God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them, and has committed unto us the Word of Reconciliation. 2 Cor. 5,19.
QUESTIONS.
1. Why do we so sorely need daily forgiveness of sins? 2. What do we deserve with our sins before God? 3. Of what does God assure us in His Word with regard to our sins? 4. What should we therefore do every day? 5. How did the publican in the Temple ask for forgiveness 6. How did God answer his prayer? Luke 18, 13.14. 7. Why cannot our works and merits induce God to grant us forgiveness? 8. By what is God moved to forgive us our sins? 9. God forgives us our sins—what does that mean? 10. What do we also call this act of God by which He forgives us our sins? 11. For whose sake does God forgive, or justify, us? 12. Why do we have forgiveness of sins for Christ's sake? 13. Who only receives forgiveness of sins? 14. Why is faith in Christ necessary if we wish to receive forgiveness? 15. How are we justified before God? 16. Why is this doctrine the chief doctrine of our Church?
LESSON 37.
The Third Article
The Resurrection Of The Body And Life Everlasting.
Which is the Third Article?
I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting.
What does this mean?
He [the Holy Ghost] will at the Last Day raise up me and all the dead and give unto me and all believers in Christ eternal life. This is most certainly true.
1. We believe the resurrection of the body, so we confess. We believe that God will raise up me and all the dead, so that our bodies which have died shall again be made alive and come forth from their graves. Our bodies die and are buried, and in the grave they decay. These same bodies will live again. It is true, we cannot understand how this is possible. To unbelievers it seems ridiculous, they laugh and mock at this doctrine. Still we believe it; we are assured by the Word of God that our dead shall live again. And "the Word of the Lord is right." Ps. 33,4. Our Lord says: "The hour is coming in the which all that are in the graves shall hear His voice and shall come forth." John 5,28. Our God is almighty, with Him nothing is impossible. Luke 1,37.