The First Article.
Review Lesson.
1. We have begun to study the Three Articles of our Creed. These
articles contain all that we believe and confess regarding God and His
works, all that He has done and Will do for us, His children. Where did
God reveal Himself and His works to us? What do we call all the
doctrines of Scripture that teach us who God is and what He has done for
us? What is the meaning of the word _Gospel?_ There are two chief
doctrines in the Bible. What are they called? What does the Law tell us?
What are the good tidings brought to us in the Gospel?
2. We confess in the First Article that God is the Father Almighty,
Maker of heaven and earth. God is the Maker of heaven and earth. What do
we call this great work of God? What is the meaning of the word create?
What do we call all the things that God has made? What does it mean to
say: God created all things _by His word?_ In how many days did God
create this world, heaven and earth?--When we thoughtfully consider
this great work of God, His creation, we can learn from it how wonderful
our God is. What does creation teach us about God? When we say, God is
almighty, what does that mean? How does creation teach us that God is an
all-wise God? How does creation show us God's great love and kindness
toward His creatures? How were all creatures when God had made them?
3. God is the Maker of heaven and earth, He created all things.
Therefore He also created man. How did God create the first man? Man is
the foremost of all the visible creatures. How do we prove this? In
whose image did God make our first parents? In what respect did God make
man in His image? How were our first parents when God had made them?
Whom did they know and love? How did they live?--God made all men;
whom, therefore, did He also make? What did God give me in making me? It
is true that God did not make me in the same manner as He made our first
parents. Through whom did He give me my body and soul?--Consider how
wonderfully God has made you. Why did God give you eyes and ears? What
can you do because God endowed your soul with reason? All this proves
that we are God's foremost creatures.--God has made you, but what do
we furthermore confess? What does this statement mean: God preserves me?
What do we read Heb. 1,3? In whom do we all live and move and have our
being?
4. We confess in the First Article that our heavenly Father has made me
and all creatures, that He has given me my body with all its members, my
soul, my reason and all my senses, and that He still preserves me, so
that in Him we live and move, and have our being. How does God preserve
me? from whom do we receive all things to support our body and life?
Recite Ps. 145,15.16. In what manner does God, as a rule, provide us
with all the things that we need to support our body and soul? Why is it
that we, nevertheless, must say that God provides for us? What must God
also do to preserve my body and life? Whom does God often use to protect
His children from danger and evil?
5. God has done great things for me. He has made me, He has given me my
body and soul. He still preserves me by providing daily and richly all
that I need for my life and body, by guarding and protecting me from all
evil. What moves God to give me all these great benefits? Recite Ps.
145,9. What does that mean: God is good to all His creatures? Whom
especially does God love? What does that mean: God is merciful? How are
God's goodness and mercy called in our Catechism? Why is His goodness
called a fatherly goodness? Why is it called a _divine_ goodness? Why do
we say that it is _purely_ fatherly and divine goodness that moves God?
What have we merited by our conduct toward God? Why are we unworthy of
all the benefits of God? What must we confess with Jacob? Gen. 32,10.
What do we say by confessing: "I believe in God the Father Almighty"?
6. Great are the blessings which we have received, and daily are
receiving, from our heavenly Father. And He gives all His blessings out
of fatherly, divine goodness and mercy, without any merit or worthiness
in me. What, therefore, is our duty over against God? We should, in the
first place, thank our Father. What do we think of an ungrateful person?
What do we read Ps. 118,1? With whom was our Lord well pleased? Why are
so many men not thankful to God? When only shall we be truly thankful?
--In the second place, we should praise our Father. What does it mean
to praise God? Before whom also should we glorify God?--In the third
place, we should serve God in order to show Him our gratitude. How can
we serve God although He is not in need of our services? How ought we to
use all the gifts of God in order to serve Him?--Lastly, we should
obey our Father. When do we obey Him? Which commandment, especially,
should we keep? What does this commandment require of us? Why do we
close the First Article with the words: "This is most certainly true"?
We all believe in one true God,
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
Present Helper in all need,
Praised by all the heavenly host,
By whose mighty power alone
All is made and wrought and done.