Preface
Articles 1-4
- God
- Original
Sin
- Son of God
-
Justification
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Articles
5-9
- Ministry in the Church
- New Obedience
- The Church
- What is the Church
- Baptism
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Articles
10-16
- The supper
of the Lord
- Confession
- Repentance
- Use of
Sacraments
- Church
Order
- Church
Rites
- Civic
Affairs
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Articles
17-21
- Return of
Christ
- Free will
- Cause of
Sin
- Faith and
Good Works
- Cult of
saints
- Conclusion
to First part
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Articles
22-24
- Both kinds
in the sacrament
- Marriage
of Priests
- Concerning
the Mass
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Articles
25 -26
- Concerning
Confession
-
Distinction of Foods
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Article
27, 28, conclusion
- Monastic
Vows
- Church
Authority/Power
- Conclusion
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The Augsburg Confession
Article
V: Of the Ministry.
1] That we may
obtain this faith, the Ministry of Teaching the Gospel
and administering the Sacraments was instituted. For
through the Word and Sacraments, as through instruments,
2] the Holy Ghost is given, who works faith; where and
when it pleases God, in them that hear 3] the Gospel,
to wit, that God, not for our own merits, but for Christ's
sake, justifies those who believe that they are received
into grace for Christ's sake.
4] They condemn the
Anabaptists and others who think that the Holy Ghost comes
to men without the external Word, through their own
preparations and works.
Article
VI: Of New Obedience.
1] Also they teach
that this faith is bound to bring forth good fruits,
and that it is necessary to do good works commanded by God,
because of God's will, but that we should not rely on those
works to merit justification 2] before God. For
remission of sins and justification is apprehended by faith,
as also the voice of Christ attests: When ye shall have
done all these things, say: We are unprofitable servants.
Luke 17, 10. The same is also taught by 3] the
Fathers. For Ambrose says: It is ordained of God that he
who believes in Christ is saved, freely receiving remission
of sins, without works, by faith alone.
Article
VII: Of the Church.
1] Also they teach
that one holy Church is to continue forever. The
Church is the congregation of saints, in which the Gospel is
rightly taught and the Sacraments are rightly administered.
2] And to the true
unity of the Church it is enough to agree concerning the
doctrine of the Gospel and 3] the administration of
the Sacraments. Nor is it necessary that human traditions,
that is, rites or ceremonies, instituted by men, should be
everywhere alike. 4] As Paul says: One faith, one
Baptism, one God and Father of all, etc. Eph. 4, 5. 6.
Article
VIII: What the Church Is.
1] Although the
Church properly is the congregation of saints and true
believers, nevertheless, since in this life many hypocrites
and evil persons are mingled therewith, it is lawful to use
Sacraments administered by evil men, according to the saying
of Christ: The Scribes and 2] the Pharisees
sit in Moses' seat, etc. Matt. 23, 2. Both the
Sacraments and Word are effectual by reason of the
institution and commandment of Christ, notwithstanding they
be administered by evil men.
3] They condemn the
Donatists, and such like, who denied it to be lawful to use
the ministry of evil men in the Church, and who thought the
ministry of evil men to be unprofitable and of none effect.
Article
IX: Of Baptism.
1] Of Baptism
they teach that it is necessary 2] to salvation, and
that through Baptism is offered the grace of God, and that
children are to be baptized who, being offered to God
through Baptism are received into God's grace.
3] They condemn the
Anabaptists, who reject the baptism of children, and say
that children are saved without Baptism.
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