An Explanation of Luther's Small Catechism Part 21

QUESTIONS.--1. What two states does Christ's life include? 2. What is meant by His state of humiliation? 3. How many stages were there in His humiliation? 4. Name them. 5. Was Christ's glory entirely hidden during his state of humiliation? 6. How might Christ have appeared, and how did He appear among men? 7. Describe the sufferings of Christ? 8. What is to be said of Christ's crucifixion? 9. What is to be said of Christ's death? 10. What is to be said of His burial? 11. What is meant by Christ's exaltation? 12. How many stages were there in His exaltation?

13. Name them. 14. What is meant by the descent into h.e.l.l? 15. How did Christ re-appear to His disciples? 16. Prove that the resurrection was a fact. 17. What does the resurrection of Christ prove? 18. When and why did Christ ascend into heaven? 19. What is meant by His sitting at the right hand of the Father? 20. What can you tell about Christ's second coming?

SCRIPTURE VERSES.--Phil. 2:8. And being found in fas.h.i.+on as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

II Cor. 8:9. For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.

John 10:18, 19. Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself.

Isa. 53:5. He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastis.e.m.e.nt of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

Phil. 2:9-11. Wherefore G.o.d also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of G.o.d the Father.

Heb. 13:8. Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and to-day, and for ever.

Rom. 1:4. Declared to be the Son of G.o.d with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.

Rom. 4:25. Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

I Cor. 15:19, 20. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.

Matt 28:18. And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

Eph. 1:22. And hath put all things under his feet.

Rom. 8:34. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of G.o.d, who also maketh intercession for us.

Mark 13:26. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.

II Cor. 5:10. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

Matt. 24:44. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.

II Pet. 3:13. Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

READING.--The Death and Resurrection of Christ, Luke 23-24:9; and The Ascension of Christ, Acts 1:1-11.

CHAPTER XIX.

CHRIST'S WORK OF REDEMPTION.

I. WHOM HE HAS REDEEMED.

He HAS REDEEMED

ME. Christ died for all; [I Pet. 2:24+, I John 2:2+, John 1:29+] and consequently for me also. [Gal. 2:20+] Believing on Him, all the blessings of His redemption belong to me In time and in eternity. He is _my_ Saviour, _my_ Redeemer.

A LOST AND CONDEMNED CREATURE. I was lost, [Isa. 53:6+, I Pet. 2:25]

because my sin had separated me from G.o.d, and I could not have found my way back to Him, if Christ had not sought and found me. I was condemned, [Eph. 2:3] because I had broken G.o.d's commandments and deserved eternal punishment.

II. FROM WHAT HE HAS REDEEMED ME.

He has SECURED AND DELIVERED ME

FROM ALL SINS; namely, from the _guilt_ of sin by paying its penalty for me on the cross; [I John 1:7, II Cor. 5:21+] and from the _dominion_ of sin by giving me grace to fight against it and overcome it. [Rom 6:14, Rom. 8:2-4]

FROM DEATH: not from bodily death, for even the Christian must die; but from the fear of bodily death; [Phil. 1:23, I Cor. 15:55, 57] from spiritual death; [Eph. 2:6] and from everlasting death. [John 3:16]

AND FROM THE POWER OF THE DEVIL. [I John 3:8+] On account of my sins, I was in Satan's power. But Christ has freed me. Since He has paid the penalty for my sins, Satan no longer has any claim upon me, and can no longer harm me. [John 10:27-28] He still tempts me to sin; but Christ gives me grace to resist. He still accuses me before G.o.d on account of my sins; but Christ s.h.i.+elds me against Satan's accusations by the satisfaction which He, my Saviour, has made for all my sins. [I John 2:1]

III. HOW HE HAS REDEEMED ME.

NOT WITH SILVER AND GOLD; [I Pet. 1:18, 19+] for no material wealth could purchase freedom from spiritual slavery and death. Nor has He redeemed me merely by becoming my great teacher and example; for this would not take away my guilt;

BUT WITH HIS HOLY AND PRECIOUS BLOOD. [I John 1:7+] His blood was the price which Christ paid for my ransom. It was holy, because He was holy; and precious, because He was the Son of G.o.d. The shedding of Christ's blood for my sins was the only way in which I could be redeemed; for without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sins. [Heb.

9:22]

AND WITH HIS INNOCENT SUFFERINGS [I Pet. 3:18+] AND DEATH. [Rom. 5:7-8+]

Christ suffered and died, not for any sins of His own, but for _my_ sins. He was innocent and had no sin at all. But He voluntarily bore the punishment which I deserved, and thus satisfied all the demands of divine justice for me. Since He has borne the punishment for me, I, believing on Him, need no longer be punished.

_Christ was my Subst.i.tute._ By His holy life He perfectly fulfilled G.o.d's law in my place; [Rom 5:19] and by His innocent sufferings and death He bore the punishment for my sins in my place. [II Cor. 5:21+]

All that Christ has done is imputed to me by faith; [Rom. 4:24] that is, it is all counted as if I myself had done it. [Rom. 4:5] His death, therefore, frees me from guilt and condemnation; and His holy life makes me appear righteous In G.o.d's sight and fit to enter into heaven. My entire hope of salvation rests on Christ and what He has done for me.

[II Cor. 5:19]

IV. WHY HE HAS REDEEMED ME.

IN ORDER THAT

I MIGHT BE HIS. He desired me for His own, and therefore purchased me with His precious blood. [II Cor. 5:15+] Hence I now belong to Him, and not to Satan or to myself. He wishes me to yield myself fully to Him in heart and life. [Gal. 2:20+] If I refuse to do so, I am withholding what belongs to Him.

LIVE UNDER HIM IN HIS KINGDOM; namely, in His kingdom of Grace on earth by a life of faith, and in His kingdom of Glory in heaven. [Col.

1:12-14]

AND SERVE HIM IN EVERLASTING RIGHTEOUSNESS, INNOCENCE AND BLESSEDNESS.

[I Pet. 2:9+] I am to serve Him and do His will, not as a slave by compulsion, but willingly, gladly, and out of love. [Mat. 16:24+] With my best efforts I only partially succeed in doing His will on earth, for I am still imperfect. [Rom. 7:21-24] But in the next world I shall be freed from all sin, and be transformed and glorified in body and soul.

Then I shall serve Him in perfect holiness and happiness for ever. [Rev.

7:15]

EVEN AS HE IS RISEN FROM THE DEAD, AND LIVES AND REIGNS TO ALL ETERNITY.

As Christ rose from the dead, so I am to rise from the death of sin to newness of life in Him. [Rom. 6:4] As He lives and dies no more, so I am to live in righteousness and no more become a servant of sin. [Rom.

6:9,10] As He reigns to all eternity, so I am to live and reign with Him for ever. [Rev. 3:21]

THIS IS MOST CERTAINLY TRUE: 1. That Jesus Christ, true G.o.d 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?