An Explanation of Luther's Small Catechism · Martin Luther
II. HIS PERSON AND NATURE.
He is TRUE GOD, BEGOTTEN OF THE FATHER FROM ETERNITY. Christ is true God, [Rom. 9:5+] just as the Father is God. [John 5:23+, John 20:28+, John 8:58+, Mat. 16:16] He is the Son of God, not as a good or great man who has been received or adopted as God's son, but He is in His very nature the Son of God, _begotten by His Father_ [John 3:16+] _from all eternity_. [John 1:1, John 17:5] He is "God of God, Light of Light, Very God of Very God, Begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father." [John 10:30+] The Scriptures show this by ascribing to Him divine names, attributes, power, honor, and works. At His baptism and at His transfiguration the Father spoke from heaven, and said, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." [Matt. 3:17, Matt. 17:5] His divine nature is proved by His teaching, His miracles, His holy life, and especially by His resurrection from the dead. ALSO TRUE MAN, BORN OF THE VIRGIN MARY. Christ was in all respects a human being such as we are, except that He was without sin. [I Pet. 2:22+] He was "conceived by the Holy Ghost," and thus had God alone for His Father. [Luke 1:35] But He was "born of the Virgin Mary," [Luke 2:7] with a human body [Heb. 2:14] and soul. [Matt. 26:38] He grew, increased in wisdom and stature, [Luke 2:52] and reached the age of manhood. He suffered our human wants, [Matt. 4:2, John 4:6-7] such as hunger, thirst, weariness, and pain. He was moved by human emotions, [Luke 10:21, Matt. 26:38, Matt. 21:12] such as joy, sorrow, and indignation. He wept, [John 11:35] prayed, [Matt. 26:39] suffered, and died. [I Pet. 2:23-24] He could not have done these things if He had not been true man.
Christ is therefore both God and man in one Person. [Rom. 1:3-4, John 1:14+] Consequently He is the _God-Man._ It was necessary that the Redeemer should be both God and man. [I Tim. 1:15+] If He had not been God, but only man, He could not have paid a sufficient ransom for our deliverance from sin, nor have acquired any merit to bestow upon us. Even a sinless man could have saved no one but himself. On the other hand, if Christ had not become man, but remained God only, He could not have put Himself in our place under the law, nor have suffered and died in our stead. But as the _God-man_, Christ was able to accomplish, and did perfectly accomplish, our redemption. [Rom. 3:24+] Thus He became and IS MY LORD, WHO HAS REDEEMED ME, and in whom I trust for salvation. [Rom. 8:38-39, Rom. 5:1+] QUESTIONS.--1. Of what does the Second Article treat? 2. How did God plan to save man? 3. Analyze the Second Article and its Explanation. 4. Give the meaning of the names of our Lord. 5. What was Christ's threefold office? 6. What is to be said about the person and nature of Christ? 7. In what sense is Christ the Son of God, and how do we know it? 8. How do you know that Christ was true man? 9. Why was it necessary that the Redeemer should be both God and man? 10. What name do we give to Christ in view of His two-fold nature?
SCRIPTURE VERSES.--John 3:16. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. I Tim. 1:15. This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. Rom. 9:5. Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. John 5:23. That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him. John 20:28. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. John 8:58. Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. John 10:30. I and my Father are one. I Pet. 2:22. Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth. John 1:14. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. Rom. 3:24. Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Rom. 5:1. Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. READING.--The Birth of Jesus, Luke 2:1-20; or, The Eternal Word, John 1:1-18. The Saviour's life includes two states; namely, His Humiliation and His Exaltation.
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