Volume 3 Number 5 (1999:5)

24 March 1999

The Second Article of the Creed has been called the heart of the catechism, and for good reason: it deals with the Person of Jesus Christ, and with what He has done for us. This is the bedrock and basis of our faith. It is no accident that the Second Article is longer than the first and third, though some might wonder whether this puts too much emphasis on the Second Person of the Trinity. But it is right that we emphasize the Second Person the most, since He is also our Brother: he is God and Man in one Person. For the Father too directs us to the Son, in that He is "Father," since this implies that there must be "Son." And the Spirit also directs us to the Son, for it is He who grants us the faith which confesses that Jesus Christ is Lord. In short, it is strongly Trinitarian to emphasize especially Jesus Christ, the Second Person of the Trinity. Well do we call the Second Article the heart of the Creed, and the heart of the catechism.

For to confess that Jesus Christ is the Father's Son, our Lord, is to say that He who is from eternity true God, having no beginning, begotten of the Father from eternity, and being Himself the Ancient of Days, since He has now also become true Man, taking into His person the truly human flesh of His mother, the Virgin Mary, of whom He was born, is now therefore become my Lord. But what does it mean to be "Lord"? It means that He has redeemed me, for Lord means Redeemer, Savior, Hero, and Rescuer. And who am I whom He has redeemed? I am a poor, sinful being, that is, I have a desparate need of his rescue. But what does it mean that He has redeemed me? It means that He has purchased and won me from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil. But if He has so bought me, then with what? Not with money, that is, not with gold or silver, but with what? With His holy, precious blood, and (that is), His innocent suffering and death. And why did He do this? Truly, that I may be His own, that is, that I may belong to Him, as the Apostle says, You are not your own, you were bought with a price. And in being His own, that I may live in His kingdom for ever. And this life that I now enjoy is a life lived in everlasting righteousness, innocence and blessedness--see, there is no condemnation for me, even though I am a poor, sinful being; for I now wear His righteousness, innocence, and blessedness; this is what He has given me by the Gospel--and the proof and demonstration of this blessed truth is that He is risen from the dead, which of course means that He also lives and reigns to all eternity. And since all of this is testified and verified in Sacred Scripture, therefore I may confidently believe it, saying, "This is most certainly true."

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The Shire 1999:5

Copyright 1999 Gandalf the White.