An Explanation of Luther's Small Catechism · Martin Luther
IN ORDER THAT
THIS IS MOST CERTAINLY TRUE: 1. That Jesus Christ, true God and true Man, is my Lord, who has redeemed me. 2. That He has paid the penalty for my sins with His holy and precious blood and His innocent sufferings and death. 3. That consequently I belong to Him, and should serve Him now and for ever. QUESTIONS.--1. What four things does the explanation of the second article tell us about Christ's redemption? 2. Whom has Christ redeemed? 3. What was I before Christ redeemed me, and why? 4. From what has Christ redeemed me? 5. What is meant by redemption from sin? from death? and from the devil? 6. How has Christ redeemed me? 7. Why was the shedding of Christ's blood necessary? 8. Why did Christ suffer and die if He was innocent? 9. What is meant when we say that Christ was our substitute? 10. Why has Christ redeemed me? 11. To whom do I now belong, and what is my duty therefore? 12. What is meant by living under Christ in His kingdom? 13. In what spirit am I to serve Him? 14. What hope has Christ secured for me? 15. What three things are most certainly true according to this second article? * * * * * SCRIPTURE VERSES.--I Pet. 2:24. Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
I John 2:2. And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. John 1:29. Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. Gal. 2:20. I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. Isa. 53:6. All we like sheep have gone astray. II Cor. 5:21. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. I John 3:8. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. I Pet. 1:18, 19. Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. I John 1:7. The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. I Pet. 3:18. For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God. Rom. 5:7, 8. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
II Cor. 5:15. He died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. Gal. 2:20. I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. I Pet. 2:9. But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light. Matt. 16:24. Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. READING.--Jesus our High Priest, Heb. 9:11-15.
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