CATECHISM

The First Commandment 

I am the Lord thy God. Thou shalt have no other gods before Me.

What is meant by this?

We should fear, love and trust in God above all things.

The Second Commandment 

Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh His name in vain.

What is meant by this?

We should so fear and love God as not to curse, swear, conjure, lie, or deceive by His name, but call upon Him in every time of need, and worship Him with prayer, praise and thanksgiving.

The Third Commandment 

Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.

What is meant by this?

We should so fear and love God as not to despise preaching and His Word, but deem it holy, and willingly hear and learn it.

The Fourth Commandment

Honor thy father and thy mother, that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.

What is meant by this?

We should so fear and love God as not to despise our parents and superiors, nor provoke them to anger, but honor, serve, obey, love and esteem them.

The Fifth Commandment

Thou shalt not kill.

What is meant by this?

We should so fear and love God as not to do our neighbor any bodily harm or injury, but rather assist and comfort him in every bodily need.

The Sixth Commandment

Thou shalt not commit adultery.

What is meant by this?

We should so fear and love God as to live chaste and pure in words and deeds, and husband and wife each love and honor the other.

The Seventh Commandment

Thou shalt not steal.

What is meant by this?

We should so fear and love God as not to take our neighbor’s money or property, nor get it by false wares or false dealings, but help him to improve and protect his property and living.

The Eighth Commandment

Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.

What is meant by this?

We should so fear and love God as not to falsely belie, betray, slander, nor raise injurious reports against our neighbor, but apologize for him, think and speak well of him and put the best construction on all he does.

The Ninth Commandment

Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s house.

What is meant by this?

We should so fear and love God as not to desire by craftiness to gain possession of our neighbor’s inheritance or home, or to obtain it under some pretext of a legal right; but be ready to assist and serve him in keeping it.

The Tenth Commandment

Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife, nor his man servant, nor his maid servant, nor his ox nor his ass, nor anything that is thy neighbor’s.

What is meant by this?

We should so fear and love God as not to estrange or entice away from our neighbor his wife, or servants but urge them to stay and do their duty.

What does God say of all 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 is meant by this?

God threatens to punish all who transgress these commandments; we should, therefore, fear His wrath, and do nothing against such commandments. But He promises grace and every blessing to all who keep these commandments; we should, therefore, love and trust in Him, and gladly do according to His commandments.

The First Article

(Concerning God the Father, and Creation)

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

What is meant by this?

I believe that God has made me and all other creatures; that He has given and still preserves to me my body and soul, eyes, ears, and all my members, my reason and all my senses; and that He daily provides me with food and clothing, home and house, family, land, cattle and all that I need for this body and life; protects me and guards me, and keeps me from all evil. All of which He does without any merit or worthiness in me, but out of fatherly, divine goodness and mercy. For all which I am in duty bound to thank, praise, serve and obey Him. This is most certainly true.

The Second Article

(Concerning the Son of God and 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 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?

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, purchased and won me from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil, not with gold and silver, but with His holy and precious blood, and with His innocent sufferings and death, in order that I might be His own, 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 Third Article

(Concerning the Holy Ghost and 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?

I believe that I cannot of 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, even 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 and richly forgives me and all believers all our sins; and at the last day, will raise up me and all the dead, and will grant me and all believers in Christ everlasting life. This is most certainly true.

Our Father, Who art in Heaven.

What is meant by this?

God would hereby tenderly invite us to believe that He is truly our Father, and we are truly His children, so that we may call upon Him with all cheerfulness and confidence as dear children ask of their dear parent.

The First Petition: Hallowed be Thy Name.

What is meant by this?

The Name of God is indeed holy in itself; but we pray in this petition that it may be hallowed also by us.

How is this done?

When the Word of God is taught in its truth and purity, and we, as the children of God, lead holy lives in accordance with it; this grant us, dear Father in heaven! But he that teaches and lives otherwise than the Word of God teaches, profanes the name of God among us; from this preserve us Heavenly Father!

The Second Petition: Thy kingdom come.

What is meant by this?

The kingdom of God comes indeed of itself, without our prayer, but we pray in this petition that it may come unto us also.

How is this done?

When our Heavenly Father gives us His Holy Spirit, so that by His grace we believe His Holy Word, and live a godly life here on earth, and in Heaven forever.

The Third Petition: Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.

What is meant by this?

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.

How and when is this done?

When God defeats and hinders every evil counsel and purpose, such as the will of the devil, the world, and our own flesh, which would not let us hallow God’s Name nor let His kingdom come; but strengthens and keeps us steadfast in His Word and in the faith unto our end. This is His gracious and good will.

The Fourth Petition: Give us this day our daily bread.

What is meant by this?

God gives indeed without our prayer, even to the wicked also their daily bread; but we pray in this petition that He would lead us to understand that our daily bread is from Him and receive it with thanksgiving.

What is meant by “daily bread”?

All things that pertain to the wants and support of the body, such as food, drink, clothing, house and home, land, cattle, money, goods, a pious spouse, good children, a faithful family, pious and faithful rulers, a good government, favorable weather, peace, health, order, honor, true friends, good neighbors and the like.

The Fifth Petition: And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.

What is meant by this?

We pray in this petition that our heavenly Father would not regard our sins, nor, on account of them, deny our prayer; for we are not worthy of anything for which we pray, neither have we deserved it; but that He would grant us all things through grace; for we sin every day, and deserve nothing but punishment. We will therefore, on our part, heartily forgive and readily do good to those who sin against us.

The Sixth Petition: And lead us not into temptation.

What is meant by this?

God indeed tempts no one, but we pray in this petition that God would so guard and preserve us, that the devil, the world, and our own flesh, may not deceive us, nor lead us into error, unbelief, despair, and other great sins; and that, though we may be thus tempted, we may nevertheless finally prevail and gain the victory.

The Seventh Petition: But deliver us from evil.

What is meant by this? 

We pray in this petition, as in a summary, that our heavenly Father would deliver us from all manner of evil—in in body, soul, property and honor—and at last, when the hour of death shall come, grant us a happy end, and graciously take us from this vale of sorrow to Himself in heaven.

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

What is meant by “Amen”?

That I should be sure that these petitions are acceptable to our heavenly Father, and are heard by Him; for He Himself has commanded us so to pray, and has promised to hear us. Amen, Amen, that is, Yea, Yea; it shall be so.

1. What is Baptism?

Baptism is not simply water, but is the water comprehended in God’s command, and connected with God’s word.

What is that Word of God?

That which our Lord Jesus Christ says in the last chapter of Matthew: “Go ye, and teach all nations: baptizing them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.”

2. What benefits does Baptism confer?

It works forgiveness of sins, delivers from death and the devil, and gives everlasting salvation to all who believe what the Word and promise of God declare.

What are such words and promises of God?

Those which our Lord Jesus Christ says in the last chapter of Mark: “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.”

3. How can water do such great things?

It is not water indeed that does it, but the Word of God which is in and with the water, and faith which trusts this Word of God in the water. For the water, without the Word of God is simply water and no baptism. But with the Word of God, it is baptism, that is, a gracious water of life and a washing of regeneration in the Holy Ghost; as St. Paul says, in the third chapter of Titus, “According to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost: which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; that being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. This is a faithful saying.”

4. What does baptizing signify?

It signifies that the old Adam in us should, by daily sorrow and repentance, be drowned and die, with all sins and evil lusts; and that again the new man should daily come forth and rise, who shall live before God in righteousness and purity forever.

Where is this written?

St. Paul in the Epistle to the Romans, Chapter 6, says: “We are buried with Christ by baptism into death; that like as He was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”

What is confession?

Confession consists of two parts; the one is, that we confess our sins; the other, that we receive absolution from the confessor as of God Himself, in no wise doubting, but firmly believing that our sins are thus forgiven before God in heaven.

What sins ought we to confess?

Before God we should acknowledge ourselves guilty of all manner of sins, even of those which we do not ourselves perceive; as we do in the Lord’s Prayer. But before the confessor we should confess those sins alone of which we have knowledge, and which we feel in our hearts and which trouble our conscience.

Which are these?

Here consider your station according to the Ten Commandments, whether you are a father, mother, son, daughter, master, mistress, servant; whether you have been disobedient, unfaithful, slothful; whether you have grieved any person by word or deed; whether you have stolen, neglected or wasted aught, or done other injury.

A brief form of confession.

Say to the confessor, “Reverend and dear Sir, I beseech you to hear my confession, and pronounce forgiveness to me, for God’s sake.”

(If a servant continue) “I, a poor sinner, confess myself before God guilty of all sins. Especially do I confess before you that I am a servant, etc., but, alas! I serve my master unfaithfully; for in this and in that I have not done what they commanded me; I have provoked them to anger and profane words, have been negligent and have not prevented injury, have been immodest in words and deeds, have quarreled with my equals, have murmured and used profane words against my mistress, etc. For all this I am sorry, and implore grace; I promise amendment.”

A master, or mistress may say:

“Especially do I confess before you that I have not faithfully trained my children and household to the glory of God; I have used profane language, set a bad example by indecent words and deeds, have done my neighbor harm and spoken evil of him, have overcharged and given false ware and short measure;-” and whatever else he has done against God’s commandments and his station, etc.

But if anyone does not find himself burdened with such or greater sins, he should not trouble himself on that account, nor seek nor invent other sins, and thus make confession a torture; but simply mention one or two that you know, after this manner, “Especially do I confess that I have once been profane; I have once used improper words; I have once neglected this or that, etc.” Let that suffice.

But if you are conscious of none at all, which, however, is scarcely possible, then mention none in particular, but receive absolution upon the general confession which you make before God to the confessor.

The words of the General Confession

“O Almighty God, merciful Father, I, a poor, miserable sinner, confess unto Thee all my sins and iniquities, with which I have offended Thee and merited temporal and eternal punishment. I am heartily sorry for them and sincerely repent of them, and I pray Thee, for the sake of Thine infinite mercy and of the holy, innocent, and bitter sufferings and death of Thy beloved Son, Jesus Christ, to be gracious and merciful to me, a poor, sinful being.”

Then the confessor shall say:

“God be merciful to thee, and strengthen thy faith. Amen.”

Furthermore: “Dost thou believe that my forgiveness is God’s forgiveness?” 

Answer: “Yes, I believe.”

Then he shall say: “Be it unto thee as thou believest. And I, by the command of our Lord Jesus Christ, forgive thee thy sins, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. Depart in peace.”

Those, however, whose conscience is heavily burdened, or who are troubled and tempted, the confessor will know how to comfort and incite to faith with more passages of Scripture. This is designed merely to be a general form of confession for young people and the unlearned.

The Office of the Keys

This is the command of Christ: “And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Matt. 16:19.

Also: “Receive ye the Holy Ghost: whosoever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whosesoever sins ye retain they are retained.” John 20:22, 23.

What is the Sacrament of the Altar?

It is the true Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, under the bread and wine, given unto us Christians to eat and drink, as it was instituted by Christ Himself.

Where is this written?

The holy Evangelists, Matthew, Mark, and Luke, together with St. Paul, write thus: “Our Lord Jesus Christ, in the night in which He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He brake it and gave it to His disciples, saying, Take eat; this is My Body, which is given for you; this do, in remembrance of Me.”

“After the same manner also He took the cup, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to His disciples saying, Drink ye all of it; This cup is the New Testament in My Blood, which is shed for you, and for many, for the remission of sins: This do, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of Me.”

Of what use is such eating and drinking?

It is pointed out in these words: “Given and shed for you, for the remission of sins.” Namely, that in the sacrament forgiveness of sins, life and salvation are given us through these words. For where there is forgiveness of sins, there is also life and salvation.

What is meant by this?

It is not the eating and drinking, indeed, that does it, but the words which stand here. “Given and shed for you, for the remission of sins.” These words, together with the bodily eating and drinking are the chief thing in the Sacrament. And he who believes these words has what they say and mean, namely, the forgiveness of sins.

Who is it, that receives this Sacrament worthily?

Fasting and bodily preparation are indeed a good outward discipline; but he is truly worthy and well prepared who has faith in these words: “Given and shed for you, for the remission of sins.” But he who does not believe these words, or who doubts, is unworthy and unfit, for the words, “For you,” require truly believing hearts.