Luther's Small Catechism Part 13

In G.o.d's care, who protects me from all danger, and keeps me from all evil.

=1 Pet. 5:7. Casting all your care upon him: for he careth for you.=

_131. Have you deserved all this?_

Not in the least; He does all this, not because I have deserved it, but because He is a loving and merciful Father.

=Gen. 32:10. I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which thou hast showed unto thy servant.=

_132. What do you owe G.o.d for all his goodness?_

It is my duty to serve Him thankfully and obediently all the days of my life.

=Ps. 103:2. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.=

_133. Which are the most excellent of the heavenly creatures?_

The holy angels.

_134. What is the work of the holy angels?_

They praise G.o.d, and serve him, especially by ministering to His children.

=Heb. 1:14. Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation.=

_135. Are there not also evil angels?_

Yes; there are evil angels who have fallen away from G.o.d through pride and disobedience, and are forever excluded from fellows.h.i.+p with Him.

The devil is their king.

_136. Which is the most excellent of the earthly creatures?_

Man, to whom G.o.d gave power to rule over the earth.

_137. What was the character of man as he was made by G.o.d?_

Adam and Eve were innocent, without sin, and like G.o.d.

=Gen. 1:27. [R. V.] G.o.d made man in his own image, in the image of G.o.d made he him: male and female made he them.=

_138. In what did the image of G.o.d in man consist?_

In true wisdom, righteousness and holiness, peace and joy.

=Eph. 4:24. Put on the new man, which after G.o.d is created in righteousness and holiness.=

_139. What benefit did the human body have from the image of G.o.d?_

Perfect health, immortality, and a life free from care in Paradise.

_140. Did our first parents remain innocent and without sin?_

No; they sinned and lost the image of G.o.d, and thus sin and death entered into the world.

=Gen. 2:17. In the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.=

=Rom. 6:23. The wages of sin is death.=

_141. In what did their sin consist?_

It consisted especially in the unbelief of their hearts and in their selfishness and disobedience.

_142. Who led them astray?_

They permitted the devil to lead them astray.

=Gen. 3:1-5.=

=John 8:44. The devil was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. For he is a liar, and the father of it.=

_143. How has sin injured the human soul?_

1. It has darkened the understanding.

=See 1 Cor. 2:14.=

2. It has made the will incapable of what is good, and desirous of all that is evil.

=Rom. 8:7. The carnal mind is enmity against G.o.d.=

3. It has disturbed the peace and joy of conscience.

=Gen. 3:8, 10.=

_144. How has sin injured the human body?_

Sin has made the body a tool of every evil pa.s.sion, and has brought upon it disease, distress, countless pains, and finally death.

=Job 14:1, 2. Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.=

=He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.=

_145. Have all men become sinners through the fall of our first parents?_

Yes; sin and death have spread from our first parents to the whole human race.

=Rom. 5:18. By the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation.=