The Second Article of the Creed

Here we come to know the second person of the Godhead and discover what God has given us beyond the earthly goods already discussed: He has poured Himself out on our behalf, giving everything and holding nothing back. This article is broad and contains a great deal, but to treat it briefly and plainly, we will focus on a single phrase that captures its essential meaning. Through it, we will learn how we are redeemed and how to ground ourselves in the words "in Jesus Christ our Lord."

When asked what you believe about Jesus Christ in the second article, here is the short answer: I believe that Jesus Christ, the true Son of God, has become my Lord. But what does it mean for Him to become Lord? It means He has redeemed me from sin, from the devil, from death, and from all misery. Before this, I had no Lord or King. I was a captive under the devil's power, condemned to death, and tangled up in sin and blindness.

After we were created and had received every kind of blessing from God the Father, the devil came and led us into disobedience and sin, into death and all misery. We lay under God's anger and wrath, condemned to eternal damnation, which we had justly earned. There was no counsel, no help, no comfort anywhere for us, until the one eternal Son of God, in His unfathomable goodness, took pity on our wretched condition and came to our aid. Every tyrant and oppressor was driven out, and in their place stands Jesus Christ: Lord of life, of righteousness, and of everything that belongs to our welfare and salvation. He has pulled us poor, lost creatures from the jaws of hell. He has redeemed us, set us free, and restored us to God's favor and grace. He has claimed us as His own, taking us under His shelter and protection, so that under His rule we might know His mercy, His power and wisdom, His life and salvation.

In short, the title "Lord" in its most basic sense means "Redeemer": the one who has brought us back from Satan to God, from death to life, from sin to righteousness, and who keeps us secure in that new reality. Everything that follows in this article is meant to unpack what that redemption actually involved, showing how it was accomplished, what it cost Christ, and what He endured to win us and bring us into His kingdom. He became human, conceived and born without sin through the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, so that He might have authority over all sin. He suffered, died, and was buried, making full satisfaction for me and paying my debt, not with silver or gold, but with His own precious blood. All of this was done so that He might become my Lord, since He had no need to do any of it for His own sake. Afterward He rose again, conquering and swallowing up death, and finally ascended into heaven, taking His place of authority at the Father's right hand. The devil and all his powers must therefore remain subject to Him, kept beneath His feet until the last day, when He will separate us from this wicked world, from the devil, death, and sin.

A brief address to children is not the right place to work through all of these points in full detail. That belongs to the longer sermons preached throughout the year, especially those delivered during the seasons set aside for extended treatment of Christ's birth, suffering, resurrection, and ascension, along with related themes. Beyond that, the entire Gospel we preach rests on a proper understanding of this article, since our whole salvation is grounded in it, and it is so rich and far-reaching that we will never exhaust it.