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money and possessions； and with everything we have； especially those
who even fight against the Word of God。 Yet Christians have this
advantage； that they acknowledge themselves in duty bound to serve God
for all these things； and to be obedient to Him ＇which the world knows
not how to do＇。
We ought； therefore； daily to practice this article； impress it upon
our mind； and to remember it in all that meets our eyes； and in all
good that falls to our lot； and wherever we escape from calamity or
danger； that it is God who gives and does all these things； that
therein we sense and see His paternal heart and His transcendent love
toward us。 Thereby the heart would be warmed and kindled to be
thankful； and to employ all such good things to the honor and praise of
God。
Thus we have most briefly presented the meaning of this article； as
much as is at first necessary for the most simple to learn； both as to
what we have and receive from God； and what we owe in return； which is
a most excellent knowledge； but a far greater treasure。 For here we see
how the Father has given Himself to us； together with all creatures；
and has most richly provided for us in this life； besides that He has
overwhelmed us with unspeakable； eternal treasures by His Son and the
Holy Ghost； as we shall hear。
Article II。
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。
Here we learn to know the Second Person of the Godhead； so that we see
what we have from God over and above the temporal goods
aforementioned； namely； how He has completely poured forth Himself and
withheld nothing from us that He has not given us。 Now； this article is
very rich and broad； but in order to expound it also briefly and in a
childlike way； we shall take up one word and sum up in that the entire
article； namely （as we have said）； that we may here learn how we have
been redeemed； and we shall base this on these words： In Jesus Christ；
our Lord。
If now you are asked； What do you believe in the Second Article of
Jesus Christ？ answer briefly： I believe that Jesus Christ； true Son of
God； has become my Lord。 But what is it to become Lord？ It is this；
that He has redeemed me from sin； from the devil； from death； and all
evil。 For before I had no Lord nor King； but was captive under the
power of the devil； condemned to death； enmeshed in sin and blindness。
For when we had been created by God the Father； and had received from
Him all manner of good； the devil came and led us into disobedience；
sin； death； and all evil； so that we fell under His wrath and
displeasure and were doomed to eternal damnation； as we had merited and
deserved。 There was no counsel； help； or comfort until this only and
eternal Son of God in His unfathomable goodness had compassion upon our
misery and wretchedness； and came from heaven to help us。 Those tyrants
and jailers； then； are all expelled now； and in their place has come
Jesus Christ； Lord of life； righteousness； every blessing； and
salvation； and has delivered us poor lost men from the jaws of hell；
has won us； made us free； and brought us again into the favor and grace
of the Father； and has taken us as His own property under His shelter
and protection； that He may govern us by His righteousness； wisdom；
power； life； and blessedness。
Let this then； be the sum of this article that the little word Lord
signifies simply as much as Redeemer； i。e。； He who has brought us from
Satan to God； from death to life； from sin to righteousness； and who
preserves us in the same。 But all the points which follow in order in
this article serve no other end than to explain and express this
redemption； how and whereby it was accomplished； that is； how much it
cost Him； and what He spent and risked that He might win us and bring
us under His dominion； namely； that He became man； conceived and born
without ＇any stain of＇ sin； of the Holy Ghost and of the Virgin Mary；
that He might overcome sin； moreover； that He suffered； died and was
buried； that He might make satisfaction for me and pay what I owe； not
with silver nor gold； but with His own precious blood。 And all this； in
order to become my Lord； for He did none of these for Himself； nor had
He any need of it。 And after that He rose again from the dead；
swallowed up and devoured death； and finally ascended into heaven and
assumed the government at the Father's right hand； so that the devil
and all powers must be subject to Him and lie at His feet； until
finally； at the last day； He will completely part and separate us from
the wicked world； the devil； death； sin； etc。
But to explain all these single points separately belongs not to brief
sermons for children； but rather to the ampler sermons that extend
throughout the entire year； especially at those times which are
appointed for the purpose of treating at length of each article of
the birth； sufferings； resurrection； ascension of Christ； etc。
Ay； the entire Gospel which we preach is based on this； that we
properly understand this article as that upon which our salvation and
all our happiness rest； and which is so rich and comprehensive that we
never can learn it fully。
Article III。
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。
This article （as I have said） I cannot relate better than to
Sanctification； that through the same the Holy Ghost； with His office；
is declared and depicted； namely； that He makes holy。 Therefore we must
take our stand upon the word Holy Ghost； because it is so precise and
comprehensive that we cannot find another。 For there are； besides； many
kinds of spirits mentioned in the Holy Scriptures； as； the spirit of
man； heavenly spirits； and evil spirits。 But the Spirit of God alone is
called Holy Ghost； that is； He who has sanctified and still sanctifies
us。 For as the Father is called Creator； the Son Redeemer； so the Holy
Ghost； from His work； must be called Sanctifier； or One that makes
holy。 But how is such sanctifying done？ Answer： Just as the Son obtains
dominion； whereby He wins us； through His birth； death； resurrection；
etc。； so also the Holy Ghost effects our sanctification by the
following parts； namely； by the communion of saints or the Christian
Church； the forgiveness of sins； the resurrection of the body； and the
life everlasting； that is； He first leads us into His holy
congregation； and places us in the bosom of the Church； whereby He
preaches to us and brings us to Christ。
For neither you nor I could ever know anything of Christ； or believe on
Him； and obtain Him for our Lord； unless it were offered to us and
granted to our hearts by the Holy Ghost through the preaching of the
Gospel。 The work is done and accomplished； for Christ has acquired and
gained the treasure for us by His suffering； death； resurrection； etc。
But if the work remained concealed so that no one knew of it； then it
would be in vain and lost。 That this treasure； therefore； might not lie
buried； but be appropriated and enjoyed； God has caused the Word to go
forth and be proclaimed； in which He gives the Holy Ghost to bring this
treasure home and appropriate it to us。 Therefore sanctifying is
nothing else than bringing us to Christ to receive this good； to which
we could not attain of ourselves。
Learn； then； to understand this article most clearly。 If you are
asked： What do you mean by the words： I believe in the Holy Ghost？ you
can answer： I believe that the Holy Ghost makes me holy； as His name
implies。 But whereby does He accomplish this； or what are His method
and means to this end？ Answer： By the Christian Church； the forgiveness
of sins； the resurrection of the body； and the life everlasting。 For；
in the first place； He has a peculiar congregation in the world； which
is the mother that begets and bears every Christian through the Word of
God； which He reveals and preaches； ＇and through which＇ He illumines
and enkindles hearts； that they understand； accept it； cling to it； and
persevere in it。
For where He does not cause it to be preached and made alive in the
heart； so that it is understood； it is lost； as was the case under the
Papacy； where faith was entirely put under the bench； and no one
recognized Christ as his Lord or the Holy Ghost as his Sanctifier； that
is； no one believed that Christ is our Lord in the sense that He has
acquired this treasure for us； without our works and merit； and made us
acceptable to the Father。 What； then； was lacking？ This； that the Holy
Ghost was not there to reveal it and cause it to be preached； but men
and evil spirits were there； who taught us to obtain grace and be saved
by our works。 Therefore it is not a Christian Church either； for where
Christ is not preached； there is no Holy Ghost who creates； calls； and
gat