Читать книгу Luther's Small Catechism Explained in Questions and Answers - Harald Ulrik Sverdrup - Страница 4
ОглавлениеWhat does God say of all his commandments?
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.
That is,
God threatens to punish all who transgress these commandments; we should therefore fear His wrath, and do nothing against them.
On the other hand He promises grace and every blessing to all who keep these commandments; we should therefore love Him and trust in Him, and gladly do according to His commandments.
THE FIRST ARTICLE.
CONCERNING CREATION.
I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.
That is,
I believe that God has made me and all other creatures; that He has given me body and soul, eyes, ears, and all other members, my reason, and all my senses.
I also believe that He preserves all He has made, and that He daily provides me with all I need, giving me clothing and food, home and family, and every good thing.
I further believe that He protects me from all danger, and keeps me from all evil; not because I have deserved it, but because He is a loving and merciful Father.
For all these blessings it is my duty to serve Him thankfully and obediently all the days of my life.
All this is certainly true.
THE SECOND ARTICLE.
CONCERNING REDEMPTION.
I believe 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 arose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from whence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
That is,
I believe that Jesus Christ is true God, begotten of the Father from eternity; I also believe that He is true man, born of the Virgin Mary; that He is my Lord, who has redeemed me, a lost and condemned sinner; who has freed me from sin, from death, and from the power of Satan, not with gold or silver but with His holy and precious blood and His innocent death.
All this He has done that I might be His own, and that I might serve Him in righteousness, innocence, and happiness, and live and reign with Him in His kingdom forever, even as He arose from the dead, lives and reigns through all eternity.
All this is certainly true.
THE THIRD ARTICLE.
CONCERNING 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 life everlasting. Amen.
That is,
I believe that I cannot through my own strength believe in Jesus Christ my Lord, or come to Him. This is the work of the Holy Spirit alone, who has called me through the gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, and sanctified and preserved me in the true faith;
Even as he calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian church on earth, and preserves it in fellowship with Jesus Christ in the one true faith.
In this Christian church He daily forgives me and all believers all our sins, and He will raise up me and all the dead on the last day, and will give me and all believers everlasting life.
All this is certainly true.
THE LORD'S PRAYER.
Our Father who art in heaven.
That is,
God would hereby tenderly invite us to believe that He is truly our Father, and we are truly His children, so that we may ask of Him with all cheerfulness and confidence, as dear children ask of their dear father.
THE FIRST PETITION.
Hallowed be Thy name.
That is,
The name of God is indeed holy in itself; but we pray in this petition that it may be hallowed also among us.
This is done when the Word of God is rightly taught, and when we as the children of God live holy lives in obedience to the Word. This grant us, heavenly Father.
THE SECOND PETITION.
Thy kingdom come.
That is,
The kingdom of God comes indeed of itself, without our prayer, but we pray in this petition that it may come also to us.
This is done when our heavenly Father gives us His Holy Spirit, so that by His grace we believe the Word of God, and live holy and Christ-like lives here in time, and in heaven forever.
THE THIRD PETITION.
Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.
That is,
The good and gracious will of God is done indeed without our prayer; but we pray in this petition that it may be done also among us.
This is done when God brings to nothing all evil plans and purposes of the devil, the world, and our own flesh, that would hinder the hallowing of His name and the coming of His kingdom.
On the other hand, it is the good and gracious will of God to strengthen us and keep us steadfast in His Word and in faith, until death.
THE FOURTH PETITION.
Give us this day our daily bread.
That is,
God gives daily bread indeed without our prayer even to the wicked; but we pray in this petition that He would help us to appreciate His benefits, that we may receive our daily bread with thanksgiving.
By daily bread is meant all those things which are needed for our support and well-being in life, as food and clothing, home and property, happy family relations, a good government, favorable weather, peace and health, faithful friends, good neighbors, and the like.
THE FIFTH PETITION.
And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.
That is,
We pray in this petition that our Father in heaven would not look upon our sins, nor, on account of them, deny our prayer, for we are not worthy of anything we ask, neither have we deserved it; but we pray that He would give it to us out of His mercy; for we sin every day, and deserve nothing but punishment.
And we on our part will heartily forgive those who have sinned against us, and return good for evil.
THE SIXTH PETITION.
And lead us not into temptation.
That is,
God indeed tempts no one, but we pray in this petition that He would guard and keep us from the devil, the world, and our own flesh, that we fall not, through their deceit, into unbelief, despair, or other sins; but we pray that although we be thus tempted, we may overcome the temptation, and remain victorious.
THE SEVENTH PETITION.
But deliver us from evil.
That is,
We pray in this petition, in general, that our Father in heaven would deliver us from all evil, affecting body and soul, property and honor, and at last grant us a blessed end, and graciously take us from this world of sorrow to Himself in heaven.
