one
knows or can compute the exact time of His coming. We should be always
ready. [Matt. 24:42, 44+] His coming will be preceded by signs. [Luke
21:25-26] The present order of the world shall pass away; [II Pet. 5:10]
and there shall be new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth
righteousness. [II Pet. 3:13+]
QUESTIONS.--1. What two states does Christ's life include? 2. What is
meant by His state of humiliation? 3. How many stages were there in His
humiliation? 4. Name them. 5. Was Christ's glory entirely hidden during
his state of humiliation? 6. How might Christ have appeared, and how did
He appear among men? 7. Describe the sufferings of Christ? 8. What is to
be said of Christ's crucifixion? 9. What is to be said of Christ's
death? 10. What is to be said of His burial? 11. What is meant by
Christ's exaltation? 12. How many stages were there in His exaltation?
13. Name them. 14. What is meant by the descent into hell? 15. How did
Christ re-appear to His disciples? 16. Prove that the resurrection was a
fact. 17. What does the resurrection of Christ prove? 18. When and why
did Christ ascend into heaven? 19. What is meant by His sitting at the
right hand of the Father? 20. What can you tell about Christ's second
coming?
SCRIPTURE VERSES.--Phil. 2:8. And being found in fashion as a man, he
humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the
cross.
II Cor. 8:9. For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that,
though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through
his poverty might be rich.
John 10:18, 19. Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my
life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it
down of myself.
Isa. 53:5. He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our
iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his
stripes we are healed.
Phil. 2:9-11. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him
a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee
should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under
the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is
Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Heb. 13:8. Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and to-day, and for ever.
Rom. 1:4. Declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the
spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.
Rom. 4:25. Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for
our justification.
I Cor. 15:19, 20. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of
all men most miserable. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and
become the firstfruits of them that slept.
Matt 28:18. And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is
given unto me in heaven and in earth.
Eph. 1:22. And hath put all things under his feet.
Rom. 8:34. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea
rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who
also maketh intercession for us.
Mark 13:26. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds
with great power and glory.
II Cor. 5:10. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ;
that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to
that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
Matt. 24:44. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think
not the Son of man cometh.
II Pet. 3:13. Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new
heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
READING.--The Death and Resurrection of Christ, Luke 23-24:9; and The
Ascension of Christ, Acts 1:1-11.
CHAPTER XIX.
CHRIST'S WORK OF REDEMPTION.
I. WHOM HE HAS REDEEMED.
He HAS REDEEMED
ME. Christ died for all; [I Pet. 2:24+, I John 2:2+, John 1:29+] and
consequently for me also. [Gal. 2:20+] Believing on Him, all the
blessings of His redemption belong to me In time and in eternity. He is
_my_ Saviour, _my_ Redeemer.
A LOST AND CONDEMNED CREATURE. I was lost, [Isa. 53:6+, I Pet. 2:25]
because my sin had separated me from God, and I could not have found my
way back to Him, if Christ had not sought and found me. I was condemned,
[Eph. 2:3] because I had broken God's commandments and deserved eternal
punishment.
II. FROM WHAT HE HAS REDEEMED ME.
He has SECURED AND DELIVERED ME
FROM ALL SINS; namely, from the _guilt_ of sin by paying its penalty for
me on the cross; [I John 1:7, II Cor. 5:21+] and from the _dominion_ of
sin by giving me grace to fight against it and overcome it. [Rom 6:14,
Rom. 8:2-4]
FROM DEATH: not from bodily death, for even the Christian must die; but
from the fear of bodily death; [Phil. 1:23, I Cor. 15:55, 57] from
spiritual death; [Eph. 2:6] and from everlasting death. [John 3:16]
AND FROM THE POWER OF THE DEVIL. [I John 3:8+] On account of my sins, I
was in Satan's power. But Christ has freed me. Since He has paid the
penalty for my sins, Satan no longer has any claim upon me, and can no
longer harm me. [John 10:27-28] He still tempts me to sin; but Christ
gives me grace to resist. He still accuses me before God on account of
my sins; but Christ shields me against Satan's accusations by the
satisfaction which He, my Saviour, has made for all my sins. [I John
2:1]
III. HOW HE HAS REDEEMED ME.
NOT WITH SILVER AND GOLD; [I Pet. 1:18, 19+] for no material wealth
could purchase freedom from spiritual slavery and death. Nor has He
redeemed me merely by becoming my great teacher and example; for this
would not take away my guilt;
BUT WITH HIS HOLY AND PRECIOUS BLOOD. [I John 1:7+] His blood was the
price which Christ paid for my ransom. It was holy, because He was holy;
and precious, because He was the Son of God. The shedding of Christ's
blood for my sins was the only way in which I could be redeemed; for
without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sins. [Heb.
9:22]
AND WITH HIS INNOCENT SUFFERINGS [I Pet. 3:18+] AND DEATH. [Rom. 5:7-8+]
Christ suffered and died, not for any sins of His own, but for _my_
sins. He was innocent and had no sin at all. But He voluntarily bore the
punishment which I deserved, and thus satisfied all the demands of
divine justice for me. Since He has borne the punishment for me, I,
believing on Him, need no longer be punished.
_Christ was my Substitute._ By His holy life He perfectly fulfilled
God's law in my place; [Rom 5:19] and by His innocent sufferings and
death He bore the punishment for my sins in my place. [II Cor. 5:21+]
All that Christ has done is imputed to me by faith; [Rom. 4:24] that is,
it is all counted as if I myself had done it. [Rom. 4:5] His death,
therefore, frees me from guilt and condemnation; and His holy life makes
me appear righteous In God's sight and fit to enter into heaven. My
entire hope of salvation rests on Christ and what He has done for me.
[II Cor. 5:19]
IV. WHY HE HAS REDEEMED ME.
IN ORDER THAT
I MIGHT BE HIS. He desired me for His own, and therefore purchased me
with His precious blood. [II Cor. 5:15+] Hence I now belong to Him, and
not to Satan or to myself. He wishes me to yield myself fully to Him in
heart and life. [Gal. 2:20+] If I refuse to do so, I am withholding what
belongs to Him.
LIVE UNDER HIM IN HIS KINGDOM; namely, in His kingdom of Grace on earth
by a life of faith, and in His kingdom of Glory in heaven. [Col.
1:12-14]
AND SERVE HIM IN EVERLASTING RIGHTEOUSNESS, INNOCENCE AND BLESSEDNESS.
[I Pet. 2:9+] I am to serve Him and do His will, not as a slave by
compulsion, but willingly, gladly, and out of love. [Mat. 16:24+] With
my best efforts I only partially succeed in doing His will on earth, for
I am still imperfect. [Rom. 7:21-24] But in the next world I shall be
freed from all sin, and be transformed and glorified in body and soul.
Then I shall serve Him in perfect holiness and happiness for ever. [Rev.
7:15]
EVEN AS HE IS RISEN FROM THE DEAD, AND LIVES AND REIGNS TO ALL ETERNITY.
As Christ rose from the dead, so I am to rise from the death of sin to
newness of life in Him. [Rom. 6:4] As He lives and dies no more, so I am
to live in righteousness and no more become a servant of sin. [Rom.
6:9,10] As He reigns to all eternity, so I am to live and reign with Him
for ever. [Rev. 3:21]
THIS IS MOST CERTAINLY TRUE: 1. That Jesus Christ, true God and true
Man, is my Lord, who has redeemed me. 2. That He has paid the penalty
for my sins with His holy and precious blood and His innocent sufferings
and death. 3. That consequently I belong to Him, and should serve Him
now and for ever.
QUESTIONS.--1. What four things does the explanation of the second
article tell us about Christ's redemption? 2. Whom has Christ redeemed?
3. What was I before Christ redeemed me, and why? 4. From what has
Christ redeemed me? 5. What is meant by redemption from sin? from death?
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
substitute? 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 God, which taketh away the sin of the
world.
Gal. 2:20. I live by the faith of the Son of God, 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 God in him.
I John 3:8. For this purpose the Son of God 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 God.
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 God
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 God, 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 GOD 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 GOD 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 analyzed as follows:--
THE HOLY GHOST,
I. _His Person and Nature_: He is True God.
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 God. He is not
simply a power or energy of God, 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 God 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
trespasses 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 God'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 God'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]
4. An Earnest Desire for Forgiveness. [Ps. 51:2, 9]
True repentance always leads to faith. [II Cor. 7:10] Sorrow for sin
which does not lead to faith, is not repentance but remorse, and often
drives men to despair. [Matt. 27:3-5]
_Faith_ includes
1. A Knowledge of the Facts of the Gospel. [Rom. 10:14]
2. A Belief of the Facts. [Rom. 4:20, 21]
3. Trust or Confidence in Christ our Saviour. [II Tim. 1:12+] This trust
is the chief part of faith.
True faith is not a mere matter of the head, but of the heart. It is not
a mere intellectual belief that God exists or that Christ lived and
died; but it is a firm confidence that Christ is actually _our_ Saviour,
and that all _our_ sins are washed away by His precious blood. Faith
says, "The Son of God loved [I John 1:7] _me_, and gave Himself _for
me_." [Gal. 2:20]
True faith is always preceded by repentance. The impenitent have no
promise of forgiveness, and therefore cannot have faith. They cannot
believe a promise which has not been given to them.
_Regeneration and Conversion._ Those whom the Holy Spirit has brought to
repentance and faith are in a state of regeneration and conversion. The
change which has taken place in them is called a new birth or
regeneration, [John 3:5, 6] because a new life has been planted in them.
[II Cor. 5:17+] It is called conversion, [Acts 3:19] because they have
been converted or turned from sin to righteousness, from self to God.
It is not necessary that a Christian should be able to point to the
exact time of his conversion. The important question is not, "When were
we converted?" but, "Are we now in a converted state?" that is, "Are we
now penitent and believing?"
_Justification._ All those who have true faith are justified: [Rom.
5:1+, Rom. 4:5] their sins are forgiven, and the righteousness of Christ
is imputed (counted as belonging) to them. [Phil. 3:9] When we believe
in Christ, all that He has done and suffered for us is regarded by God
as if we had done and suffered it ourselves; [II Cor. 5:21, Rom. 8:1+]
for Christ was our substitute. Consequently, those who believe in Christ
are _justified_ for His sake; that is, they are pronounced by God to be
righteous and fit to enter into heaven.
_By Faith Alone._ We are justified and saved by faith alone, without
works. [Rom. 3:28+] We shall enter heaven, not because we deserve to
enter, [Gal. 2:16+] but only because we believe in Christ. Salvation is
a _Gift_: acquired for us by Christ's holy life and innocent death;
bestowed upon us freely by God's grace; and accepted by faith. [Eph.
2:8, 9+] Our faith is not a merit on account of which we are forgiven,
but it is the hand with which we reach out and accept the free gift of
forgiveness which God offers for Christ's sake.
Our own works have nothing to do with our justification. [Rom. 3:20+] If
God took them into consideration at all, they would condemn us; for at
best we are imperfect and sinful creatures. [Rom. 7:18-23, Gal. 3:10+]
In order to be saved, we need a _perfect_ righteousness, Christ's
righteousness alone is perfect. It becomes ours by faith.
AND SANCTIFIED. Those who have true faith are sanctified by the Holy
Spirit; that is, they are made holy in heart and life. [Rom. 8:5+, Rom.
6:22] While good works do not save us, they do and must follow faith as
its fruit. [Matt. 7:18] Believers do good works out of love to God and
gratitude for His mercy. Faith that does not result in a holy life is a
dead faith, [Jas. 2:26+] and cannot save. The Christian dare not live in
sin. [Rom. 6:2+] He has become a new creature; for he is born again: and
consequently he leads a new life. We shall, indeed, never become sinless
in this world, but we must honestly and earnestly _try_ to do God's will
in all things. [Phil. 3:12-14, Matt. 5:16+] We should grow more and more
holy every day. [Eph. 4:22-24, Rom. 12:2, I Thess. 4:1] We cannot do
this by our own power, but we can by the help of God. We should,
therefore, be diligent and faithful in the use of the Word of God and
the Sacraments; for these are the means which the Holy Ghost uses for
our sanctification.[4]
[Footnote 4: Faith in Christ does not at once make us perfectly holy and
sinless, as some persons maintain; but it takes away the guilt of our
sin. We are completely justified and forgiven as soon as we believe; but
we are not completely sanctified. Sanctification is a gradual process,
which will be completed only when we are transformed and glorified in
heaven.]
PRESERVED ME IN THE TRUE FAITH. As it is the Holy Ghost who brings us to
faith, so it is He who preserves us in it. [Phil. 1:6+] The world, the
flesh, and the devil are enemies who seek to destroy our faith and to
rob us of our salvation. We should constantly pray for strength to
resist these enemies, [Matt. 26:41+, Rev. 2:10] and should obey the
promptings of the Holy Spirit. We must avoid wilful, intentional sin,
[Eph. 4:30+] and live a life of daily repentance. If we sin wilfully, we
fall from grace and are lost, unless we come to true and lasting
repentance. If we faithfully use the Means of Grace, and earnestly
strive to lead a Christian life, the Holy Spirit will preserve us in the
faith to the end. [Phil. 2:12, 13+]
QUESTIONS.--1. Of what does the Third Article treat? 2. What is to be
said about the importance of the Holy Spirit's work? 3. Analyze the
Third Article and its Explanation. 4. What is to be said about the
person and nature of the Holy Ghost? 5. How does the Holy Ghost come
into our hearts? 6. Describe the Work of the Holy Ghost. 7. Why can we
not be saved if the Holy Spirit does not work in us? 8. How has the Holy
Spirit called me? 9. How has He enlightened me? 10. How does the Holy
Ghost bring me to repentance? 11. What does repentance include? 12. How
does the Holy Ghost bring me to faith? 13. What does faith include? 14.
What is true faith? 15. What is meant by regeneration? 16. What is meant
by conversion? 17. Must a Christian know the exact time of his
conversion? 18. What is meant by justification? 19. What is the relation
of faith and works in salvation? 20. What is meant by sanctification?
21. What is the relation between faith and good works? 22. How are we
preserved in the faith?
SCRIPTURE VERSES.--I Cor. 2:14. But the natural man receiveth not the
things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither
can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
John 20:31. But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is
the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life
through his name.
I Tim. 2:4. Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the
knowledge of the truth.
Matt. 20:16. So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be
called, but few chosen.
II Tim. 1:12. For I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He
is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
II Cor. 5:17. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature:
old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Rom. 5:1. Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God
through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Rom. 8:1. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in
Christ Jesus.
Rom. 3:28. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith
without the deeds of the law.
Gal. 2:16. Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law,
but by the faith of Jesus Christ.
Eph. 2:8, 9. For 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.
Rom. 3:20. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be
justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
Gal. 3:10. For as many as are of the works of the law are under the
curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all
things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
Rom. 8:5. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the
flesh; but they that are after the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.
Jas. 2:26. For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without
works is dead also.
Rom. 6:2. God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any
longer therein?
Matt. 5:16. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your
good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Phil. 1:6. Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun
a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.
Matt. 26:41. Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the
spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
Eph. 4:30. And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed
unto the day of redemption.
Phil. 2:12, 13. Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for
it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good
pleasure.
READING.--The Outpouring of the Holy Ghost, Acts, 2:1-41.
ILLUSTRATIONS.--_Calling_: The Great Supper, Luke 14:16-24; The Marriage
of the King's Son, Matt. 22; Matthew, Matt. 9:9; Peter and Andrew, Matt.
4:19; Nathanael, John 1:45. _Repentance_: David, Ps. 51; Peter, Luke
22:62; Zaccheus, Luke 19; The Prodigal Son, Luke 15:11-24; The Publican,
Luke 18:13. _Impenitence_: Cain, Gen. 4:13; Judas, Matt. 27:4, 5; The
Pharisee, Luke 18:10-12, _Faith_: The Centurion, Matt. 8:5-13; The Woman
of Cana, Matt. 15:22-28; Peter, John 6:68, 69. _Doubt_: Thomas, John
20:22-28. _Conversion_: The Twelve Disciples; The Three Thousand, Acts
2; The Thief on the Cross, Luke 23:39-43; The Philippian Jailor, Acts
16:25-34. _Faithfulness_: Paul, II Cor. 11:23-33; II Tim. 4:7.
_Apostasy_: Ananias, Acts 4:5; Demas, II Tim. 4:10.
CHAPTER XXI.
THE HOLY GHOST.
III. HIS WORKMANSHIP.
The Holy Christian Church, the Communion of Saints.
* * * * *
WHAT THE CHURCH IS. The Church is "The Communion of Saints" or
fellowship of believers. It consists of all those persons who truly
believe in Christ. [Matt. 16:16, 18] We call it the _Workmanship_ of the
Holy Ghost, because He brings men to faith and thus produces the Church.
HE CALLS, GATHERS, ENLIGHTENS AND SANCTIFIES THE WHOLE CHRISTIAN CHURCH
ON EARTH, AND PRESERVES IT IN UNION WITH JESUS CHRIST IN THE TRUE FAITH.
[Eph. 3:25-27]
The Church may also be called the Holy Spirit's _Workshop_, because He
abides and works in it through the Means of Grace,--the Word of God and
the Sacraments.
WHEN FOUNDED. The Holy Christian Church was founded on the day of
Pentecost, when the Holy Ghost was poured out upon the disciples. [Acts
2:1-41] On that day the Gospel of the crucified and risen Saviour was
first preached by the apostles, the first converts were made, and the
first Christian baptisms were administered.
VISIBLE OR INVISIBLE. The Church is invisible, because we cannot read
men's hearts nor tell who are real believers. But if we regard the
Church as an external organization which includes all who profess to
believe, it is visible. In this outward visible Church there are many
persons who are not real believers. But Christ knows His own. [II Tim
2:19+, John 10:14+] The angels on the day of judgment will separate the
hypocrites from the true Christians. [Matt. 13:41, 42]
THE MARKS OF THE CHURCH. The Church is found wherever the Gospel is
rightly taught and the Sacraments are rightly administered. For wherever
God's Word is preached, some persons believe it, [Isa. 55:10, 11] and
where believers are, there is the Church.
THE CHURCH IS ONE. It consists of the true believers out of all the
different churches, denominations, and sects. There is one Flock, with
one Shepherd. [John 10:16] The Church is the Body of which Christ is the
Head. [Col. 1:18, Eph 1:22, 23]
ITS NAMES. The Church is called _Holy_, because the Holy Spirit works in
it and through it, and because its members, though not perfect, lead
holy lives. It is called _Christian_, because it consists of those who
believe in Christ. It is called _Catholic_ or Universal, because it is
meant to include all men everywhere. Catholic does not mean _Roman_
Catholic.
MILITANT AND TRIUMPHANT. The Church, consisting of true believers, is
one and the same Church on earth and in heaven. On earth it is the
Church Militant, because its members are still fighting the good fight
of faith. [I Tim. 6:12+] In heaven it is the Church Triumphant, because
its members have won the victory of faith. [Rev. 7:9-14, Rev. 2:18, Rev.
3:21] The only way into the Church Triumphant is through the Church
Militant.
THE CHURCH'S WORK.
The Church is the agency or instrument which the Holy Spirit uses for
the evangelization of the world. [Matt. 28:19, Mark 16:15] It is the
institution through which He does His work of applying redemption to the
souls of men. The Church, therefore, has a work to do: namely, to make
disciples of all men.
THE MEANS through which the Church, as an agency of the Holy Spirit, is
to do its work are the Word of God and the Sacraments. They are
sufficient for the purpose for which they are intended, because the Holy
Spirit works through them and endows them with supernatural power. [Rom.
1:16, Heb. 4:12]
THE WORKMEN who are to preach the Word and administer the Sacraments are
the _ministers_. They must be properly called and ordained by the
Church. [Act 14:23, Tit. 1:5] In the New Testament all pastors are
called elders or bishops. It was only at a later period that the office
of a bishop was made superior to that of elder, pastor or minister. The
office of an apostle was a separate and higher office. The apostles were
the witnesses of Christ's redemption, and possessed miraculous powers.
They have no successors. Ministers are the ambassadors of Christ,
beseeching men to be reconciled to God. [II Cor. 5:20+] Christ speaks
through them. He who hears them, hears Christ; he who despises them,
despises Christ. [Luke 10:16] If a minister should happen to be a
hypocrite, his official acts, such as baptisms and the like, would still
be valid. [II Tim. 2:13] _Deacons_ [Acts 6:1-6] are officers whose duty
it is to assist the pastor, and to look after the temporal interests of
the congregation. _Deaconesses_ [Rom.16:1] are consecrated to the work
of love and mercy, and minister to the sick, the needy, the neglected,
the ignorant, the fallen, and the friendless.
THE VARIOUS CHURCHES.
While the Church, in the strict sense of the word, is the "communion of
saints" and therefore _one_, yet outwardly it has become divided, in the
course of time, into many different churches, denominations, and sects.
It contains Four Great Branches: _The Greek Catholic Church_; _The Roman
Catholic Church_; _The Evangelical Lutheran Church_; and _The Reformed
Churches_, comprising a great number of denominations and sects. The
Lutheran Church and the Reformed Churches are called Protestant. (For
the names and relations of various branches of the Church, see the
accompanying Diagram, on page 106.)
THE EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH.
The Evangelical Lutheran Church is in reality the old original Church
which came into existence on the day of Pentecost. Luther simply threw
out the errors which had crept into the Church during the course of the
centuries, and held fast the doctrines taught in God's Word. As a
separate and distinct Church, the Lutheran Church dates from the year
1530, when the Augsburg Confession was read before the emperor and diet
of the German Empire.[5] Her doctrines are laid down in her six
Confessions, contained in the Book of Concord.
[Footnote 5: Since a particular Church is no older than her distinctive
confession, the Lutheran Church is more than thirty years older than the
Roman Catholic Church; for the Augsburg Confession was adopted in 1530,
while the Canons and Decrees of the Council of Trent, which are the
Confession of the Roman Catholic Church, were not completed until 1563.
The ecumenical creeds are accepted by both Churches, and therefore prove
nothing as regards their _relative_ age.]
THE CHURCH OF THE PURE GOSPEL. The Lutheran Church receives the Holy
Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as the only rule and standard
of religious teaching. The Roman Catholic Church accepts the tradition
of the Church as of equal authority with the Holy Scriptures.
The Lutheran Church teaches the great central doctrine of the Gospel,
that we are saved by _faith alone_ without works. The Roman Catholic
Church teaches that we are justified by faith _and works_.
The Lutheran Church abides by the teachings of Scripture even when she
cannot understand them. The other Protestant Churches explain away and
reject some teachings of Scripture because they cannot understand them.
HER NAME. The name Lutheran was first given to our Church by her
enemies. But she accepted it, because she believes the doctrines which
Luther taught. The name which she chose for herself is Evangelical (true
to the Gospel). She is now known by both names taken together,
Evangelical Lutheran.
WHERE FOUND. The Lutheran Church is found in nearly all parts of the
world, especially in Germany, Scandinavia, and the United States. In
1905 she numbered over 73 million baptized members, or practically as
many as all the other Protestant Churches taken together. In the United
States she has almost two million confirmed members (statistics for
1906), and ranks third in size among the Protestant Churches of the
country.
IN AMERICA. The Lutheran Church in North America comprises the following
general bodies: The General Synod, organized in 1821; the General
Council, organized in 1867; the Synodical Conference, organized in 1872;
the United Synod South, organized in 1886. To these general bodies there
belong various synods. There are also a number of Independent Synods
which are not connected with any general body. Synods are often
subdivided into Conferences.
HER WORK. The Lutheran Church, like the Church in general, is to make
disciples (Christians) of men. She is all the more bound to do her work,
because she is the Church of the Pure Gospel. Her work is done in local
congregations, in Home Missions, Foreign Missions, Inner Missions, and
in maintaining the necessary institutions of learning (colleges,
seminaries, etc.) and of mercy (orphanages, asylums, hospitals).
DUTIES OF HER MEMBERS. It is the duty of her members to lead a Christian
life, to be loyal to their own Church, and to co-operate heartily in all
her local and general work, for the glory of God and the salvation of
immortal souls.
QUESTIONS.--1. What is the Christian Church? 2. Why do we call it the
Workmanship of the Holy Ghost? 3. When was it founded? 4. Is the Church
visible or invisible? 5. What are the marks of the Church? 6. Why is the
Christian Church one? 7. Why is the Church called Holy, Christian,
Catholic? 8. What is meant by the Church Militant and the Church
Triumphant? 9. What use does the Holy Spirit make of the Church? 10.
What are the means which the Church uses for its work? 11. Who are the
Church's workmen, and what is their work? 12. Name the four great
branches of the Christian Church? 13. How old is the Lutheran Church?
14. What three fundamental principles characterize the Lutheran Church?
15. Explain how the Lutheran Church got its name. 16. Where is the
Lutheran Church found? 17. How large is it? 18. Name the General Bodies
of the Lutheran Church in North America. 19. Describe the work of the
Lutheran Church? 20. What are the duties of her members?
SCRIPTURE VERSES.--Matt. 16:18. Upon this rock I will build my church;
and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
II Tim. 2:19. Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having
this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that
nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
John 10:14. I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of
mine.
Eph. 1:22, 23. And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to
be the head over all things to the church, which is his body, the
fulness of him that filleth all in all.
I Tim. 6:12. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life,
whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession
before many witnesses.
Rom. 1:16. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the
power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth.
Heb. 4:12. For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than
any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of sold and
spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts
and intents of the heart.
II Cor, 5:20. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did
beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to
God.
READING.--The Church at Jerusalem, Acts 2:41-47.
CHAPTER XXII.
THE HOLY GHOST.
IV. THE FRUITS OF HIS WORK.
The Forgiveness of Sins; the Resurrection of the Body; and the Life
Everlasting.
The fruits of the Holy Spirit's work in us are: 1. The Forgiveness of
Sins. 2. The Resurrection of the Body and the Life Everlasting.
1. _THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS_ has been acquired for me by my Saviour
Jesus Christ; [I John 1:7+] but it is made mine by the Holy Ghost, who
has brought me to faith and preserved me in it. For it is through faith
that I obtain forgiveness. [Rom 5:1]
IN WHICH CHRISTIAN CHURCH. The forgiveness of sins is made mine _in the
Church_ through the Word of God and the Sacraments. Faith takes hold of
and clings to the promises therein given. Special assurance of
forgiveness is also given in Confession and Absolution.
HE DAILY FORGIVES ABUNDANTLY ALL MY SINS. Even if I am a sincere
Christian, I am an imperfect and sinful creature, and I need God's
forgiveness every day. [I John 1:8, 9, Rom. 7:18-25] By keeping me in a
state of repentance and faith, the Holy Spirit secures to me the
continuous forgiveness of all my sins. The Christian's life is a daily
repentance and a daily believing that God for Christ's sake graciously
pardons all our transgressions and shortcomings. [Luke 11:3, 4, Rom
8:32+]
AND THE SINS OF ALL BELIEVERS. All who lead a life of daily repentance
and faith are daily and abundantly forgiven.
2. _THE RESURRECTION OF THE BODY AND THE LIFE EVERLASTING_. The work of
the Holy Spirit in me will not be completed until the last day.
HE WILL RAISE UP ME AND ALL THE DEAD AT THE LAST DAY. The bodies of all
men shall be raised from the dead and re-united with the souls from
which they were parted at death. [John 5:28, 29+, Acts 24:15+] These
bodies will be essentially the same which we had on earth, but they will
be immortal and incorruptible. [I Cor. 15:42] The bodies of the
believers will be endowed with new and glorious properties, like the
body of Christ after His resurrection. [I Cor. 15:42-44, Phil. 3:21+]
They will be fit tabernacles for the glorified souls to inhabit through
all eternity. They will be spiritual bodies, freed from all the
imperfections and limitations to which they were subject on earth. The
bodies of those believers who are still alive at Christ's second coming
shall undergo the same change in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye,
at the last trump. [I Cor. 15:51-53]
AND WILL GRANT EVERLASTING LIFE TO ME TO ALL WHO BELIEVE IN CHRIST.
[John 3:16] The believers shall then enter upon the full and perfect
enjoyment of eternal salvation. [Matt. 25:34] Here we have the
forgiveness of sins, but there we shall have life everlasting. The
believers shall obtain an eternal inheritance in heaven, [I Pet. 1:4+]
and enter upon the enjoyment of a bliss so exalted that we cannot form
any adequate conception of it here on earth. There will be differences
of glory proportioned to the strength of faith and the zeal in labor
manifested on earth. [I Cor 15:41, 42, Luke 19:17-19] But all shall be
perfectly happy. They shall be free from sin and from every evil, [Rev.
21:4+] and dwell in the light of God's presence forever. [I Thess. 4:17,
John 17:24, Rev. 7:15]
_Eternal Death_. The impenitent and unbelieving shall be cast into
eternal torment, [Matt. 25:41] and shall suffer indescribable pain and
misery for ever. [Rev. 14:11] The greater their wickedness and neglected
opportunities on earth, the deeper will be their remorse and anguish.
[Luke 12:47, 48, Matt. 25:41] Having refused to let the Holy Spirit make
them fit for entrance into heaven, [Rev. 21:27, Matt. 7:23] they shall
be cast out into the only place for which they are fit, into hell. [Luke
16:23, 24]
QUESTIONS.--1. What are the fruits of the Holy Spirit's work in us? 2.
How does the forgiveness of sins become yours? 3. Where is the
forgiveness of sins made yours? 4. How do we obtain daily forgiveness?
5. When will the Holy Spirit's work in you be completed? 6. Describe the
resurrection of the dead. 7. What is to be said about everlasting life?
8. Why will the impenitent and unbelieving be cast into hell?
SCRIPTURE VERSES.--I John 1:7. The blood of Jesus Christ his Son
cleanseth us from all sin.
Rom. 8:32. He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us
all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
John 5:28, 29. Marvel not at this: for 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.
Acts 24:15. There shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just
and unjust.
Phil. 3:21. Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned
like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able
even to subdue all things unto himself.
I Pet. 1:4. To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that
fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you.
Rev. 21:4. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there
shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there
be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
READING.--Christ Judging the World, Matt. 25:31-46.
PART III.
THE LORD'S PRAYER.
CHAPTER XXIII.
PRAYER.
Prayer is the conversation of the believing heart with God. [Ps. 19:14+]
It is as necessary for the life of the soul, as breathing is for that of
the body. As children of God we must live in communion with Him; and we
cannot be Christians without prayer. For this reason God has given us
His name to use in prayer, and the Saviour has taught us how to pray in
the Lord's Prayer.
To WHOM WE SHOULD PRAY. Our prayers should be addressed to God alone,
[Matt. 4:10.] and not to the Virgin Mary, the saints, the angels, or any
other creatures.
WHY WE SHOULD PRAY. We should pray, 1. Because we constantly need God's
mercy in temporal and spiritual things. 2. Because we owe God our thanks
for his many benefits. [Ps. 103, Jas. 1:17] 3. Because God has commanded
us to pray. [Matt. 6:9, Matt. 26:41] 4. Because God has promised to hear
us. [Matt. 7:7, 8+, Ps. 50:15]
WHEN WE SHOULD PRAY. 1. Always; [Luke 21:36+] that is, our soul should
live in constant communion with God, and always be open toward Him. 2.
Whenever we feel special need of prayer: in danger, [Matt. 8:25]
distress, anxiety, [Matt. 8:25] sickness, [Jas. 5:14, 15] bereavement,
sorrow, [Ps. 25:16, 17] temptation, [Matt. 26:41] or when we are
burdened with the sense of our guilt. [Luke 18:13.] 3. At fixed times:
[Dan. 6:10] every morning and evening, at meal-times; in family worship;
[Josh. 24:15+] in church. [Matt. 18:20+]
FOR WHOM WE SHOULD PRAY. 1. For ourselves. 2. For our fellow-Christians.
[Eph. 6:18+] 3. For all men: [I Tim. 2:1+] for friends and foes, [Matt.
5:44+] the poor and the rich, the afflicted and the tempted. 4. For the
Church. 5. For the State.
OUR PRAYERS SHOULD CONTAIN: 1. Adoration, 2. Thanksgiving. 3.
Confession, 4. Petition. 5. Intercession.
THE MANNER. Our prayers should be the sincere utterance of our hearts;
otherwise they will be a mere mockery. [Matt. 6:5] They may be in our
own words or those of another. It will often be profitable to use the
prayers found in good prayer-books or in the Liturgy, and to draw
largely from the Psalms, which are a treasury of good and beautiful
prayers. We should not lengthen our prayers by vain repetitions, nor
repeat the Lord's Prayer or any other prayer a certain number of times
as if that were a merit. [Matt. 6:7] Nor should we shorten our prayers
through laziness, indifference, and the like. The Lord's Prayer should
generally be added to our own prayers as a summary of those things for
which we should pray.
THE POSTURE which we assume should indicate reverence to God. We should
kneel or stand with folded hands. If we are unable to assume either of
these postures, we may pray in any position. We stand in church on
Sunday, because it is the day of the Lord's resurrection and a day of
joy. We should not sit still in church while others stand, unless we are
too weak or ill to stand. Kneeling is an attitude of humiliation,
particularly appropriate for the confession of sins.
IN CHRIST'S NAME. We should always pray in Christ's name, and never omit
His name to please men or avoid offence; for our prayers are only heard
for Christ's sake. We have the promise that whatever we ask in His name
will be given to us. [John 16:23] To pray in Christ's name means to
pray, 1. As one who trusts in Christ and asks to be heard for His sake.
[Eph. 2:18+, Rom. 5:2] 2. As one who prays in Christ's spirit,
submitting all things to God's will, and saying with Christ, "Not my
will, but Thine, be done." [Matt. 26:29, Matt 6:10]
IN FAITH. We should pray in faith, believing that God will answer our
prayer for Jesus' sake. [Jas. 5:16+] If we do not pray in faith, we
shall not be heard. [Jas. 1:6, 7]
THE ANSWER TO PRAYER. God always answers the prayer of the believer.
Those who ask and receive not, have either asked amiss, [Jas. 4:3] or
have not asked in faith. If we ask anything according to His will, He
heareth us. [John 5:14+] He answers our prayer, 1. By granting us what
we ask, though perhaps after a long delay, by which He tries our faith
and patience. 2. He grants us good things instead of the hurtful things
for which we ignorantly ask. 3. He gives us strength to bear the burden
which we pray to have removed, [II Cor. 12:9] and thus confers a greater
blessing than the removal of the burden would be.