I believe that Jesus Christ is truly God, born of the Father in eternity and also truly man, born of the Virgin Mary.  He is my Lord!  He redeemed me, a lost and condemned person, bought and won me from all sins, death and the authority of the Devil.  It did not cost Him gold or silver, but His holy, precious blood, His innocent body—­His death!  Because of this, I am His very own, will live under Him in His kingdom and serve Him righteously, innocently and blessedly forever, just as He is risen from death, lives and reigns forever.  Yes, this is true.

The Third Article
On Becoming Holy

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the community of the saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and an everlasting life.  Amen.

What does this mean?

I believe that I cannot come to my Lord Jesus Christ by my own intelligence or power.  But the Holy Spirit called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, made me holy and kept me in the true faith, just as He calls, gathers together, enlightens and makes holy the whole Church on earth and keeps it with Jesus in the one, true faith.  In this Church, He generously forgives each day every sin committed by me and by every believer.  On the last day, He will raise me and all the dead from the grave.  He will give eternal life to me and to all who believe in Christ.  Yes, this is true!

III.  The Our Father
The Simple Way a Father Should Present it to His Household

Introduction

Our Father, Who is in Heaven. (Matthew 6:9)

What does this mean?

In this introduction, God invites us to believe that He is our real Father and we are His real children, so that we will pray with trust and complete confidence, in the same way beloved children approach their beloved Father with their requests.

The First Request

May Your name be holy. (Matthew 6:9)

What does this mean?

Of course, God’s name is holy in and of itself, but by this request, we pray that He will make it holy among us, too.

How does this take place?

It happens when God’s Word is taught clearly and purely, and when we live holy lives as God’s children based upon it.  Help us, Heavenly Father, to do this!  But anyone who teaches and lives by something other than God’s Word defiles God’s name among us.  Protect us from this, Heavenly Father!

The Second Request

Your Kingdom come. (Matthew 6:10)

What does this mean?

Truly God’s Kingdom comes by itself, without our prayer.  But we pray in this request that it come to us as well.

How does this happen?

It happens when the Heavenly Father gives us His Holy Spirit, so that we believe His holy Word by His grace and live godly lives here in this age and there in eternal life.

The Third Request

May Your will be accomplished.  As it is Heaven, so may it be on Earth. 
(Matthew 6:10)