Martin Luther's Small Catechism Part 2

G.o.d tempts no one, of course, but we pray in this request that G.o.d will protect us and save us, so that the Devil, the world and our bodily desires will neither deceive us nor seduce us into heresy, despair or other serious shame or vice, and so that we will win and be victorious in the end, even if they attack us.

The Seventh Request

But set us free from the Evil One. ( Matthew 6:12)

What does this mean?

We pray in this request, as a summary, that our Father in Heaven will save us from every kind of evil that threatens body, soul, property and honor. We pray that when at last our final hour has come, He will grant us a blessed death, and, in His grace, bring us to Himself from this valley of tears. Amen

What does this mean?

That I should be certain that such prayers are acceptable to the Father in Heaven and will be granted, that He Himself has commanded us to pray in this way and that He promises to answer us. Amen. Amen. This means: Yes, yes it will happen this way.

IV. The Sacrament of Holy Baptism The Simple Way a Father Should Present it to His Household

What is Baptism?

Baptism is not just plain water, but it is water contained within G.o.d's command and united with G.o.d's Word.

Where in the Word of G.o.d is this?

Where our Lord Christ spoke in the last chapter of Matthew (Matthew 28:19): "Go into all the world, teaching all heathen nations, and baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and of the Holy Spirit."

What does Baptism give? What good is it?

It gives us the forgiveness of sins, redeems us from death and the Devil, and gives eternal salvation to all who believe this, just as G.o.d's words and promises declare.

What are these words and promises of G.o.d?

Our Lord Christ spoke one of them in the last chapter of Mark (Mark 16:16): "Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; but whoever does not believe will be d.a.m.ned."

How can water do such great things?

Water doesn't make these things happen, of course. It is G.o.d's Word, which is with and in the water. Because, without G.o.d's Word, the water is plain water and not baptism. But with G.o.d's Word it is a Baptism, a grace-filled water of life, a bath of new birth in the Holy Spirit, as St. Paul said to t.i.tus in the third chapter (t.i.tus 3:5-8): "Through this bath of rebirth and renewal of the Holy Spirit, which He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ, our Savior, that we, justified by the same grace are made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. This is a faithful saying."

What is the meaning of such a water Baptism?

It means that the old Adam in us should be drowned by daily sorrow and repentance, and die with all sins and evil l.u.s.ts, and, in turn, a new person daily come forth and rise from death again. He will live forever before G.o.d in righteousness and purity.

Where is this written?

St. Paul says to the Romans in Chapter Six (Romans 6:4): "We are buried with Christ through Baptism into death, so that, in the same way Christ is risen from the dead by the glory of the Father, thus also must we walk in a new life."

V. How You Should Teach the Uneducated to Confess

What is confession?

Confession has two parts: First, a person admits his sin Second, a person receives absolution or forgiveness from the confessor, as if from G.o.d Himself, without doubting it, but believing firmly that his sins are forgiven by G.o.d in Heaven through it.

Which sins should people confess?

When speaking to G.o.d, we should plead guilty to all sins, even those we don't know about, just as we do in the "Our Father," but when speaking to the confessor, only the sins we know about, which we know about and feel in our hearts.

Which are these?

Consider here your place in life according to the Ten Commandments. Are you a father? A mother? A son? A daughter? A husband? A wife? A servant? Are you disobedient, unfaithful or lazy? Have you hurt anyone with your words or actions? Have you stolen, neglected your duty, let things go or injured someone?

Please suggest to me a simple way to confess.

You should speak to your confessor this way:

Honorable, dear Sir: Would you please hear my confession and p.r.o.nounce forgiveness according to G.o.d's will.

He will respond: Yes. Please go ahead.

Then say: I confess in the presence of G.o.d that I am a poor sinner and guilty of every kind of sin. I specifically admit to you that I am a servant, maid, etc., but I'm afraid that I have served my master unfaithfully.

>From time to time, I have not done what I was told to do. I have angered them and caused them to swear at me. I have neglected my duty and allowed damage to be done. My words and actions have been shameful.

I have been angry with my peers. I have complained about my master's wife and sworn at her, etc. I am sorry for all of this and ask for grace. I want to do better.

A master or a lady of the house should speak this way: I specifically confess to you that I have not faithfully led my children, servants or wife to G.o.d's glory. I have cursed. I have set a bad example with my obscene words and actions. I have hurt my neighbor and spoken evil things about him. I have charged him too much, cheated him and sold him badly made goods.

Let him also confess any other sins against G.o.d's commandments and his place in life, etc.

If a person is not burdened with sins such as these or greater sins, he should not look for other sins or invent them, because that would turn confession into torture. Instead, he should mention one or two that he knows about. For example: specifically I confess that I once cursed.

Once I used inappropriate language. Once I neglected to do this or that thing, etc. Let that be enough.

If you do not know of anything you have done wrong (which does not seem possible), do not say anything in specific, but receive forgiveness based upon the general confession you make to G.o.d in the presence of your confessor.

After this, the Confessor will say: May G.o.d be merciful to you and strengthen your faith!

Then he will ask: Do you also believe that the forgiveness I give is G.o.d's forgiveness?

Then you will answer: Yes, dear sir.

After this, he will say: May what you believe happen to you. And by the command of my Lord Jesus, I forgive your sins in the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen. Go in peace! The confessor will know how to use additional pa.s.sages to comfort and to encourage the faith of those who sorrow, are troubled or whose conscience is greatly burdened. This is only meant to be a general confession for the uneducated.

VI. The Sacrament of the Altar The Simple Way a Father Should Present it to his Household

What is the Sacrament of the Altar?

It is the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ under bread and wine for us Christians to eat and to drink, established by Christ Himself.

Where is that written?

The holy apostles Matthew, Mark and Luke and St. Paul write this: "Our Lord Jesus Christ, in the night on which He was betrayed, took bread, gave thanks, broke it, gave it to His disciples and said: 'Take!

Eat! This is My body, which is given for you. Do this to remember Me!'

In the same way He also took the cup after supper, gave thanks, gave it to them, and said: 'Take and drink from it, all of you! This cup is the New Testament in my blood, which is shed for you to forgive sins. This do, as often as you drink it, to remember Me!'"