Dr. Luther’s Small Catechism lesson for the week of September 21, 2014:
THE THIRD ARTICLE
OF SANCTIFICATION
I believe in the Holy Ghost; one holy Christian Church, the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.
What does this mean?
Answer: I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Ghost has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith; even as He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian Church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith; in which Christian Church He forgives daily and richly all sins to me and all believers, and at the last day will raise up me and all the dead, and will give to me and to all believers in Christ everlasting life. This is most certainly true.[1]
[1]Triglot Concordia: The Symbolical Books of the Evangelical Lutheran Church,(St. Louis, MO: Concordia Publishing House, 1921), taken from http://bookofconcord.org/.