Luther's Small Catechism Part 12

=1 John 3:20. G.o.d knoweth all things.=

=Ps. 139:7. Whither shall I go from thy spirit! or thither shall I flee from thy presence?=

=Ps. 104:24. O Lord, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all.=

=1 John 4:16. G.o.d is love.=

=Ps. 106:1. O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth forever.=

=Ps. 103:13. Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him.=

=Isa. 6:3. Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: all the earth is full of his glory.=

=Num. 23:19. G.o.d is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent; hath he said, and shall he not do it? Or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?=

=Rom. 2:6. G.o.d will render to every man according to his deeds.=

_121. Are there more G.o.ds than one?_

No; there is but one G.o.d, and there is none else besides Him.

=Deut. 6:4. Hear, O Israel: the Lord our G.o.d is one Lord.=

_122. How many persons are there in the G.o.dhead?_

Three; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are perfectly alike in character, and equal in greatness.

=Matt. 28:19. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.=

THE FIRST ARTICLE.

CONCERNING CREATION.

=I believe in G.o.d the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.=

_That is_,

I believe that G.o.d has made me and all other creatures; that He has given me body and soul, eyes, ears, and all other members, my reason, and all my senses.

I also believe that He preserves all He has made, and that He daily provides me with all I need; giving me clothing and food, home and family, and every good thing.

I further believe that He protects me from all danger, and keeps me from all evil; not because I have deserved it, but because He is a loving and merciful Father.

For all these blessings it is my duty to serve Him thankfully and obediently all the days of my life.

All this is certainly true.

_123. What do you mean when you say, "I believe in G.o.d the Father"?_

I believe that G.o.d is the Father of Jesus Christ, and my Father; and I surrender myself to Him, trusting with all my heart in His grace and love.

_124. Why do we call G.o.d the Maker of heaven and earth?_

Because He has made heaven and earth to come forth by His almighty Word.

=Ps. 33:9. He spoke, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.=

_125. Does G.o.d yet care for what He has made?_

Yes; by His watchful care He preserves and governs all things.

_126. How does G.o.d preserve all things?_

He lets all things continue as long as He thinks well, and He cares like a father for all His creatures.

=Gen. 8:22. While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night, shall not cease.=

=Acts 17:25. He giveth to all life, and breath, and all things.=

=Ps. 104:27. These wait all upon thee; that thou mayest give them their meat in due season.=

_127. For whom does G.o.d care most?_

For man; and especially for His believing children.

=Matt. 6:26, 27, 28, 30. Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?=

=Which of you by taking thought, can add one cubit to his stature?=

=And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin.=

=Wherefore, if G.o.d so clothe the gra.s.s of the field, which to-day is, and to-morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?=

_128. How does G.o.d govern men with regard to their sins?_

He suffers them to sin, sets limits to their sinning, and so guides the result that everything will be for their good who love Him.

=Gen. 50:20. [R. V.] Ye meant evil against me; but G.o.d meant it for good.=

_129. Do we always understand the ways of G.o.d's providence?_

No; His ways are often hidden from our eyes; but even then they are the kindest and best.

=Isa. 55:8, 9. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.=

=For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.=

_130. In whose care may you therefore safely leave yourself?_