as a householder should hold it up to his servants in the most simple way.
The first article.
From Creation.
I believe in God the Father, Almighty Creator of heaven and earth.
What is it? Answer:
I believe that God created me together with all creatures, gave me body and soul, eyes, ears and all limbs, reason and all senses and still preserves them; and shoes, food and drink, house and yard, wife and child, land, cattle and all goods, with all necessities and nourishment of body and life abundantly and daily provided, protected against all dangers and protected and preserved from all evil, and all this out of pure fatherly, divine goodness and mercy, without all my merit and worthiness. I owe him all this thanks and praise, and in return I owe him service and obedience. This is certainly true.
The second article.
From Redemption.
And to Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried, descended into hell, rose from the dead on the third day, ascended into heaven, sitting at the right hand of God the Father Almighty, from whence He will come to judge the living and the dead.
What is it? Answer:
I believe that Jesus Christ, true God, born of the Father in eternity, and also true man, born of the Virgin Mary, is my Lord, who redeemed me, a lost and condemned man, 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, so that I might be his own and live under him in his kingdom and serve him in eternal righteousness, innocence and blessedness, just as he rose from death, lives and reigns forever. This is certainly true.
The third article.
Of sanctification.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, A Holy Christian Church, The Church of the Saints, Forgiveness of Sins, Resurrection of the Flesh, and Eternal Life, Amen.
What is it? Answer:
I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in or come to Jesus Christ my Lord, but the Holy Spirit has called me through the gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified me in the right faith and preserved me, just as He calls, gathers, enlightens, sanctifies and preserves all Christianity on earth with Jesus Christ in the right united faith: In which Christianity he forgives me and all believers daily all sins abundantly, and on the last day he will raise me and all the dead and give me and all believers in Christ eternal life. This is certainly true.