Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions

Scripture Text: Acts 16:30b–31

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From the Word: 30b “What must I do to be saved?” 31 And they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your family.” (Acts 16:30b–31)

From the Confessions: The Small Catechism

The Second Article

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

What does this mean?

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. He has redeemed me, a lost and condemned creature, and has freed me from sin, death, and the power of the devil, not with silver and gold, but with his holy and precious blood and his innocent suffering and death. He has done all this 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 for all eternity. This is most certainly true!

Pulling It Together: We come now to Luther’s teaching on what good it is to know this second article of the Apostles’ Creed. These benefits include the confident hope of redemption, freedom, inclusion, eternal life. But I cannot believe any of these good things, these precious promises. without believing in the one who made the promises. When, through faith in God’s grace, we believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, we are saved. 

This word “saved” is so commonly used that we do not think about what it means. We normally associate it with going to heaven—which we should. But how are we saved to eternal life? That we are saved means that we have been redeemed or delivered from something to something. We are rescued “from sin, death, and the power of the devil,” and therefore, delivered to eternal life and heaven. This saving work is that of Christ alone, not deriving from anything that we do or could do. This is what we confess because of whom we believe: Jesus Christ, who came to save sinners like us (1 Tim 1:15).

Prayer: Thank you, Lord Jesus, for all your benefits. Amen.

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Learning the Lord's Prayer teaches the Lord's Prayer according to the pattern of Luther's Small Catechism, and is recommended for the Second Grade Level. Each week focuses on a specific Bible story which illustrates the theme, with additional references from Scripture and Luther's Small Catechism - Children's Version

Teacher's Guide


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