Part Two: The Creed

p. 439 Thus far we have heard the first part of Christian doctrine, in which we have seen all that God wishes us to do or to leave undone. The Creed, therefore, properly follows, which teaches us everything that we must expect and receive from God; and, to speak most explicitly, teaches us to know him fully. This is intended to help us do that which according to the Ten Commandments we ought to do. For (as said above) they are set so high that all human ability is far too feeble and weak to [attain to or] keep them. Therefore it is as necessary to learn this part in order to know how to attain thereto, and whence and whereby to obtain such power. For if we could, of our own power, keep the Ten Commandments as they are to be kept, we would need nothing further, neither Creed nor Lord’s Prayer. But before such advantage and necessity of the Creed are explained, it is sufficient at first for the simple-minded that they learn to comprehend and understand the Creed itself.

In the first place, the Creed has hitherto been divided into twelve articles. Although if all points which are written in the Scriptures and which belong to the Creed were to be distinctly set forth, there would be far more articles nor could they be clearly expressed in so few words. But that it may be most easily and clearly understood, as it is to be taught to children, we will briefly sum up the entire Creed in three articles, according to the three persons in the Godhead to whom everything that we believe pertains; so that the first article, Of God the Father, explains Creation, the second article, Of God the Son, explains Redemption, and the third, Of God the Holy Ghost, explains Sanctification. As though the Creed were briefly comprehended in so many words: I believe in God the Father, who has created me; I believe in God the Son, who has redeemed me; I believe in the Holy Ghost, who sanctifies me. One God and one faith, but three persons, therefore also three articles or confessions. Let us thus briefly run over the words.

p. 439 Article I

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.

This represents and sets forth most briefly the essence, will, action and work of God the Father. Since the Ten Commandments p. 440 have taught that we are to have no other gods, it is natural to ask the question: What kind of a being is God? What does he do? How shall we praise, represent or describe him, that he may be known? That is taught in this and the following article. So that the Creed is nothing else than the answer and confession of Christians, arranged with respect to the First Commandment. As if you were to ask a little child: My dear, what sort of a God have you? what do you know of him? He could say: First, indeed, my God is God the Father, who has created heaven and earth; besides him I believe in nothing else as God; for there is no one else who could create heaven and earth.

But for the learned, and those who have acquired some scriptural knowledge, these three articles may be extended and divided into as many parts as there are words. But now for young scholars let it suffice to indicate the most necessary points, namely, as we have said, that this article refers to the Creation: that we emphasize the words: CREATOR OF HEAVEN AND EARTH. But what is the force of this or what do you mean by these words: “I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker, etc.? Answer: I believe and mean to say that I am a creature of God; that is, that he has given and constantly preserves to me my body, soul and life, members great and small, all my senses, reason and understanding, food and drink, shelter and support, wife and child, domestics, house and possessions, etc. Besides, he causes all creatures to serve for the necessities and uses of life—sun, moon and stars in the firmament, day and night, air, fire, water, earth and whatever it bears and produces, bird and fish, beasts, grain and all kinds of produce, and whatever else there is of bodily and temporal goods, good government, peace, security. So that we learn in this article that none of us has his life of himself, or anything that is here enumerated or can be enumerated, neither can he of himself preserve them, however small and unimportant a thing it might be, for all is comprehended in the word: CREATOR.

Besides this we also confess that God the Father has not only given us all that we have and see before our eyes, but daily preserves and defends against all evil and misfortune, averts all sort of danger and calamity; and that he does all without our merit of pure love and goodness, as a friendly father, who cares for us that no evil befall us. But to speak more of this pertains to the other two parts of this article, where we say: “Father Almighty.”

Hence we must infer and conclude, since everything which we have and are, and whatever is in heaven and upon the earth, are daily given and preserved to us by God, that it is our duty p. 441 to love, praise and thank him without ceasing; and in short to serve him with all these things, as he has enjoined in the Ten Commandments.

Here we could say much if we would attempt to show how few there are that believe this article. For we all pass over it, hear it, and say it, but neither see nor consider what the words teach us. For if we believed it with the heart, we would also act accordingly, and not stalk about proudly, bide lefiance and boast as though we had life, riches, power and nonor, etc. all of ourselves, so that others must fear and serve us, as is the practice of the unhappy, perverted world, which is immured in darkness, and abuses all the good things and gifts of God only for its own pride, avarice, lust and luxury, and never once regards God, so as to thank him or acknowledge him as Lord and Creator,

Therefore, if we only believed it, this article must humble and terrify us all. For we sin daily with eyes, ears, hands, body and soul, money and possessions, and with everything we have, as especially do 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 practise this article, to remember and consider in all that we see, 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 perceive and see his paternal heart and his transcendent love toward us. Thereby the heart would be aroused and kindled to be thankful for all such good things, and to employ them 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 object of 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 in his Son and the Holy Ghost, as we shall hear.

p. 441 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 p. 442 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 those temporal goods already spoken of; namely, how completely he has poured forth his riches and withheld nothing. This article is therefore very rich and broad; but that we may briefly treat of it in a childlike way, we will take up one word and comprehend in that the entire sum of the article, namely (as we have said), that we may learn how we are redeemed. This is taught in the 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 that he has redeemed me from sin, from the devil, from death and all evil. For before I had no Lord or King, but was captive under the power of the devil, condemned to death, bound 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-begotten and eternal Son of God in his unfathomable goodness had compassion upon our misery and wretchedness, and came from heaven to help us. Thus therefore the tyrants and jailers are all expelled, and in their stead stands Jesus Christ, Lord of life, righteousness, salvation and of all good, and who delivered us poor lost mortals from the jaws of hell, has redeemed us and 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 it then be considered 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 only serve to express and explain this redemption; that is, how and whereby it was accomplished, how much he suffered and what he paid and risked, that he might redeem 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 be Lord over sin; that he suffered, died and was buried, that he might make satisfaction p. 443 for me and pay what I owe, not with silver nor gold, but with his own precious blood. And all that 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, destroyed and swallowed up death, and finally ascended into heaven and assumed the government at the Father’s right hand; so that the devil and all principalities and powers must be subject to him and lie at his feet, until finally at the last day he will part and separate us from the wicked world, from the devil, death, sin, etc.

But to explain all these single points especially belongs not to brief sermons for children, but rather to the ampler sermons that extend over the entire year, especially at those times which are appointed for the purpose, to treat at length of each article—of the birth, sufferings, resurrection, ascension of Christ, etc.

Ay, the entire Gospel which we preach consists in this, viz. that we properly understand this article as that upon which our salvation and all our happiness depend, and which is so rich and comprehensive that we never can learn it fully.

p. 443 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 I cannot explain better than (as I have said) that it treats of Sanctification, viz. that thereby the Holy Ghost, with his office, is declared and set forth, namely, that he makes holy.

Therefore we must establish ourselves upon the word HOLY GHOST, because it is so precise and comprehensive that we cannot use another like it. For there are besides many kinds of spirits mentioned in the Holy Scriptures—the spirit of man, heavenly spirits and evil spirits. But the Spirit of God alone is called the Holy Ghost, that is, He which 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 what is the process of such sanctification? Answer: Just as the Son obtains dominion, whereby he redeems us, by his birth, death, resurrection, etc., so also the Holy Ghost effects our sanctification, as follows, namely, by the communion of saints or Christian Church, forgiveness of sins, resurrection of the body and eternal life; 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.

p. 444 For neither you nor I could ever know anything of Christ, or believe on him and have him for our Lord, except as it is offered to us and granted to our hearts by the Holy Ghost through the preaching of the Gospel. The work is finished and accomplished; for Christ, by his suffering, death, resurrection, etc., has acquired and gained the treasure for us. But if the work remained concealed, so that no one knew of it, then it were 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 apply it to us. Therefore sanctification is nothing else but bringing us to Christ to receive this good, to which, of ourselves, we could not attain.

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 means and method to this end? Answer: The Christian Church, the forgiveness of sin, 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 bears every Christian through the Word of God, which he reveals and preaches, and through which he illumines and enkindles hearts, that they understand and 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 as to be understood, it is lost, as was the case under the Papacy, where faith was entirely put under a bushel, and no one recognized Christ as his Lord or the Holy Ghost as his Sanctifier, i. e. no one believed that Christ is our Lord in the sense that he has acquired this treasure for us, and, without our works and merit, made us acceptable to the Father. And what indeed was the cause? This, verily, that the Holy Ghost was not there to reveal it, and caused 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 no Christian Church; for where Christ is not preached there is no Holy Ghost who makes, calls and gathers the Christian Church, without which no one can come to Christ the Lord. Let this suffice concerning the sum of this article. But because the different points, which are here enumerated, are not quite clear to the simple, we will run over them.

The holy Christian Church the Creed denominates a communion of saints, for both expressions are taken together as one idea. But formerly the one point was not there, as it is also unintelligible in the translation. If it is to be given very plainly, it must be expressed quite differently. For the word p. 445 ecclesia is properly an assembly. But we are accustomed to the word church, which the simple do not refer to an assembled multitude, but to the consecrated house or building. Although the house ought not to be called church, except for the reason that the multitude assembles there. For we who assemble constitute and occupy a particular space, and give a name to the house according to the assembly.

Therefore the word “church” (Kirche) means really nothing else than a common assembly, and is not German, but Greek (as is also the word ecclesia); for in their own language they call it kyria, as in Latin it is called curia. Therefore in our mother-tongue, in genuine German, it ought to be a Christian congregation or assembly (eine Christliche Gemeine oder Sammlung), or, best of all and most clearly, a holy Christian people (eine Heilige Christenheit).

So also the word communion, which is added, ought not to be communion (Gemeinschaft), but congregation (Gemeine). And it is nothing else than an interpretation or explanation whereby some one meant to explain what the Christian Church is. This those of us who understood neither Latin nor German have rendered Gemeinschaft der Heiligen, although no one would speak so in German, nor is it understood. But, to speak correct German, it ought to be eine Gemeine der Heiligen, a congregation of saints, that is, a congregation made up purely of saints, or, to speak yet more plainly, ein Heilige Gemeine, a holy congregation. I make this explanation in order that the words Gemeinschaft der Heiligen may be understood, because the expression has become so established by custom that it cannot well be eradicated, and it is treated almost as heresy if one should attempt to change a word.

But this is the meaning and substance of this addition: I believe that there is upon earth a holy assembly and congregation of pure saints, under one head, even Christ, called together by the Holy Ghost in one faith, one mind and understanding, with manifold gifts, yet one in love, without sects or schisms. And I also am a part and member of the same, a participant and joint owner of all the good it possesses, brought to it and incorporated into it by the Holy Ghost, in that I have heard and continue to hear the Word of God, which is the means of entrance. For formerly, before we had attained to this, we were of the devil, knowing nothing of God and of Christ. Thus, until the last day, the Holy Ghost abides with the holy congregation or Christian people. By means of this congregation he brings us to Christ and teaches and preaches to us the Word, whereby he works and promotes sanctification, causing [this community] daily to grow and become strong in the faith and the fruits of the Spirit, which he produces.

p. 446 We further believe that in this Christian Church we have forgiveness of sin, which is wrought through the holy sacraments and absolution, and through all manner of consolatory promises of the entire Gospel. Therefore whatever is to be preached concerning the sacraments belongs here, and in short the whole Gospel and all the duties of Christianity, which also must be preached and taught without ceasing. For although the grace of God is secured through Christ, and sanctification is wrought by the Holy Ghost through the Word of God in the unity of the Christian Church, yet on account of our flesh which we bear about with us we are never without sin.

Everything therefore in the Christian Church is so ordered that we shall daily obtain free and full forgiveness of sin through the Word and signs, appointed to comfort and encourage our consciences as long as we live here. Thus, although we have sin, the Holy Ghost does not allow it to injure us, because we are in the Christian Church, where there is full forgiveness of sin, both in that God forgives us, and in that we forgive, bear with and help each other.

But outside of this Christian Church, where the Gospel is not, there is no forgiveness, as also there can be no sanctification. Therefore all who do not seek sanctification through the Gospel and forgiveness of sin, but expect to merit it by their works, have expelled and severed themselves from this Christian Church.

Yet meanwhile, since sanctification has begun and is growing daily, we expect that our flesh will be destroyed and buried with all its uncleanness, and will come forth gloriously, and arise to entire and perfect holiness in a new eternal life. For now we are only half pure and holy, so that the Holy Ghost has ever to continue his work in us through the Word, and daily to dispense forgiveness, until we attain to that life where there will be no more forgiveness, but only perfectly pure and holy people, full of godliness and righteousness, delivered and free from sin, from death and from all evil, in a new, immortal and glorified body.

Behold, all this is to be the office and work of the Holy Ghost, viz. that he begin and daily increase holiness upon the earth by means of two things, namely, the Christian Church and the forgiveness of sin. But in our dissolution he will accomplish and perfect it in an instant, and will for ever preserve us therein by the last two things confessed in the Creed.

But the term Auferstehung des Fleisches (Resurrection of the flesh) here employed is not according to good German idiom. For when we Germans hear the word Fleisch (flesh), we think no farther than the shambles. But in good German idiom we would say Auferstehung des Leibs, or Leichnams (Resurreclion p. 447 of the body). Yet it is not a matter of much moment if we only understand the words in their true sense.

This is the force of this article, which must ever continue in operation. For creation is accomplished and redemption is finished. But the Holy Ghost carries on his work without ceasing to the last day. And for that purpose he has appointed a congregation upon the earth, by which he speaks and does everything. For he has not yet brought together all his Christian people nor completed the distribution of forgiveness. Therefore we believe in Him who through the Word daily brings us into the fellowship of this Christian people, and through the same Word and the forgiveness of sins bestows, increases and strengthens faith, in order that when he has accomplished it all and we abide therein, and die to the world and to all evil, he may finally make us perfectly and for ever holy; which now we expect in faith through the Word.

Behold, here you have the entire divine essence, will and work depicted most exquisitely in quite short and yet rich words, wherein consists all our wisdom, which surpasses the wisdom, mind and reason of all men. For although the whole world with all diligence has endeavored to ascertain the nature, mind and work of God, yet has she never been able to determine anything whatever of it. But here we have everything in richest measure; for here in all three articles he has revealed himself, and opened the deepest recesses of his paternal heart and of his pure unutterable love. For he has created us for this very object, viz. that he might redeem and sanctify us; and in addition he has given and imparted to us everything in heaven and upon earth, and has given to us even his Son and the Holy Ghost, by whom to bring us to himself. For (as explained above) we could never attain to the knowledge of the grace and favor of the Father except through the Lord Christ, who is a mirror of the paternal heart, outside of whom we see nothing but an angry and terrible Judge. But of Christ we could know nothing except by the revelation of the Holy Ghost.

These articles of the Creed, therefore, separate and distinguish us Christians from all other people upon earth. For all outside of Christianity, whether heathen, Turks, Jews or false Christians and hypocrites, although they believe in and worship only one true God, yet know not what his mind towards them is, and cannot confide in his love or expect any good from him; therefore they abide in eternal wrath and damnation. For they have not the Lord Christ, and besides are not illumined and favored by the gifts of the Holy Ghost.

From this you perceive that the Creed contains quite a different doctrine from the Ten Commandments. For the latter p. 448 teaches indeed what we ought to do, but the former tells what God has done for and gives to us. The Ten Commandments also are written in the hearts of all men, but the Creed no human wisdom can comprehend, but it must be taught by the Holy Ghost. The Law, therefore, can make no Christian, for the wrath and displeasure of God abide upon us for ever, as long as we cannot keep it and do what God demands of us;

but the faith of the Creed brings pure grace, and makes us godly and acceptable to God. For by the knowledge of this we love and delight in all the commandments of God; because we see that God, with all that he has, gives himself to us—the Father, with all creatures; the Son, with his entire work; and the Holy Ghost, with all his gifts—to assist and enable us to keep the Ten Commandments.

Let this suffice concerning the Creed to lay a foundation for the simple, that they may not be burdened; so that if they understand the substance of it they may afterwards strive to acquire more, and to refer whatever they learn in the Scriptures to these parts, and ever to grow and increase in richer understanding. For as long as we live here we shall daily have enough of this to preach and to learn.