1. What do we call the great work which Christ has done for us and all men? 2. What do I confess in the Second Article concerning myself? 3. From which parable of our Lord do we learn what it means to be lost? 4. Why was the Prodigal Son called lost? 5. How did he become separated from his father? 6. What happened to him in that far-away country? 7. How did we become separated from our heavenly Father? 8. What always separates us from God? 9. What do we furthermore confess concerning ourselves? 10. Why are we condemned creatures? 11. What does God threaten to those who transgress His commandments? 12. In what does the punishment of sin consist? 13. What death is meant? 14. Who tempted Adam and Eve to sin? 15. Of whom is he who commits sin? 16. Under whose power are we because we have sinned? 17. Who alone is able to help us in our misery? 18. Why can Jesus Christ surely help and save us? 19. Whom did Christ redeem? 20. How can you prove from Scripture that Christ has redeemed all men?
LESSON 23.
The Second Article.
Christ, My Lord, Has Redeemed Me With His Holy, Precious Blood.
Which is the Second Article?
I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord.
What does this mean?
I believe that Jesus Christ 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 or silver, but with His holy, precious blood and with His innocent suffering and death.
1. Christ has redeemed and purchased us, that is, He bought us. Our Lord had to pay a price, a very high price for our redemption. He has purchased or bought me not with gold or silver. "Ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold." 1 Pet 1,18. Gold and silver are, indeed, highly prized among men. Much can be accomplished, much can be bought with gold and silver for the support of our life and for our comfort here in this world. But all the gold and silver, all the treasures in the world, cannot buy our redemption. Gold and silver cannot redeem one lost and condemned sinner from sin, death, and the powers of the devil, from hell and damnation. A much higher price was necessary. Our Lord has paid this price.
2. Christ redeemed and purchased us with His blood. He shed His blood for us. He gave His life for our redemption. Consider the great love of our Lord. He gave His life not for His friends, but for us, who were His enemies. We call this blood a holy blood. It is the blood of a holy man. Our Savior was born without sin, and He never committed a sin in His life. We have been redeemed, not with gold or silver, "but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot." 1 Pet. 1,19. We call the blood of Christ a precious blood. This blood is the most precious thing in heaven and earth. It is the blood of the Son of God, shed for our sins. "The blood of Jesus Christ, God's Son, cleanseth us from all sin." 1 John 1,7.
3. Christ purchased us with His blood and with His suffering and death. Suffering and dying our Lord shed His blood for us. We say it was an innocent suffering and death, because He did not deserve this. He was without sin, He never did any wrong. He did not suffer and die because of any guilt of His own. He suffered and died on account of my guilt and the guilt of the whole world. During His whole sinless life He fulfilled God's commandments. We ought to have kept the commandments, but we could not do it because we were born in sins. Christ, our Lord, has fulfilled the Law of God for us, in our stead. He came into this world and was made under the Law that He might redeem us, who were under the Law. We had transgressed the commandments, therefore the wrath of God was upon us, and we deserved His punishment. We ought to have suffered death, eternal death. Christ was innocent, without sin, and still He suffered death on the cross. He did all this for us, in our stead. "Surely He hath borne our griefs and carried our sorrows.... He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon Him, and with His stripes we are healed." Is. 53,4.5.—It was a high price that Jesus paid for our salvation. He gave Himself for us. How thankful we ought to be to our dear Savior, who lived and died for us that we may be saved! How thankful we ought to be to our heavenly Father, who "so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life"! John 3,16.