remem.me

The First Article of Creation
I believe in God the Father Almighty,
Maker of heaven and earth.

What does this mean?

I believe that God has created me and all that exists;
that He has given and still preserves to me
my body and soul,
my eyes and ears,
and all my members,
my reason and all the powers of my soul,
together with food and clothing,
home and family,
and all my property;
that He daily provides abundantly
for all the needs of my life,
protects me from all danger,
and guards and keeps me from all evil;
and that He does this purely out of
fatherly and divine goodness and mercy,
without any merit or worthiness in me;
for all of which I am duty bound
to thank, praise, serve, and obey Him.
This is most certainly true.

The Second Article of Redemption

And in 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, dead and buried;
He descended into hell;
the third day He rose again from the dead;
He ascended into heaven
and is seated on the right hand of God the Father Almighty,
from where He shall come to judge the living and the dead.

What does this mean?

I believe that Jesus Christ, true God,
begotten of the Father from eternity,
and also true man, born of the virgin Mary,
is my Lord;
who has redeemed me,
a lost and condemned creature,
bought me and freed me from all sins,
from death and from the power of the devil;
not with silver and gold,
but with His holy and precious blood
and His innocent sufferings and death;
in order that I might be His own,
live under Him in His kingdom,
and serve Him
in everlasting righteousness, innocence and blessedness;
even as He is risen from the dead
and lives and reigns to all eternity.
This is most certainly true.

The Third Article of Sanctification

I believe in the Holy Spirit;
the 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?

I believe that I cannot
by my own reason or strength
believe in Jesus Christ , my Lord,
or come to Him;
but the Holy Spirit
has called me through the Gospel,
enlightened me with His gifts,
and sanctified and preserved me
in the true faith;
in like manner as He calls,
gathers, enlightens and sanctifies
the whole Christian Church on earth,
and preserves it
in union with Jesus Christ
in the one true faith;
in this Christian Church
He daily forgives abundantly all my sins,
and the sins of all believers,
and at the last day
will raise up me and all the dead,
and will grant everlasting life to me
and to all who believe in Christ.
This is most certainly true.

Hallowed be Thy Name.

What does this mean?
God's Name is indeed holy in itself,
but we pray in this petition
that it may be hallowed
also among us.

How is this done?
When the Word of God is taught
in its truth and purity,
and we as God's children
lead holy lives
in accordance with it.
This grant us,
dear Father in heaven!
But whoever teaches and lives otherwise
than God's Word teaches
profanes the Name of God among us.
From this preserve us, heavenly Father!

Thy kingdom come.

What does this mean?
The kingdom of God
comes indeed of itself
without our prayer,
but we pray in this petition
that it may come also to us.

How is this done?
When our heavenly Father
gives us His Holy Spirit,
so that by His grace
we believe His holy Word
and live a godly life
here on earth
and in heaven forever.

Thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.

What does this mean?
The good and gracious
will of God
is done indeed
without our prayer,
but we pray in this petition
that it may be done
also among us.

How is this done?
When God destroys
and bring to nothing
every evil counsel and purpose
of the devil, the world, and our own flesh,
which would hinder us
from hallowing His Name
and prevent the coming
of His kingdom;
and when He strengthens us
and keeps us steadfast
in His Word and in faith,
even unto our end.
This is His good
and gracious will.

Give us this day our daily bread.

What does this mean?
God indeed gives daily bread
to all men,
even to the wicked,
without our prayer;
but we pray in this petition
that He would lead us
to acknowledge our daily bread
as His gift
and to receive it
with thanksgiving.

What is meant by daily bread?
Everything that is required
to satisfy our bodily needs
such as food and clothing;
house and home,
fields and flocks,
money and goods;
pious parents, children,
and servants;
godly and faithful rulers,
good government;
seasonable weather,
peace and health;
order and honor;
true friends,
good neighbors,
and the like.

And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those
who trespass against us.

What does this mean?
We pray in this petition
that our heavenly Father
would not regard our sins
nor because of them
deny our prayers;
for we neither merit
nor are worthy
of those things
for which we pray;
but that He would grant us
all things through grace,
even though we sin daily
and deserve nothing but punishment.
And certainly we, on our part,
will heartily forgive
and gladly do good to those
who may sin against us.

And lead us not into temptation.

What does this mean?
God indeed tempts
no one to sin;
but we pray in this petition
that God would so guard
and preserve us
that the devil,
the world,
and our own flesh
may not deceive us
nor lead us into error
and unbelief,
despair, and
other great and shameful sins;
but that when so tempted,
we may finally prevail
and gain the victory.

But deliver us from evil.

What does this mean?
We pray in this petition,
in summary,
that our heavenly Father
would deliver us
from all manner of evil,
whether it affect body or soul,
property or reputation,
and at last,
when the hour of death shall come,
grant us a blessed end
and graciously take us
from this world of sorrow
to Himself in heaven.

For Thine is the kingdom,
and the power,
and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.

What does the word "Amen" mean?
It means that
I should be assured
that these petitions
are acceptable to our Heavenly Father
and are heard by Him;
for He Himself
has command us
to pray in this manner
and has promised
to hear us.
Amen, Amen,
that is, Yes, Yes,
it shall be so.

The Introduction
Our Father, who art in heaven.

What does this mean?
God thereby tenderly
encourages us to believe
that He is truly our Father
and that we are
truly His children,
so that we may
boldly and confidently
come to Him in prayer,
even as beloved children
come to their dear father.

Thou shalt not covet
thy neighbor's wife,
nor his manservant,
nor his maidservant,
nor his cattle,
nor anything that is thy neighbor's.

What does this mean?
We should fear and love God
so that we do not estrange
or entice away
our neighbor's wife, servants, or cattle,
but seek to have them remain
and fulfill their duty to him.

The Introduction
I am the LORD thy God.

The First Commandment
Thou shalt have no other gods before Me.

What does this mean?
We should fear, love, and trust in God above all things.

Thou shalt not take
the Name of the LORD thy God in vain;
for the LORD will not hold him guiltless
that taketh His Name in vain.

What does this mean?
We should fear and love God
so that we do not
curse, swear,
conjure, lie, or deceive,
by His Name,
but call upon Him
in every time of need
and worship Him
with prayer, praise, and thanksgiving.

Remember the Sabbath day,
to keep it holy.

What does this mean?
We should fear and love God
so that we do not despise His Word
and the preaching of the same,
but regard it as holy
and gladly hear and learn it.

Honor thy father and thy mother,
that thy days may be long
upon the land
which the Lord thy God giveth thee.

What does this mean?
We should fear and love God
so that we do not despise
our parents and superiors,
nor provoke them to anger,
but honor, serve,
obey, love, and respect them.

Thou shalt not kill.

What does this mean?
We should fear and love God
so that we do our neighbor
no bodily harm
nor cause him any suffering,
but help and befriend him
in every need.

Thou shalt not commit adultery.

What does this mean?
We should fear and love God
so that we lead
a chaste and pure life
in word and deed,
and that husband and wife
love and honor each other.

Thou shalt not steal.

What does this mean?
We should fear and love God
so that we do not rob our neighbor
of his money or property,
nor bring them into our possession
by unfair dealing or fraud,
but help him
to improve and protect
his property and living.

Thou shalt not bear false witness
against thy neighbor.

What does this mean?
We should fear and love God
so that we do not
deceitfully lie about,
betray, backbite,
nor slander our neighbor,
but defend him,
speak well of him,
and put the most charitable construction
on all that he does.

Thou shalt not covet
thy neighbor's house.

What does this mean?
We should fear and love God
so that we do not
seek by craftiness
to gain possession
of our neighbor's inheritance or home,
nor obtain them
under pretense of a legal right,
but assist and serve him
in keeping the same.

What does God say of all these Commandments?
I the Lord thy God
am a jealous God,
visiting the iniquity
of the fathers
upon the children
unto the third and fourth generation
of them that hate Me;
and showing mercy
unto thousands of them
that love Me
and keep My commandments.

What does this mean?
God threatens to punish
all who transgress these commandments.
We should, therefore,
fear His wrath,
and in no way disobey them.
But He promises
grace and every blessing
to all who keep them.
We should, therefore,
love Him, trust in Him,
and gladly keep His commandments.

The Introduction
Our Father, who art in heaven.

What does this mean?
God thereby tenderly encourages us
to believe that He is truly our Father
and that we are truly His children,
so that we may boldly and confidently
come to Him in prayer,
even as beloved children
come to their dear father.

The First Petition
Hallowed be Thy Name.

What does this mean?
God's Name is indeed holy in itself,
but we pray in this petition
that it may be hallowed also among us.

How is this done?
When the Word of God is taught
in its truth and purity,
and we as God's children
lead holy lives in accordance with it.
This grant us,
dear Father in heaven!
But whoever teaches and lives otherwise
than God's Word teaches
profanes the Name of God among us.
From this preserve us, heavenly Father!

The Second Petition
Thy kingdom come.

What does this mean?
The kingdom of God comes indeed of itself
without our prayer,
but we pray in this petition
that it may come also to us.

How is this done?
When our heavenly Father gives us His Holy Spirit,
so that by His grace
we believe His holy Word
and live a godly life
here on earth and in heaven forever.

The Third Petition
Thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.

What does this mean?
The good and gracious will of God
is done indeed without our prayer,
but we pray in this petition
that it may be done also among us.

How is this done?
When God destroys and bring to nothing
every evil counsel and purpose
of the devil, the world, and our own flesh,
which would hinder us
from hallowing His Name
and prevent the coming of His kingdom;
and when He strengthens us
and keeps us steadfast
in His Word and in faith,
even unto our end.
This is His good and gracious will.

The Fourth Petition
Give us this day our daily bread.

What does this mean?
God indeed gives daily bread to all men,
even to the wicked,
without our prayer;
but we pray in this petition
that He would lead us
to acknowledge our daily bread as His gift
and to receive it with thanksgiving.

What is meant by daily bread?
Everything that is required to satisfy our bodily needs
such as food and clothing;
house and home,
fields and flocks,
money and goods;
pious parents, children, and servants;
godly and faithful rulers, good government;
seasonable weather, peace and health;
order and honor;
true friends, good neighbors, and the like.

The Fifth Petition
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.

What does this mean?
We pray in this petition
that our heavenly Father would not regard our sins
nor because of them deny our prayers;
for we neither merit nor are worthy
of those things for which we pray;
but that He would grant us all things through grace,
even though we sin daily
and deserve nothing but punishment.
And certainly we, on our part,
will heartily forgive
and gladly do good to those
who may sin against us.

The Sixth Petition
And lead us not into temptation.

What does this mean?
God indeed tempts no one to sin;
but we pray in this petition
that God would so guard and preserve us
that the devil, the world, and our own flesh
may not deceive us
nor lead us into error and unbelief, despair, and
other great and shameful sins;
but that when so tempted,
we may finally prevail
and gain the victory.

The Seventh Petition
But deliver us from evil.

What does this mean?
We pray in this petition, in summary,
that our heavenly Father would deliver us
from all manner of evil,
whether it affect body or soul,
property or reputation,
and at last, when the hour of death shall come,
grant us a blessed end
and graciously take us
from this world of sorrow
to Himself in heaven.

The Conclusion
For Thine is the kingdom,
and the power,
and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.

What does the word "Amen" mean?
It means that I should be assured
that these petitions are acceptable to our Heavenly Father
and are heard by Him;
for He Himself has command us
to pray in this manner
and has promised to hear us.
Amen, Amen, that is, Yes, Yes,
it shall be so.

The Introduction
I am the LORD thy God.

The First Commandment
Thou shalt have no other gods before Me.

What does this mean?
We should fear, love, and trust in God above all things.

The Second Commandment
Thou shalt not take the Name of the LORD thy God in vain;
for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh His Name in vain.

What does this mean?
We should fear and love God
so that we do not
curse, swear, conjure, lie, or deceive,
by His Name,
but call upon Him
in every time of need
and worship Him
with prayer, praise, and thanksgiving.

The Third Commandment
Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.

What does this mean?
We should fear and love God
so that we do not despise His Word
and the preaching of the same,
but regard it as holy
and gladly hear and learn it.

The Fourth Commandment
Honor thy father and thy mother,
that thy days may be long
upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.

What does this mean?
We should fear and love God
so that we do not despise our parents and superiors,
nor provoke them to anger,
but honor, serve, obey, love, and respect them.

The Fifth Commandment
Thou shalt not kill.

What does this mean?
We should fear and love God
so that we do our neighbor no bodily harm
nor cause him any suffering,
but help and befriend him in every need.

The Sixth Commandment
Thou shalt not commit adultery.

What does this mean?
We should fear and love God
so that we lead a chaste and pure life
in word and deed,
and that husband and wife
love and honor each other.

The Seventh Commandment
Thou shalt not steal.

What does this mean?
We should fear and love God
so that we do not rob our neighbor
of his money or property,
nor bring them into our possession
by unfair dealing or fraud,
but help him to improve and protect
his property and living.

The Eighth Commandment
Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.

What does this mean?
We should fear and love God
so that we do not deceitfully lie about,
betray, backbite, nor slander our neighbor,
but defend him,
speak well of him,
and put the most charitable construction
on all that he does.

The Ninth Commandment
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house.

What does this mean?
We should fear and love God
so that we do not seek by craftiness
to gain possession of our neighbor's inheritance or home,
nor obtain them under pretense of a legal right,
but assist and serve him in keeping the same.

The Tenth Commandment
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife,
nor his manservant, nor his maidservant,
nor his cattle,
nor anything that is thy neighbor's.

What does this mean?
We should fear and love God
so that we do not estrange
or entice away
our neighbor's wife, servants, or cattle,
but seek to have them remain
and fulfill their duty to him.

The Conclusion
What does God say of all these Commandments?
I the Lord thy God am a jealous God,
visiting the iniquity of the fathers
upon the children
unto the third and fourth generation
of them that hate Me;
and showing mercy unto thousands of them
that love Me and keep My commandments.

What does this mean?
God threatens to punish
all who transgress these commandments.
We should, therefore,
fear His wrath,
and in no way disobey them.
But He promises grace and every blessing
to all who keep them.
We should, therefore,
love Him, trust in Him,
and gladly keep His commandments.