ARTICLE VIII. - WHAT THE CHURCH IS.
Although the church is properly a congregation of saints and true believers; yet in the present life, many hypocrites and wicked men are mingled with them.
ARTICLE IX. - CONCERNING BAPTISM.
Concerning baptism, our churches teach, that it is "a necessary ordinance," [Note 1] that it is a means of grace, and ought to be administered also to children, who are thereby dedicated to God, and received into his favor.
ARTICLE X. - OF THE LORD'S SUPPER.
In regard to the Lord's Supper they teach that Christ is present with the communicants in the Lord's Supper, "under the emblems of bread and wine." [Note 2]
ARTICLE XI. - OF CONFESSION.
[As Private Confession and Absolution, which are inculcated in this Article, though in a modified form, have been universally rejected by the American Lutheran Church, the omission of this Article is demanded by the principle on which the American Recension of the Augsburg Confession is constructed; namely, to omit the several portions, which are rejected by the great mass of our churches in this country, and to add nothing in their stead.] [tr. note: bracketed in the original]
ARTICLE XII. - OF REPENTANCE (AFTER BACKSLIDING).
Concerning repentance they teach, that those who have relapsed into sin after baptism, may at any time obtain pardon, when they repent. But repentance properly consists of two parts. The one is contrition, or being struck with terrors of conscience, on account of acknowledged sin. The other is faith, which is produced by the gospel; which believes that pardon for sin is bestowed for Christ's sake; which tranquilizes the conscience, and liberates it from fear. Such repentance must be succeeded by good works as its fruits.